IMMIGRATION WEEKLY NEWS - 20th DECEMBER 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, Immigration changes continue to unfold, with the UK Home Office maintaining its steady stream of policy updates and reforms. The Government has announced significant changes to strengthen the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) from January 2025. The enhancement comes as part of the government's response to tackle net migration, which has quadrupled in the past five years.

The MAC will work within a new 'quad' framework alongside Skills England, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Industrial Strategy Council to develop evidence-based approaches to reduce international recruitment and promote domestic workforce development. This restructuring aligns with the government's broader Plan for Change and precedes an Immigration white paper due in 2025.

The MAC has challenged Labour's proposed strategy to reduce net migration through domestic training, stating that improving UK skills does not guarantee reduced reliance on overseas workers. In its annual report, the MAC highlighted that skilled migrants on work visas contribute approximately £16,300 in net fiscal impact, which is 20 times higher than the £800 contributed by UK-born adults.

The committee emphasised that workforce shortages might be due to poor pay and conditions rather than just skills gaps and cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach to linking immigration and skills policy. This analysis comes as net migration reached 906,000 in the year ending June 2023, with the committee expecting figures to fall due to recent policy changes and enhanced enforcement measures.

Labour Together, a think tank aligned with Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party, has proposed replacing traditional immigration caps with a new system of flexible, long-term targets based on visa categories, alongside an 'emergency brake' mechanism. The proposal aims to balance economic needs with public service capacity whilst maintaining better control over immigration levels.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a major crackdown on illegal working in the UK, pledging £8 million for new technology including body-worn cameras for 1,200 frontline officers and fingerprint kits to strengthen enforcement. The measures come as removals have increased by 25% compared to last year, with almost 13,500 people with no right to remain being deported since the new government took office. The initiative aims to combat exploitation and disrupt smuggling gangs' business models, while enhanced international cooperation, including recent agreements with Germany and other European partners, supports the government's broader enforcement strategy.

The Upper Tribunal has adopted a stringent stance on immigration deception, ruling in a  case  that any period of residence obtained through false identity cannot count towards settlement applications, even if previously valid. This landmark decision emphasises that those who have used deception cannot benefit from their dishonesty when seeking permanent status, reinforcing the tribunals' commitment to maintaining the integrity of the UK's immigration system.

Last but not the least, a little sigh of relief for all visa holders as we wrap up 2024.  In a welcome development for visa holders, the government has extended the deadline for transitioning to eVisas from 31 December 2024 to 31 March 2025, allowing individuals with expired BRPs and EUSS cards to continue using their physical documents for travel, provided they maintain valid immigration status

The UK's immigration sector continues to evolve, presenting ongoing challenges and debates for policymakers, legal professionals, and those navigating the system.As we enter 2025, further changes to immigration and asylum policy are anticipated, with the government signalling reforms to legal migration routes and asylum processing.  Kick off 2025 by HJT’s expert panel with their live online bite size courses in the first quarter of 2025!

Courses include:

Immigration Law Conference in Birmingham, Long Residence Applications: Explaining the Rules, UKVI Removals: Updates & Contesting Challenges, Managing Homes office Audits, Skilled Worker Masterclass & The Myth of Self Sponsorship  

Places Limited - To book your spot, visit our main courses page here

 For enquiries, contact us enquiries@hjt-training.co.uk or call 075441 64692.

For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, visit our blog here

 Written By, Shareen Khan - Content Writer, HJT Training