Month: January 2020

LEGAL MINUTE: UK’s last week in the EU

Posted by Marketing on with 0 Comment

Members of the European Parliament have overwhelmingly backed the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU. MEPs ratified the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement by 621 votes to 49 following an emotional debate in Brussels. From BBC.

*

Confused by the whole 1,300-day Brexit saga? This summary sets out how and why it happened, and what can be expected in 2020 and beyond. From The Guardian.

*

What happens after the UK leaves the EU? At 11pm on 31 January 2020 the UK will officially leave the European Union. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement the UK will then enter a transitional period during which time the UK will abide by EU rules despite no longer being a member. From iNews.

*

Top scientists are to be offered fast-track visas for Britain, as ministers finalise plans to slash low-skilled migration from the European Union. From Daily Mail.

*

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) report: points-based system and salary thresholds for immigration. From Gov.UK.

*

Negotiations on the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU will start on 3 March, more than a month after the UK’s departure from the bloc, the Guardian can reveal. From The Guardian.

*

UK business leaders have welcomed proposals to lower a controversial salary cap to £25,600 ($33,321) for migrant workers coming to fill jobs in the UK. But firms still fear staff shortages in some sectors where employers already struggle to find workers. From Yahoo News.

*

In its 271-page report, the migration advisory committee (Mac) does not back an Australian-points based system. Rather, it recommends a mixed system, which would rely on a minimum salary threshold for those people coming to the UK with a job offer and a points-based system for skilled workers coming to the UK without an arranged job. From The Guardian.

*

UK nationals rush to settle in Spain before they lose their rights as EU citizens on 31 December. From The Guardian.

Image: FreePik

brexit

LEGAL MINUTE: Brexit next week and immigration news

Posted by Marketing on with 0 Comment

The prime minister’s Withdrawal Agreement Act was signed off by the Queen on Thursday after completing its journey through parliament. From Sky News

*

Low-skilled migrants are likely to be banned from moving to Britain at the end of this year after the Government moved forwards its plans for a new immigration system. The UK will have the power to end free movement and set its own rules on migration at the end of the Brexit transition period, which runs until 31 December. From iNews

*

While at least 1,890 foreigners reached British shores in small boats last year, the Home Office says only about 125 were returned to European countries during the same period. From BBC

*

Boris Johnson has promised that the UK’s new immigration policy will put “people before passports” as he used his first set-piece speech of 2020 to extol the benefits of trade with post-Brexit Britain to a major gathering of African leaders. From The Guardian

*

Theresa May’s £30,000 salary cap on migrants is to be scrapped to meet demand for skilled workers into Britain after Brexit, under proposals to be published next week. From Telegraph

*

The Migration Advisory Committee will produce a report, commissioned by the Home Secretary, next week on what level of migration would suit the British economy best. From iNews

*

Boris Johnson has said the UK has “crossed the Brexit finish line” after Parliament passed legislation implementing the withdrawal deal. The EU Bill, which paves the way for the country to leave the bloc on 31 January, is now awaiting royal assent. From BBC

Know how non-citizens get a visa

LEGAL MINUTE: Brexit, royalty crisis and immigration

Posted by Marketing on with 0 Comment

Many EU workers appear to be holding back from submitting applications because they wrongly believe they will be rejected because they earn less than £30,000. From Independent.

*

Meghan Markle’s decision to move to Canada could affect her application to obtain British citizenship under Home Office rules. From Daily Mail.

*

A royal aide released a statement saying there was no change to the duchess’ application at this time, and that she still intends to become a UK citizen. From Business Insider.

*

Immigration rules are “overly complex and unworkable” according to the Law Commission, which recommends simplifying them in order to save the government £70m over the next decade. The regulations have quadrupled in length since 2010 and are “comprehensively criticised for being poorly drafted”, says the body, which advises ministers on updating the law. From The Guardian.

*

Will Boris Johnson stick to his promise not to extend the transition period, and what are the consequences of that for the kind of deal that can be done? Will he abide by his pledge not to align the UK with EU rules and standards, and what are the consequences for the UK economy? Will the EU continue to insist on that level playing field we keep hearing about, and what are the consequences of that for the prime minister’s Brexit plans? From Independent.

*

Brexit supporters have been given permission for a party in London’s Parliament Square at the moment the UK leaves the EU on 31 January. The event, being organised by Leave Means Leave, is due to take place between 21:00 and 23:15 GMT. The UK will leave the EU at 23:00 GMT, 47 years after it joined the then European Economic Community in 1973. From BBC.

*

There will be border checks on trade inside the UK under the Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson, the EU’s chief negotiator has said. Michel Barnier confirmed there would be “checks and controls” between Britain and Northern Ireland under the agreement that will govern the UK’s exit from the EU. From Independent.