Gherson is a London law firm specialising in UK immigration, nationality, extradition and Human Rights law.
As the UK immigration world is continuously evolving, with new immigration routes, new guidance and new rules being implemented regularly by the Home Office, it is essential to keep up-to-date with the latest immigration news and announcements.
We aim to report on the majority of these changes via our blogs. We also often post overviews of the various immigration routes and discuss requirements within the different visa categories.
So what have we been talking about this week?
Portugal Off The Red-List And Turkey Open To British Holidaymakers – COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Update for 15 March 2021
The rules for international arrivals in the UK were changed this week when Portugal and Mauritius were removed from the UK’s ‘Red List’. This means travellers from these countries no longer have to quarantine in a hotel but can do so at home instead.
Perhaps even more unexpectedly, Turkey suggested this week that British holidaymakers may be able to travel to Turkey without needing to have been vaccinated beforehand.
Read more here: https://www.gherson.com/blog/portugal-off-red-list-turkey-open-to-uk-holidaymakers, posted 15 March 2021.
Illegal Immigrants Will Not Be At Risk Of Deportation By Signing Up For The Coronavirus Vaccine
The Coronavirus vaccine is free of charge and qualification for receiving the vaccine is not dependent on an individual’s immigration status. Therefore, the UK government are encouraging the entire UK population to get the vaccine as soon as possible – this includes those who are currently in the UK illegally.
For more information, see our full blog here: https://www.gherson.com/blog/no-risk-of-deportation-illegal-immigrants-coronavirus-vaccine, posted 16 March 2021.
COVID-19 Immigration Update: Exceptional Assurance Extended
Once obtained, Exceptional Assurance permits an individual to remain in the UK lawfully until such time as they are able to leave. It is designed for those whose permission to remain in the UK is due to expire and who do not wish to remain in the UK long-term but are simply unable to leave due to COVID-19.
It was announced on 1 March that the policy has been extended to those whose leave expires between 1 – 31 March 2021.
To read more details about Exceptional Assurance, please see: https://www.gherson.com/blog/covid-19-exceptional-assurance-extended, posted 17 March 2021.
EU Settlement Scheme – This Year’s Deadline To Remain In Place
Qualifying EU, EEA and Swiss citizens must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to regularise their UK immigration status by 30 June 2021.
Concerns have been raised in respect of those unable to apply by this deadline and calls were made for the deadline to be extended. This week it was decided by the High Court that the deadline should remain in place as the Home Office have built in a grace period for those who have a reasonable excuse as to why they failed to apply before the deadline.
We discuss the case in more detail here: https://www.gherson.com/blog/eu-settlement-scheme-deadline-remains-unchanged, posted 17 March 2021.
Gherson has extensive experience in all aspects of UK immigration law. If you have any queries relating to the blogs published, or are interested in talking to us about your specific circumstances, please do not hesitate to contact us for further advice.
The information in these blogs is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in these blogs. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2021