Employers looking overseas to fill vacancies for skilled and senior roles have been facing difficulties over the last few months with restrictions starting to bite on the popular Tier 2 (General) immigration category.
Following reports that the NHS and GP practices are struggling to attract and retain doctors from the European Economic Area (EEA), GP practices are increasingly looking further afield to try to fill vacancies.
A recent case has clarified that where an employee has the right to work in the UK, but has not provided evidence of this right, this failure does not entitle their employer to dismiss them for illegality, as no statutory duty is breached.
The government announced earlier this week that it will be introducing a package of measures to create new technology hubs in Birmingham and other cities around the UK.
A trend has developed over the last few months that will be of concern to many Tier 2 sponsors: the number of restricted Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) made available under the government's cap on Tier 2 (General) is close to being reached.
From 6 April 2017, nursery, primary and secondary school teachers applying for Tier 2 visas outside the UK will need to provide criminal record certificates in support of their applications.
On 16 March, the Home Office published 269 pages of changes to the Immigration Rules. Buried in the detail are some significant changes for independent school sponsors.
EU nationals are turning down jobs from UK pharmaceutical companies over concerns about the UK's relationship with the EU following the Brexit vote last year, according to recent reports.
In her speech on 17 January 2017 setting out the government's objectives for exiting the EU, Theresa May commented on a number of immigration issues that will have a significant impact on both EU nationals currently in the UK and their employers.
From 25 November 2016 Immigration Officers will have tough new powers allowing them to close down business premises where they believe the business has repeatedly employed illegal workers.