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UK Unveils Ambitious 5-Step Immigration Plan: How it Impacts You

In a significant move aimed at fulfilling the Brexit promise of reclaiming control over borders, Home Secretary James Cleverly has announced a comprehensive 5-step immigration…

The top ten countries with the highest immigrant population

Optimus Law has recently been using these blog pages to take a deep look into the specific immigration issues affecting individual countries. This has been…

Ukraine – an escalating refugee crisis

Once again, the topic of forced immigration is high on the news agenda – and once again, it has become an unwelcome by-product of war.…

Ukraine – 1.5 Million Refugees and Counting…

It was only last week that we wrote on this page that the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia is threatening to unleash one of…

Predictions for US immigration during 2022

The history of immigration to the United States is a long one, stretching almost right back to when the land was founded. The nation experienced…

Afghanistan Immigration: An Update

The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban during the summer last year was an action that horrified the world. At the time, we discussed on…

Where are we at with the UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill?

One of the most significant proposed pieces of new UK legislation currently continuing its passage through the statute-making process is the Nationality and Borders Bill.…

What happens to immigrants once they reach the UK?

While most people across Europe were full of the Christmas spirit and celebrating with their loved ones on Christmas Day, it was business as usual…

Can the UK and USA governments cope with current immigration levels?

Delays in processing asylum claims are at record levels on both sides of the Atlantic, placing increased pressure on already overstretched governments in both the…

UK Immigration: Are we about to see an overhaul of the judicial process?

There cannot be anyone who has failed to be moved by the appalling deaths of those migrants whose journey to the UK from France has…

Immigration: A review of a notable year

To say that the year 2021 has been a momentous one when it comes to immigration issues is somewhat of an understatement. Indeed, we here…

An analysis of the pressures being faced by frontline border control staff

There are many professions where making a mistake could have devastating consequences. A doctor, for example, must make life-or-death judgements every day. Airline pilots, roofers…

Safety Before Status – protecting immigrants who are victims of domestic abuse

As the UK’s leading, specialist immigration lawyers, it is important that the Optimus Law team maintains an awareness of all news and analysis when it…

Top police officers claim that the Nationality and Borders Bill will make it harder to prosecute human traffickers

On July 6, 2021, the Nationality and Borders Bill (the bill) was introduced in the UK Parliament with the aim of amending the current asylum and immigration system…

What UK industries are suffering labour shortages?

Just a few weeks ago, the news headlines were being dominated by stories of fuel shortages across the UK. The issue came to a head…

What does it take to be a successful immigration lawyer?

Law is one of the most popular academic disciplines in the world. With attractive salaries, strong job stability, and the respectable status often associated with…

Immigration Spotlight: France

As would be expected from the UK’s leading, specialist immigration lawyers, we at Optimus Law take a keen interest in what is happening regarding immigration…

The UK Border Force – job for life, or poisoned chalice?

Anyone who has ever travelled into the UK from overseas, be it for holidays or business, using air, sea, or land, will have seen the…

A Privatised Immigration Industry?

We recently analysed the issues faced by UK immigrants who have fallen victim to the Covid “cowboy” companies, charging fees for delivering inadequate – and…

Tackling the Covid Cowboys

Our specialist immigration law team at Optimus Law would like to invite you to remember the complex processes that UK immigrants go through to ensure…

Afghan immigrants: What are other countries doing to help?

The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban has horrified the world – including everyone here at specialist immigration lawyers, Optimus Law. With horrific images of…

U.S. announces strategy to tackle immigration

Now that the UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill is at Committee stage – where detailed examination of the Bill is taking place – it makes…

Nationals of specific countries who commit crimes appear more likely to be removed from the UK

“If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” Never has this saying been so apt as a recent case of The Guardian newspaper…

Nationality and Borders Bill Approaches Second UK Parliament Reading

Now that the much-anticipated Nationality and Borders Bill is nearing its second reading in the UK’s House of Commons, immigration law specialists, Optimus Law, is…

Are Sponsorship Licences the Answer to Filling UK Skills Shortages?

British industry chiefs have warned the UK is facing a summer of food shortages similar to a series of “rolling power cuts” because of a…

Concerns Over “Dirty Money” Fuels Historical Tier 1 (Investor) Visa Review

Immigration law specialists, Optimus Law, has learned that “security concerns” lie behind the UK government’s decision to review all Tier 1 (Investor) visas which were…

Pride and the Legal Sector

The month of June is the Pride month, 30 days dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ communities all around the world. As legal professionals, Optimus Law,…

Last Call for the EU Settlement Scheme

Immigration law specialists Optimus Law would like to highlight that with only two days to go until the end of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS),…

UK Immigrants face COVID-19 Hardship

A new report has outlined the devastating impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on UK migrants with limited or insecure status has been read…

Joe Biden urged to drop Julian Assange extradition bid

The immigration law firm, Optimus Law, have learned that a cross-party group of 24 UK MPs have signed an open letter to the US President,…

UK and India Sign New Migration Agreement

A new migration and mobility partnership, announced by the Home Office on 4th May, will provide a “bespoke route” for young working professionals from India…

EU Settlement Scheme applications deadline looms

What you need to know in light of the fast-approaching deadline The deadline for EU Settlement Scheme applications is fast approaching. European Union, European Economic…

187 Million Make Freedom-Enhancing Move

Analysis by the Cato Institute reveals that some 186.6 million immigrants had moved to freer countries by 2019   187 million immigrants moved to freer…

What Next for Working from Home?

The pandemic has brought about a sea-change in working patterns in the UK – and the tide shows no signs of turning any time soon…

Extradition Issues

EU countries have refused to guarantee the extradition of suspected criminals to the UK Some 20 EU countries have told the UK that they will…

Priti Patel’s New Plan for Immigration: the key takeaways

The new plan is the most significant overhaul of the UK’s asylum system in decades On 24th March, Home Secretary Priti Patel set out the…

An Unseen Epidemic

A virulent epidemic has been playing out behind closed doors in the UK over the past year. It is not, however, viral in nature. Instances…

Vaccine Passports – Will They, Won’t They?

With the vaccine rollout in the UK continuing apace – as of the 12th of March, over 23 million first doses and almost 1.5 million…

5 Steps to Achieving a Successful Domestic Violence Application

Step 1 - File a Police Report (If Appropriate) Domestic abuse or violence is a crime and should be reported to the police – there…

Hong Kong Tensions Come to a Head

The launch of the UK’s visa citizenship scheme has sparked fresh political discord – and China could yet respond with further measures   The aftershocks…

US immigration: A Softening Stance

The early signs indicate that Joe Biden’s Immigration policies will differ heavily from those of his predecessor   Donald Trump’s departure from the White House…

A Case for ‘Climate Refugees’?

A recent ruling by a French court could mark a watershed moment for refugee law   As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate media headlines…

A Misinformation Disease

Vaccines provide a road out of lockdowns – and hope for a return to normality in 2021 – but misinformation and disinformation must be countered…

Gainful Employment is the Solution to the Displaced People Crisis

According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, there were 79.5 million forcibly displaced people globally by the end of 2019, amounting to 1% of the…

Deportation Flight Denounced

The Home Office has found itself under the pressure of late after it came in for criticism from campaigners, lawyers, politicians and celebrities over the…

Expats Face Travel Problems After UK-EU Transition Period Ends

A number of British expats were denied entry to Spain after arriving in Barcelona on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow on the 2nd…

What’s Next for Hong Kong?

Relations between the US and China have been bordering on icy in the past couple of years, with a long-running trade war standoff defining the…

The Free School Meals Showdown Isn’t Just About Food

UK diners feasted on more than 100 million discount meals in August as part of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The Treasury…

Voters Poised to Make America Sane Again

After riding to power on the back of promises to an electorate that felt abandoned by the ‘Washington elite’, some may feel that Donald Trump…

What ‘Thin Brexit’ Could Mean for UK Jobs

With just weeks to go until the Brexit transition period ends on December 31, the precise nature of Britain’s relationship with the European Economic Area…

New UK Immigration System 2021: Things You Should Know Before Applying

The UK has introduced a point-based system that will be implemented from the 1st of January 2021 once the free movement ends. The new points-based immigration…

How to Obtain a Work Permit for the UK?

The UK is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world. The country is not only popular because of its magnificent lakes and…

Can I Study in the U.K. with a Tourist Visa?

The UK tourist visa allows a person from outside the EEA or Switzerland to visit the UK for up to 6-months. This visa type is…

Boris and the Brexit Border Blunder

RiFew can be enjoying the resurgence of the Irish border conundrum, least of all Boris Johnson – so why bother with the trade deal bluster?…

Can we Recover from the Furlough Economic Fallout?

Rishi Sunak’s rapid and decisive move to introduce generous furlough payments to a third of the UK’s workforce temporarily saved hundreds of thousands of jobs…

Britain and France Plan to Shut Down Migrant Routes Across the Channel

Britain and France have decided to embark on a mutually agreed-upon plan for blocking the migrant routes across the channel, Chris Philip, the British Immigration…

Lockdown.. COVID-19..Social Distancing and the list goes on!

Just a few months ago we had never even heard of COVID-19 and now our lives have been changed forever, as we try to adjust…

The Complete Guide for UK Visa 2020 in Coronavirus Pandemic

Whether you want to work or study in the UK, you’ll need a UK visa to enter the country. There are multiple visa categories, each with its own…

Who is Shamima Begum?

Shamima Begum (born 1999) is a British woman who left the UK, aged 15, to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)…

Immigration Health Surcharge (2020)

Most foreign nationals applying from outside the EEA are required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge. Notably, this fee is separate from the visa application…

What’s Happening with Britain’s Borders?

From COVID confusion to Channel crossings and organised crime, Britain’s border problems paint a picture of confusion First, there were outright travel bans, then bubbles,…

Implication of Coronavirus on UK Post Study Visas

The spread of the Covid-19 virus is already having a massive impact on colleges and universities around the world. If you are already pursuing a degree programme…

Spike or Spin?

It may be futile to make sense of what is really happening in the world of COVID-19, but one segment of society seems to have…

Point Based UK Immigration Bill

If you want to study or work in the UK, but you are dependent on immigration rules, you must apply for a UK visa. The…

UK Tier 2 Sponsor License Duties

The Coronavirus outbreak is a human tragedy. Unlike other disasters such as 9/11 and Tsunamis, whose impact was limited to geographical locations, the novel Covid-19…

Guidance for Self-Employed UK Visa Holders During Covid-19

The UK Government has imposed a strict lockdown in the country after observing a massive rise in the positive Covid-19 cases. Although there may be…

Everybody’s talking about the ‘Swedish Model’

Sweden is being hailed by some as a model of Scandinavian Pragmatism and by others as a Dangerous Game of Russian Roulette with People’s Lives…

Will I be Able to go on Holiday this Year?

Surely the biggest hurdle for those of us desperate to get an EasyJet to somewhere hot this year is the ‘stale’ air we all share…

British Airways Announces Layoffs Due to Covid-19

The current coronavirus pandemic has taken every industry by storm – be it education, e-commerce, healthcare, or immigration. The Foreign Office has already advised against…

How We Can Help Amid This Pandemic?

The current COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the way many of us live our lives. At Optimus Law, we hope that you, your family, and loved…

Coronavirus – What Are Your Travel Rights?

The novel COVID-19 pandemic is now spreading well beyond China and is affecting more than 210 countries across the globe. Businesses are closed, schools are…

How Coronavirus Disrupted UK Air Travel?

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises UK nationals to halt all non-essential international travel. Also, many countries have already imposed travel restrictions and border closures…

The Impact of Low Oil Prices on UK Economy

The COVID 19 pandemic has forced countries to impose lockdowns, travel restrictions, and halt ongoing immigration decisions and processes. Retail is closed, people whose citizenships…

The impact of COVID-19 on the UK Immigration System

As the novel Coronavirus continues to spread, there are serious implications for people’s health and the NHS, coronavirus (COVID-19) is also having a significant impact…

Response to Coronavirus Outbreak – Optimus Law

In response to the current COVID 19 pandemic, the Board of Directors at Optimus Law has created a practical and result-driven operational plan to safeguard…

Coronavirus Cases in the UK as Of 31st March, 2020 [INFOGRAPHIC]

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the UK stands at 25,150 out of which 135 have been fully recovered while the death toll…

UK Outlines New Fast Track Visa Route for Researchers after Brexit

The UK government has announced that it will introduce a fast-track Global Talent Visa scheme on the 20th of February to attract the World’s leading…

Guidance on Coronavirus for Non-UK Nationals

The current COVID-19 pandemic is infiltrating every aspect of life be it education, business or travel. Because of the ongoing travel restrictions, non-UK nationals may…

New Immigration Plan: What You Need to Know?

Brexit isn’t over yet. However, the country has already started their new post-Brexit plans including to cease what it called the UK’s reliance on ‘cheap…

Getting a Visa for Your Partner to Live in the UK

A Spouse Visa UK is a settlement visa that enables you to live with your British partner for up to 30 months in the UK,…

5 Reasons Why You Should Apply for British Citizenship NOW

Acquiring British nationality in the words of Theresa May is a Privilege, not a right! Unlike the nationality of any other country, British Citizenship has…

How to Get the Tier 4 Student Visa?

Unless you’re an EEA or a Swiss citizen, you’ll need to acquire a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK. Once you have…

There was one big immigration story in 2019 – and it wasn’t Brexit

Brexit nearly happened, didn’t happen, nearly happened and didn’t happen again. However, the dithering didn’t stop a wholesale reform of the UK’s immigration laws.  …

How to Appeal Against Deportation in the UK?

Deportation can be a heartbreaking situation if you or your family have been settled in the UK.  Deportation separates families! It is therefore important to…

Your Right to Remain – How To Prevent Deportation

You may be asked to leave the UK if you have violated any immigration or criminal law. This forceful removal is called ‘deportation’ or ‘administrative…

British Citizenship Prerequisites Explained

You can become a British national either by birth or you have to apply for naturalisation if you’re an adult (i.e. over 18 years of…

UK Start-up Visa Guide for 2019

UK Startup Visa 2019 – An Overview As promised, the Government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has finally announced a 2-years UK start-up visa with…

Reasons for UK Visa Refusal – Ways to Overcome Them

Big Ben or Beckham, England is famous for many things. It is believed to be one of the major destinations for international migrants around the…

Indefinite Leave to Remain Explained

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) also known as ‘Permanent Residency’ is an immigration status granted to the citizens of countries outside the EEA region, who…

Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a UK Visa

The success ratio of your visa application depends on a number of different factors. For instance, it takes into account the country you’re applying for,…

Choosing the Right Immigration Lawyer – Secrets Revealed

Immigration lawyers are extremely beneficial especially if you have zero knowledge about the immigration procedure. They can help you out with completing your UK visa…

The ‘Surinder Singh’ principle: ‘Centre of Life’ test unlawful says Upper Tribunal – Omarkhail v Home Secretary

The Surinder Singh principle, or ‘route’ as commonly referred to, takes its name from the old Court of Justice judgment in R v IAT and…

Optimus Law Macmillan Coffee Morning!

On Friday 27th September 2019, Optimus Law held its second Macmillan Cancer Coffee morning at 10 New Bartholomew Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 5QS. People…

Free Immigration Advice Clinic in Birmingham

Free Immigration Advice Every Wednesday 1pm - 7pm Often clients need to speak with a lawyer for a short amount of time to understand the…

I’ve Only Been in the UK for Three Years – Can I Stay?

The first bit of good news is that you only need to show you've lived in the UK for one day in the last six…

Technology Could Get The Better of You with Pre-Settled Status

On 9th May, a married couple from Oxford both who werre  EU citizens  were prevented from boarding their British Airways flight home after a holiday in…

Endorsement for the Tier 1 Innovator Visa

Innovator Visa As we previously discussed in our recent blog post, the new Tier 1 categories; Innovator Visa and Start Up Visa are the newest…

Deal or No Deal, EU Settlement Scheme Goes Ahead

Despite the UK still being in the EU after its scheduled departure date, the ‘post-Brexit’ EU settlement scheme remains in place. On 30th March, a…

Tier 1 Start Up & Tier 1 Innovator Visa

The scrapping of the Tier-1 Entrepreneur Visa was met with consternation by some and applause by others. But, how will its replacements be received? The…

The Tier 1 Visa is Dead – but it’s Not All Bad News

On 1st August 2019, the UK Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa will be abolished. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this may be a strange mood…

BREXIT, IRISH VISAS AND EU RECESSION

BREXIT, IRISH VISAS AND EU RECESSION   As we near the Brexit End game – now 41 days away from the legally mandated day of…

EU Settlement Scheme Update

Theresa May scraps the £65 fee The government has recently stated that the £65 fee, to be paid for the application under the EU Settlement…

What Does the Future Hold for EU citizens in Britain?

The PM’s post-Salzburg comment that, “Even in the event of no deal, your rights will be protected” have been interpreted by many commentators as a…

GDPR – A simple guide for businesses

What is GDPR? The GDPR is the new framework for data protection laws for businesses in the EU replacing the previous directive and the current…

International Students – should they be granted a new post-study work visa?

It is estimated that the economic impact of International students is circa £25 billion that includes spending on or off the campus. The spending of…

Brexit deal: Will this affect my travels to the EU?

As negotiations progress, a common question asked is based on travelling to the EU with a UK passport and no Brexit deal, and here’s everything…

Undocumented in Ireland – Should Britain follow Ireland’s lead on Immigration Amnesty?

There are currently between 20,000 and 26,000 undocumented men, women and children in Ireland. Many of these are in Ireland for the long-term, they work…

Teresa May apologetic about threatening Windrush Generation with deportation

The Prime Minister has been genuinely apologetic about the anxiety caused by threatening those of the Windrush generation with deportation. The Windrush generation is are…

When do spouse visa is applied?

In order to meet the requirements, the British spouse must meet the following requirements: Financial requirements –  £18,600 additional if they have non-British children Accommodation…

After a tricky campaign, can the PM now say that ‘Brexit means Brexit’?

Theresa May has been elected as the Prime Minster, despite running what is widely regarded as a poor and madly managed campaign. As we look…

A Year to Celebrate?

The year 2017 began with an air of great uncertainty as Britain’s fledgling Prime Minister pondered what to do about article 50, Donald Trump prepared…

Forget Brexit – Britain is booming

Right in the heart of England is the UK’s ‘second city’ – Birmingham. It’s attracting record levels of investment domestically and from abroad and, despite…

The Truth About Brexit, Britain and its ‘2nd City’ Birmingham

Away from the Westminster gossip and Brexit scare stories, Britain and its second city are well and truly open for business.   In early 2016,…

Planning to Hire Foreign Nationals? Here’s Your Go-to Guide

More than 11% of the labour market in UK is non-nationals ranging from different countries, including EU. More than 1.5 million people are non-UK nationals working…

Hiring Foreign Nationals Within the UK

Over the past twenty years foreign nationals within the UK job market, have increased rapidly to seven million people. The share of foreign nationals employed…

Brexit and the Impact on non-EEA Nationals

Since the triggering of “Article 50” there has been a surge in Irish passports.. For those with Irish relatives, the question we hear most frequently…

EU Migration falls as UK businesses fear skills shortage

For the first time since 2013, annual EU net migration fell below 100,000 according to the Office for National Statistics. The figures added to the…

Is immigration threatening to isolate the PM?

The topic of UK immigration has never been far from the top of the news agenda since 2016’s EU Referendum result. Whether it’s the City…

Nationality laws in UK

Laws for nationality in UK keep changing time to time. It is therefore paramount for a person seeking the UK nationality to keep him or…

The Kickstart Guide For Naturalisation in the U.K

Laws for nationality in the U.K. have changed over time. It is important to keep yourself updated if you are planning on applying for nationality…

Employers – are your Brexit ready?

Optimus Law presents a step by step guide for applying for a sponsorship licence. On 18 January 2017 Theresa May’s Brexit speech set out the…

Tis the season to be married

As many will be aware in the current climate immigration is a hot topic with a general perception that there is a need to drive…

Refusal of Appeal

Since the 25th of June, 2013 The Home Office enforced there will be no right of appeal against the refusal of a family visit visa…

Time for calm reflection on EU citizens right to remain

Despite the UK government announcing in June that none of the three million EU citizens currently residing in the UK would be asked to leave…

Visit Visa

A visitor is a person who is coming to the United Kingdom, generally for up to six months, for a temporary purpose, for example to…

Immigration Health Surcharge to Double in December 2018

The government introduced the Immigration Health Surcharge on 6th April 2015. The increase will come into effect on the 8th January 2019. The Immigration Health Surcharge…

Introduction of Immigration Health Charge Amendment Order 2018

Doubling the health surcharge rate is expected to reduce visa applications but make major savings on public services. On 8th January 2019, the Immigration (Health Charge)…

EU Settlement Scheme: An update

The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) recently drafted a joint commentary on the EU Settlement Scheme for EU citizens and their family members living in…

Brexit Deal or No Deal, Low-Skilled Migration May Continue

The Home Office appears to have drawn up potentially controversial immigration contingencies for a no-deal Brexit At the time of writing, absolutely nobody knows how…

The EU Settlement Scheme explained

The EU Settlement Scheme explained In June 2018 the Home Office released a Statement of Intent setting out a Scheme, the EU Settlement Scheme, that outlines specifics on how…

End of Year Message for 2018

MIGRATION AND POLITICS IN 2018 TRAGEDY AND COMEDY If the past few years have told us anything, it’s that dealing with global migration flows is…

EU Settlement Scheme: Pilot for Healthcare Professionals

The Home Office has recently launched its third EU Settlement Status pilot. The one currently in function opened on the 29th of November and is aimed to…

New funds for settled status applications always mean good news for you!

Are you an EEA National and vulnerable? Do you have financial constraints and are worried about paying for your settled status application?? The most encouraging…

NEW STATEMENT CHANGES TO THE IMMIGRATION RULES

Immigration laws are constantly changing and it is important that you keep up with them at all times as changes are usually in favor of…

Applying for leave to remain as a victim of Domestic violence

What is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence is a violation of one’s human rights. Whilst it can affect men and women from all ethnic backgrounds and…

“Gold-plated’ Tier 1 investor visa to be halted

“Gold-plated’ Tier 1 investor visa to be halted Taking effect at midnight on Friday, Caroline Nokes, Immigration Minister has announced a suspension of the Tier…

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