Ukraine conflict

Ukraine conflict

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had significant implications for immigration practitioners. This subtopic includes a resources page which summarises key aspects and compiles links to useful

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Latest Immigration News

Opora launches Ukrainian language information on the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

The charity Opora has published a Ukrainian-language information resource on applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, which includes a video walk-through and a basic 28 calculator so applicants can check that they are not applying too early.

EHRC submits report on economic, social and cultural rights in Great Britain to UN

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has submitted a report to the United Nations (UN) titled ‘economic, social and cultural rights in Great Britain: 2025 submission to United Nations’. The report assesses the state of economic, social and cultural rights in Great Britain and forms part of EHRC’s work on monitoring the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The measures suggested in the report are mainly aimed at the UK and Welsh governments. Key recommendations focus on enhancing ICESCR rights in domestic law, tackling socio-economic disadvantage, and improving various public services including employment support, social security, housing, and healthcare.

Ukraine Scheme included in Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession

As of 4 February 2025 victims of domestic abuse whose relationship to a Ukrainian national under the Ukraine Scheme breaks down will be included in the concession that grants three months leave outside the rules with the right to work and access to public funds. It is likely people facing this situation will want to seek individualised immigration advice, because for many people the concession's short period of leave will not provide a better form of leave than the person's current leave, but it may be relevant where a person finds out unexpectedly that they may not be entitled to apply to the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme because their relationship has broken down and their current leave is ending. Ukraine scheme former-partners have not been included in Appendix Domestic Abuse (which provides a further application route to apply for settlement), just in the time-limited concession, which was previously expanded to include partners of people on work and study visas.

House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee writes letter urging government to reform STEM talent immigration policy

The House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee (‘the Committee’) has written to the Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Science expressing concerns about the UK's immigration and visa policy for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) talent. The Committee argues that current policies, including high up-front visa costs and immigration uncertainties, are hindering the UK's competitiveness in the global race for talent. Key recommendations include mitigating the burden of the Immigration Health Surcharge by allowing instalment payments, clarifying and expanding eligibility for the Global Talent visa, and reviewing the ban on dependants for postgraduate taught courses due to its impact on university finances and research capabilities. The Committee also calls for improved data collection and analysis to better understand the impacts of changing visa policies on the STEM sector and promote a more nuanced public discourse on immigration.