121 Law Associates

🎉 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟏𝟐𝟏 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬! 🎉

As we begin the New Year, all of us at 121 Law Associates would like to extend our warmest wishes for a peaceful, prosperous, and fulfilling 2026 to our clients, colleagues, and community. We appreciate your trust in us and look forward to continuing to serve you with integrity, dedication, and professionalism in the coming year.

With gratitude,
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟐𝟏 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦

👩🏽‍🎓📖 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐊 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 👨🏽‍🎓📚
The number of international students applying to undergraduate courses at UK universities has risen for a second year running. New data shows 115,730 students from outside the UK applied to start in September, up from 114,910 last year

Overseas student applications to UK universities rise again But the new data excludes postgraduates - and universities remain worried overall numbers will fall.

The Home Office is facing a High Court challenge over the "mistreatment" of people applying to renew and extend their visas.
A judicial review challenging the Government’s actions towards hundreds of thousands of people with the immigration status known as "3C leave" has been launched by the Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex & London (RAMFEL).
The status is granted automatically to those applying to extend their visas, and ensures that their rights, including the right to work, are protected while the application is processed.
However, RAMFEL says the Government does not give people on 3C leave proof of their immigration status, and this means they spend the period they are waiting to learn if their renewal has been successful with "no proof of their status, rights and entitlements".

Home Office faces High Court challenge over ‘mistreatment’ of visa holders Visa holders have been wrongly suspended from work, seen disability benefits stopped and education jeopardised while waiting for visa renewals, a migrant charity has said

As we bid farewell to 2023 and embrace the dawn of a brand new year, we wanted to take a moment to send you our warmest wishes for a truly Happy New Year!

May the year 2024 bring you an abundance of joy, prosperity, and good health. May it be filled with exciting opportunities, memorable experiences, and cherished moments with your loved ones. As the clock strikes midnight, let go of the past and embrace the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

Wishing you a Happy New Year 2024!

The UK government has modified its earlier announcement to increase the salary requirement for bringing family members to the country. The initial proposal to raise the current threshold from £18,600 to £38,700 has been reconsidered. Instead, the new threshold will be set at £29,000 from next spring. The government has also planned further increases at unspecified dates in the future. This change of plan was confirmed by Lord Sharpe of Epsom, a Home Office minister, in response to a parliamentary question. According to him, the salary threshold would increase in incremental stages to provide predictability. The aim is to eventually raise it to £34,500 and then to £38,700, but no specific dates have been given yet.

Home Office accused of ‘chaos’ after U-turn on salary threshold for family visa Department unexpectedly announces interim increase to just £29,000, with no timeline given for planned full rise to £38,700

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

For certain visa or citizenship applications, you need to prove your knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test (SELT). If you are in the UK you can take a SELT with IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert, Pearson and Trinity College London. If you are outside of the UK then you can only take a SELT with IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert, Pearson and PSI Services (UK) Ltd.

If you are applying as an Innovator, Start-up, Skilled Worker, Minister of Religion, and Student. In that case, you will need to take a test that assesses your reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. However, if you are applying as a Sportsperson, Representative of an Overseas Business, partner, parent, settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain), citizenship. In that case, you will need to take a test that assesses your speaking and listening abilities.

The level of test you will need, known as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level, will depend on the route you are applying for. To find out which level you need, see the specific guidance for your immigration route.

According to the latest figures, 6,287,700 applications were received until 31 October 2021, under the EU Settlement Scheme, and 5,908,400 applications were concluded. It means 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝟑𝟕𝟗,𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Dan Romulus Dandes and Babbar Ali Jamil (Directors at DDR Legal Services LLP) and Ms Zia Bi (Director of Burlow & Spencer Ltd) were sentenced yesterday, (Tuesday 5 January 2021) at the Old Bailey where they were given the following sentences:

Mr Dandes received a £20,000 compensation order and fined £750
Mr Jamil, who is currently believed to be out of the country was fined £10,000 in his absence
Ms Bi was given a fine of £6,000 and an £8,745 compensation order
The trio were originally found guilty of providing unqualified immigration advice

Unregulated immigration advice earns Directors £17,000 fine Directors to pay back over over £28,000 in compensation

You can enter the UK as an S2 Healthcare Visitor if you have been authorised to receive planned healthcare in the UK under the ‘S2 arrangement' or you're accompanying or joining someone who is.

Applications for the new skilled worker visa open today (1 December), meaning the brightest and the best from around the world can now apply to work in the UK from 1 January 2021. The new immigration rules will ensure that businesses can recruit the most highly qualified from across the globe to drive the economy forwards and keep the UK at the frontier of innovation.

Under the points-based immigration system, points will be awarded for a job offer at the appropriate skill level, knowledge of English and being paid a minimum salary. Skilled worker visas will be awarded to those who gain enough points. It will also encourage employers to focus on training and investing in the UK workforce, driving productivity and improving opportunities for individuals, especially those impacted by the coronavirus.

Six thousand doctors, nurses, paramedics, midwives, occupational therapists, psychologists as well as a range of allied health professionals will have their visas extended for a year, free of all fees and charges.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-more-health-workers-to-benefit-from-visa-extensions?

Thousands more health workers to benefit from visa extensions More than 6,000 frontline health workers will have their visas extended for a year for free, including doctors, nurses and paramedics.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54208024
More Afghan interpreters eligible to settle in UK after rule change

More Afghan interpreters eligible to settle in UK A rule change means about 100 more of those who served with British forces will be able to live in the UK.