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Home Office: Unlawful Search & Phone Seizure Practices

Between at least April 2020 and 23 November 2020, the Home Office adopted an unpublished “mobile phone policy” whereby migrants who arrived in the UK by small boats were searched and had their mobile phones and SIM cards seized. In some cases, immigration officials demanded PIN numbers and claimed that migrants were legally required to […]

Bricklayers and Carpenters Visas

Overseas bricklayers and carpenters could be able to get work visas more easily in the UK after the government updated its shortage occupation list. The list, which now also includes roofers and plasterers, highlights occupations that employers are struggling to fill. The five occupations approved by the committee are: Bricklayers and masons Roofers, roof tilers […]

Case Note: MA (Pakistan)-v-SSHD [2019] EWCA Civ 1252

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 On 18 July 2018 the Court of Appeal (Lord Justices Simon and Lindblom) MA (Pakistan)-v-SSHD [2019] EWCA Civ 1252 dismissed the Applicant’s deportation appeal. MA a Pakistani national appealed against tribunal decisions upholding a deportation order made by the secretary of state. The appellant came to the UK on a spousal visa in 1996. He […]

When (HMRC) records go wrong

Becket Bedford is currently embroiled in the intricacies of EEA deport notices. They involve public law arguments and the slow process of incremental gains e.g., R (Costea) v SSHD [2021] EWHC 1685 (Admin) or R (Mendes) v SSHD [2021] EWHC 115 (Admin). So, courtesy of Jay Islam at Fountains Solicitors, it felt good to be in the tribunal this month […]

The points-based immigration system: The Graduate immigration route

The UK has a world-leading education sector and welcomes talented and high potential students to universities, further education and English language colleges every year. The Graduate route provides an opportunity for international students who have been awarded their degree to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, at any skill level for […]

An insight into the career of an immigration solicitor

Introducing Faysal  We recently caught up with Faysal Yaqoob, an immigration solicitor at Fountain Solicitors’ busy Manchester office. Fountain Solicitors are a national firm of solicitors with offices in Walsall, Newport, Birmingham and Manchester specialising in a wide range of areas, including immigration, asylum and human rights law. Faysal kindly shared his career highlights, challenges, […]

Red list countries added!

Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines have been added to England’s coronavirus “red list”. This will take effect from 4am on Friday, 9 April, is in response to concerns about new variants of COVID-19, like those first detected in South Africa and Brazil. It means international visitors who have departed from or transited through those […]

Priti Patel promises overhaul of asylum seeker rules

Article by our Solicitor Keerum Akhtar 24.03.021 Yet again, Priti Patel claims the headlines with her plans to “crack” down on asylum. Whilst a fair asylum process,  more reasonable then the one we currently have is welcomed the information projected is not in touch with the reality that many asylum seekers  face. As practitioners  who […]