Immigration news

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) increased the I-907 premium processing fee relevant to certain employment-based US visas on October 1 2018. According to a final rule published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2018, the fee was increased from $1,225 to $1,410 and came into effect on October 1.  This is the first increase in about seven years and represents an increase of about fifteen percent compared to the previous fee.  Please note that the old version of the premium processing I-907 form dated 26 June 2018 can be used only until 3 December 2018.

Controversial English Defence League (EDL) founder, Tommy Robinson, has been invited to speak at the US Congress by a group of Republican politicians, and could net £1 million for his visit.

Following the latest Tier 2 visa allocation meeting, the number of restricted Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) available for November 2018 stands at 2,153, according to UK Visas and Immigration data.  This type of Certificate of Sponsorship is required by Tier 2 sponsors to employ those resident outside the UK who need to apply for entry clearance, and those who wish to switch from a Tier 4 dependent visa to a

Critics of Donald Trump have accused the American President of abusing his position and using the US military to push his ‘anti-immigrant agenda’. The accusation comes as Trump orders the deployment of 5,200 US troops to the US border with Mexico, presumably to prevent these people claiming asylum or some type of US visa. In an inflammatory tweet posted just before US midterm elections, Trump wrote: ‘our Military is waiting for you!’

The US visa migrant caravan is still moving towards the US border.  Trying to gain political advantage from this US President Donald Trump has made a number of allegations about the Immigrant Caravan many of which are actually untrue:

"criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in"

"Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws!"

The controversial Immigration Health Surcharge is likely to double in December 2018, which was originally announced in February 2018. If you wish to avoid the new healthcare surcharge you should make sure you apply for a Tier 2 visa before December 2018.  If you need a Tier 2 sponsor licence first you should apply as soon as possible.