👉 Immigration news roundup

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Dear customers of 1st 4Immigration and Multi Travel Visas,


#1 Visa centres are beginning to reopen from 1 June, for UK visa applications. In the UK, they are only offering appointments to the applicants who had booked prior to the lockdown and had their appointments cancelled, but it’s a start. 

Outside the UK: depends on the situation in your country. Many are still closed (Canada, Russia, India, for example), although some are also beginning to re-open (Malaysia, China including Hong Kong). 

At this moment there is no news on foreign travel visas, such as if you are hoping to travel to the Schengen area this summer. 


#2 Visas for Hong Kong residents. This has been making headlines lately. It is not an official policy yet. It is an intention, in case the new law is implemented in Hong Kong, to allow British Nationals (Overseas), known as BN(O), to come to the UK for 12 month. Visa-free. Instead of the current 6 months. No more details yet. It is expected the newcomers may be given the right to work, extend for another 12 months and eventually get settlement.


#3 English language test centres are also resuming their work: Visit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)’s website, the Pearson Test of English website or the LanguageCert website


 #4 If you had a 30-day visa sticker in your passport but couldn’t travel to the UK. You can request another one, free of charge, and travel later. This will remain in place until end of 2020. 


#5 This isn’t new, but remember the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) will be increasing from £400 per year to £624 per year! Per person, so per each family member too. Expected from October but no official date is confirmed (to prevent the rush of applications before that). We suggest to apply for a UK visa as soon as you qualify. Applying means the date of online application and payment, even if your visa centre appointment - and all subsequent steps- come after the new IHS is implemented. 


We at 1st 4Immigration are working as normal. We continue to guide on the visa rules, assist with applications online, via email and Dropbox. Just drop us a message if you wish to start or restart your engagement with us. 
If you need a consultation (advice session), we continue over WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype and email, and you can book here: https://www.1st4immigration.com/book-a-consultation/ 

If you need any help from us, or any questions, please do get in touch!


1st 4Immigration is one of the most experienced and prominent UK immigration law companies, accredited by the OISC at the highest Level 3. We have been in business for over 10 years, our OISC reference is 200800152, in which 2008 stands for the year accreditation. Address: Tower 42 (NatWest Tower), 25 Old Broad Street, City of London, London, EC2N 1HN.
www.1st4immigration.com

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