Test-driving the new gadgets: (1) EU Settlement scheme and ID CHECK App, (2) “New service” for FLR application submissions by Sopra Steria, (3) Overseas visa online document upload courtesy Teleperformance

Posted on by January 21, 2019

I remember being amused once, years ago, at a Marxism festival in London, where an influential “champagne socialism” ideologue Alex Callinicos, a middle-aged professor, proclaimed in a dismissive, matter- of-fact lackluster way – “We hate the Tories – hate, hate, hate”, moving on mid-sentence. It didn’t seem like a sort of thing you would say matter-of-factly, without a pause for a chant. Yet, I nowadays say just in this same manner, that I hate all private contractors that  the government hires to do its work, instead of hiring and training unionized civil servants. Sopra Steria, Capita, ATOS,  G4S, Serco – hate, … Continue reading →

It’s not just “simplifying” the Immigration Rules. The principles of how government interacts with users of the immigration system are changing.

Posted on by January 21, 2019

The Law commission started a public consultation on now the immigration rules are to be rewritten. They call it, unambiguously, a consultation on “Simplifying immigration rules”.  Reminds me of a character played by Ralph Fiennes in some movie, who is trying to get a young actor to say “Oh, but if it were so simple”, but the latter only manages to say  “It’s complicated”.  This is different from  a question on what sort of rules do we need in a first place (eg, who is allowed to come here and on what conditions). This is about who, how, where and … Continue reading →

Home Office must STOP PERPETUATING ABUSE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN ESCAPING EEA RELATIONSHIPS

Posted on by January 21, 2019

It was Christmas Eve yesterday, and the “PM Exceptions” team, which used to employ humans but clearly no longer does, had dampened it considerably by dumping a pile of dung on my doorstep. A pile I would have to somehow explain this Christmas to yet one more scared, abused, cornered Ukrainian woman, a single mother of two children, both British citizens, terrorised by a Lithuanian man who fathered one of them and to whom she is still married. I promised her that I will help her. But UKVI has now taken to piling on and perpetuating spousal abuse. IT MUST … Continue reading →

Tier 1 Investor route closes immediately, but there are still options left for the wealthy – for now (UPDATE – APPARENTLY NOT CLOSED?)

Posted on by December 25, 2018

Tier 1 Investor route suspended with immediate effect, unless you already filed an application today. That being said, I never worked with T1I, even in my for-profit days — the amounts involved were always beyond the level of responsibility I wanted to be anywhere near. However all those who were maybe contemplating an application and now cannot, would note that Tier 1 Entrepreneur route is technically still open and available, and most of those who qualify as investors would qualify under it. I humbly predict T1E will also go in April or whenever the post-Brexit overhaul is announced, so – no time to waste. Some could also qualify as a sole representative (no investment at all). If you are in Russia and in this position, I can take a look at your options now, if you want: not in my UK practice, but when I am in Russia 16-20 December, and then again at the last week of March. Would have to aim at submitting end of March then. (Click here to read this in Russian – здесь по-русски)