Natasha Chell reviews the Brexit White Paper
Natasha Chell reviews the Brexit White Paper
17 July 2018
Partner and Head of Compliance Natasha Chell has reviewed the Government’s Brexit White Paper and analysed the areas impacting immigration and post-Brexit rights of EU nationals and their family members.
In her comments to People Management Natasha notes with concern the scant detail provided with the White Paper’s mobility arrangements, marking a further delay for businesses urgently requiring substantive detail on post Brexit immigration plans. She also observes that currently the Government does not plan on releasing any further information on post-Brexit immigration policy until they receive the Migration Advisory Committee report in September 2018. This leaves employers in a position of prolonged uncertainty at a time of declining EU migration and a chronically oversubscribed Tier 2 (General) system.
Read the full People Management article here.
Natasha Chell comments on the latest ONS migration statistics
Natasha Chell comments on the latest ONS migration statistics
16 July 2018
Partner and Head of Compliance Natasha Chell has commented on today’s revised net migration data from the Office of National Statistics. Natasha highlights the challenges UK employers have been facing since the Brexit referendum in trying to recruit talent at a time of drastically decreasing EU net migration and an oversubscribed Tier 2 (General) restricted certificate of sponsorship (RCoS) system.
Read the full Personnel Today article here.
Anastasia Tonello speaks to Bloomberg Law about Employer Visa Denials Increase
Anastasia Tonello speaks to Bloomberg Law about Employer Visa Denials Increase
16 July 2018
Managing Partner and Head of the US Practice Anastasia Tonello spoke with Bloomberg Law on the immigration ramifications of the additional scrutiny of the visa program for professionals in “specialty occupations” stemming from President Donald Trump’s Buy American and Hire American executive order.
USCIS issued a new policy memorandum on when agency officers should make a final decision based on the initial application package, without first seeking additional information.
Read the full article here.
Anastasia Tonello outlines concerns over new USCIS policies
Anastasia Tonello outlines concerns over new USCIS policies
16 July 2018
Managing Partner and head of the US immigration practice Anastasia Tonello details her concerns over two new USCIS policies that could cause a substantial spike in unwarranted visa application denials and removal proceedings. Anastasia outlines the ‘one-two punch’ effect of the policies which give caseworkers new powers to deny applications without pursuing additional evidence from immigration lawyers, and even to commence removal proceedings following denials.
Read the full Bloomberg article here.
Watch Anastasia speak with CBS News on this issue here.
Brexit White Paper: Uncertainty here to stay
Brexit White Paper: Uncertainty here to stay
13 July 2018
The much-anticipated Brexit White Paper published yesterday does very little to alleviate uncertainty over the post-Brexit immigration landscape. It reflects the government’s resolve to end free movement in December 2020 and to replace it with a system which will allow the UK to ‘take back control of its borders’.
Whilst there is little detail on how this will be achieved, the White Paper does contain provisions for:
- businesses to move their ‘talented people’;
- EU citizens to travel freely, without a visa, for tourism and temporary business activity; and
- EU students and young people to be able to come to the UK to study and experience UK culture, suggesting that the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) may be extended to EU citizens.
The UK is also proposing reciprocal arrangements regarding the access to public services such as healthcare and pensions.
No immediate changes
The White Paper does not affect EU nationals and their family members’ right to reside in the UK on the basis of free movement rules until at least the end of the implementation period (31 December 2020). Those resident in the UK before the end of the implementation period will have until at least 30 June 2021 to apply for UK immigration status through the new EU Settlement Scheme.
Next steps
The government is expected to publish its White Paper on post-Brexit immigration arrangements following the publication of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) report, expected in September 2018.
Contact
For further information on the implications of Brexit for employers and EU nationals, and our Brexit services, contact your assigned lawyer or email EUenquiries@lauradevine.com.
Anastasia Tonello comments on USCIS asylum memos
Anastasia Tonello comments on USCIS asylum memos
12 July 2018
Managing Partner and head of the US immigration practice Anastasia Tonello comments on the new USCIS memo, instructing border officials to deny potentially valid asylum claims. Anastasia points out the memo may conflict with established US and international law on the acceptance of asylum applications from individuals who have crossed into the US without proper inspection.
Read the full USA Today article here.
Anastasia Tonello speaks to Bloomberg about the Deportation Referral Policy
Anastasia Tonello speaks to Bloomberg about the Deportation Referral Policy
10 July 2018
Managing Partner and head of the US Practice Anastasia Tonello spoke with Bloomberg regarding the new Deportation Referral Policy. She highlights the hurdles already faced by employers looking to hire overseas workers, and suggests this new additional step could disrupt business further by authorising USCIS adjudicators to issue ‘notices to appear’ for removal proceedings.
Anastasia suggests the move could discourage businesses from sponsoring employees in the US, incentivising the businesses to re-locate overseas.
Read the full Boomberg article here.
Entrepreneur: It's Getting Harder for European Workers to Obtain U.S. Visas
Entrepreneur: It's Getting Harder for European Workers to Obtain U.S. Visas
9 July 2018
Christi Jackson writes about the challenges faced by European employers sending employees to work in the US.
Read the full article on the Entrepreneur website.
Anastasia Tonello reveals the dangers of renouncing US citizenship for tax purposes
Anastasia Tonello reveals the dangers of renouncing US citizenship for tax purposes
29 June 2018
Anastasia Tonello, Managing Partner and Head of the US Practice reveals the immigration risks facing individuals who renounce their US citizenship in order to avoid paying US tax. Anastasia highlights recent cases where former US citizens have been denied entry to the US, in a bid to exclude tax “refugees” from re-entering their former home country.
Read more from the Telegraph here.
Christi Jackson on BBC World Newsday discussing the Supreme Court ruling on the travel ban
Christi Jackson on BBC World Newsday discussing the Supreme Court ruling on the travel ban
28 June 2018
Christi Jackson, Head of the US immigration team at LDS in London discusses the Supreme Court ruling on the travel ban with BBC World Newsday.