For years it has been accepted that "extended family members" of EEA nationals can't apply to join their relatives in the UK unless they are dependent upon them as a matter of necessity. The Court of Appeal has found that the ruling which established this was incorrect.
Under an Order which it is anticipated will shortly receive Parliamentary approval the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal will come to an end. But its judges will immediately become judges in the appropriate Chambers of the First-Tier and Upper Tribunals.
The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal has found that it is open to people applying under the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) category of the Points Based System to rely on money they have been lent to satisfy the maintenance requirements of the Immigration Rules.
The Home Office has continued its programme for the reform of the structure of immigration legislation in the United Kingdom with the publication of its new Draft Immigration Bill, which will consolidate all existing immigration laws if it should come into force after next year's General Election
The programme for the implementation of the government's "earned citizenship" legislation is not as straightforward as it might be. Gherson sets out what is proposed, what is already on the statute book, when it will all happen, and how best to take advantage of the transitional provisions.
In KH (Afghanistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department the Court of Appeal has found that Regulation 12 (1) (b) of the Immigration (European Area) Regulations 2006 unlawfully requires the family members of nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) who are exercising Treaty rights in the UK to be living lawfully in another EEA state.
Until February 2010 students will not have to show that they have had the necessary amount of money for their maintenance for a period of 28 days before they make their applications. Proof that they have the money at the time of the application will be adequate. Anyone granted leave to enter or remain as a student on or after 5 October 2009 will not be allowed to change their college without making a new application to the UKBA for leave to remain.
The UKBA's ambitious programme to enforce the UK's borders both outside the country and at the UK's ports of entry is in place. But it won't be fully operational until long after next year's election.
The government has announced sweeping changes to nationality and citizenship legislation
The United Kingdom Border Agency has announced that it has opened a visa route for Turkish nationals applying to establish themselves in business under the European Community Association Agreement.