CJ McKinney

What triggers the UK government to ban people from certain countries from getting work or study visas? The new 'visa brake' policy is explained below.

From this impact assessment, as spotted by @msumption.bsky.social: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69a9a3...

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (No. 2) - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament That the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 1691, a copy of which was laid before this House on 5 March, be disapproved.

A motion to formally reject the immigration rule changes published on 5 March has now gone down - one to watch. Whether or not it comes to a vote is up to the government, potentially influenced by how many MPs sign it. edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...

Gas freemovement.org.uk/statement-of...

Home Secretary's speech on immigration: 5 March 2026 Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research on immigration reforms.

Text of the Home Secretary's Big Immigration Speech this morning: www.gov.uk/government/s...

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

Summary of some changes to the immigration rules being published today. They include having refugees apply to renew their right to reside after 30 months, although "renewal of protection will not be equivalent to making an initial asylum claim" questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/visa...

Why was my family's killer freed early and deported? Summer Mace says the speeding driver who killed three of her relatives should have stayed in prison.

Deporting foreign criminals more quickly does have the unpopular trade-off identified here: they serve less prison time www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

China used UK Border Force officer for 'shadow policing operations', court told Retired Hong Kong police superintendent Chung Biu (Bill) Yuen, 65, is alleged to have tasked Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, and others with missions.

China used UK Border Force officer for 'shadow policing operations'

China used a Border Force officer to carry out "shadow policing operations" in the UK including spying on dissidents and forcing entry to a suspected fraudster's flat, a court has heard.

Can a British citizen travel to the UK using a non-British passport? The Home Office advises British citizens who have dual nationality to use a British passport, or apply for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode, to travel to the UK.

Can a British citizen travel to the UK using a non-British passport? Newly updated by popular demand commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Student and work visa bans imposed on some countries to prevent asylum claims Government attempts to address increase in asylum claims by those enter legally with visas

"It is no surprise that the government is looking for ways to reduce asylum claims by visa holders. It is the first time a targeted visa ban like this has ever been used but it may not be the last". wewantedworkers.substack.com/p/student-an...

Today's announcement bans international students and workers from certain countries. Would have affected about 4,000 students and 300 workers last year.

Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse Government to end study visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and work visas for Afghans.

"Government to end study visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and work visas for Afghans... The visa brake will be introduced via an Immigration Rules change on 5 March 2026 and come into force on 26 March 2026" www.gov.uk/government/n...

(In)access to legal advice in detention: UK research shows

"@jrsuk.bsky.social’s research found that it was often impossible for people in detention to access even the 30 minutes of legal advice, much less a lawyer who would take on their cases and meaningfully represent them". blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...

Yes, the November 2025 asylum policy statement is a bit more detailed on this

"The first step towards a new, ‘core protection’ system will be introduced through a change to the Immigration Rules later this week".

Shabana Mahmood to announce asylum system changes to take effect From Monday, asylum seekers granted refugee status in the UK will be offered only temporary protection.

Shabana Mahmood will announce that from Monday any asylum seeker successfully given refugee status in the UK will be offered only temporary protection... these measures will come into force without a parliamentary vote as they simply change existing rules.

#R4Today

"The data illustrate a general challenge the government faces, which is that the types of migration that are easiest for the government to control and reduce are the ones that are most economically beneficial". migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/press/asylum...

In other news, commencement of the new legislation extending liability to carriers regarding people who need an ETA not having one is actually on 20 March. So: either carriers have intentionally been given a grace period until that date, or that the Home Office forgot to commence it for 25/2.

These figures illustrate a point @jtmigratory.bsky.social made recently: millions of EU citizens have been granted settlement "without the slightest murmur of political or public disapproval", whereas settlement for the mostly non-EU citizens who've arrived post-Brexit is a major issue.

New Home Office statistics release on the total asylum backlog: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This chart on the top ten nationalities claiming asylum in 2025 is striking. Not only for the nationalities (a lot more claims from Pakistan than I realised, for example) but also the differences in means of entry.

The HO summary says that the year on year grant rate for Syrian claims has dropped from 98% to 9%

www.gov.uk/government/s...

Parliamentlive.tv House of Commons

An urgent House of Commons debate on the "impact of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation rules on British citizens who are also dual nationals" should be starting shortly www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Also a helpful written statement on enforcement of electronic travel authorisations, including the situation for British dual nationals: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

Immigration minister Mike Tapp quoted in Australian media: enforcement of electronic travel authorisation rules at the UK border will be "pragmatic" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Home Office to begin removing post-Brexit residence rights from EU citizens whom it believes haven't actually been living in the UK, from March 2026 committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

Will the UK really ban dual nationals who don’t have a British passport? - Free Movement From 25 February the UK will begin enforcing pre-departure checks, requiring carriers to confirm that passengers have permission to travel. This has raised concern that dual nationals who only hold a...

New from Free Movement: Will the UK really ban dual nationals who don’t have a British passport? | Alexander Finch

As predicted at the Home Affairs Committee last year committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

‘One in, one out’: what has happened to asylum seekers forced to return to France? In rare interviews, some of those sent back across the Channel after arriving in the UK on small boats describe what happened next – and the risks of a system organised to get rid of them

"Sometimes returnees were offered a 'free' second trip to the UK because the first trip ended with a return to France", asylum seekers report www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

"James Tumbridge, the acting attorney general for the Chagos government under Mr Mandarin..." www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...