Immigration

Irish authorities are examining the situation of Chinese nationals in Ireland who are seeking to extend their visitor permissions because of the Coronavirus outbreak. Some Chinese nationals have had their travel home disrupted due to the virus, for instance because of commercial plane journeys to Ch

A complete redrafting of the UK's immigration rules would increase legal certainty and save almost £70 million over ten years, the Law Commission has said. The law reform body for England and Wales, which published its report on Simplifying the Immigration Rules today, noted that the Immigrati

Proposals to reform family reunification rules for people in Northern Ireland have been welcomed by immigration rights campaigner Emma DeSouza. Speaking to Irish Legal News, Mrs DeSouza said the proposed changes would "lift a tremendous weight off many families", but warned that the proposals did no

Employment permit rules are set to be eased to address immediate labour shortages in key sectors such as hospitality, construction, health and road haulage. Business Minister Heather Humphreys announced the changes, which will apply to workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) from 1 Jan

Stalled legislation on family reunification should be allowed to move forward in order for Ireland to meet its international obligations, a senator has said. The International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 has passed all stages in the Seanad and second stage in the Dá

A woman who sought judicial review of a decision refusing family reunification has had her application dismissed in the High Court. Stating that the “tedious approach of ‘never mind the facts, look at the interesting law’ has no place in the practical business of litigation”,

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from the State over the definition of "child" in the International Protection Act 2015. Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled in May 2018 that the legal guardian of a child who is not their biological or adopted child is eligible for family unification.

Nearly 2,000 asylum seekers in Ireland were granted permission to work last year under a new system introduced after a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The new regime for asylum seekers to access the labour market was introduced last June when the absolute prohibition on employment was ruled unconstit

The Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, has called for his remit to be extended to include how asylum applications are assessed by the Minister for Justice. Mr Tyndall appeared before the Oireachtas joint committee on justice and equality this morning to discuss the Direct Provision system.

A Zimbabwean asylum seeker whose human rights claim to remain in the UK was refused by the Home Secretary has had an application for judicial review of a decision that he had not made a fresh claim to remain in the country dismissed. The petitioner “GC” argued that, as an “openly g

Eimear Nugent, solicitor at immigration law specialists Berkeley Solicitors, examines an important ruling on the rights of EU citizens' spouses. The European Court of Justice delivered a very significant judgment in the case of Chenchooliah v Minister for Justice on Tuesday 10 September 2019, follow

Lawyers for a Syrian national seeking to relocate from Turkey to Ireland have asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to intervene and expedite his visa application. Belfast-based KRW Law is representing Tareq Samha, a freelance author and translator who currently lives in Turkey with his British wi

Plans to reintroduce a two-year post-study work visa for international students in the UK have been welcomed by universities. The Department for Education (DfE) told The Guardian that graduates will be allowed to seek work for two years after completing a course in any subject at undergraduate level

Leaving the European Union means the loss of a safe, legal route for the reunification of separated refugee families in Europe, a House of Lords committee has told the UK government. The House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel to share key fin

Lisa Bryson, partner and head of employment at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, considers the meaning of Priti Patel's recent announcement on free movement. Reports early this week indicated that the new Home Secretary intends to “end free movement” to the UK of EEA citizens immediately