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PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eaedef } TD.news P { MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #52626f } TD.news P.findoutmore { MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #005a8c } TD.news P.findoutmore A { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #005a8c; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } TD.photo { TEXT-ALIGN: left } TD.photo P { PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; COLOR: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #005a8c } TD.photo P A { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #ffffff; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } TD.subscribe { PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #005a8c } TD.subscribe H2 { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ffffff; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #005a8c } TD.subscribe H2 SPAN { COLOR: #00b0db } TD.subscribe P { MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #ffffff; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #005a8c } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD align=middle> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD colSpan=3></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=5 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><A href="http://www.penningtons.co.uk/"><IMG height=180 alt="Penningtons Solicitors LLP" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/blue_header.gif" width=750 border=0></A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=30 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=580></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD> <H1><STRONG></STRONG><FONT color=#00b0db>Immigration</FONT></H1> <H1>update</H1></TD> <TD><IMG height=36 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=15 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/blue_hr.gif" width=570></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=18 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <H3>July&nbsp;2010</H3></TD> <TD> <P class=intro>Welcome to the latest issue of this update, keeping you informed of&nbsp;new developments in&nbsp; immigration law.</P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=18 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD class=inthisissue> <P><STRONG>In this issue:</STRONG></P> <UL> <LI><IMG height=10 alt="Blue bullet" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/blue_bullet.gif"><A href="#1"><FONT color=#ffffff>Points based system: two cases confirm that sponsor and policy guidance is not legally binding</FONT></A> </LI> <LI><IMG height=10 alt="Blue bullet" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/blue_bullet.gif"><A href="#2"><FONT color=white>Government announces limits on non-EU economic migration</FONT></A> </LI> <LI><IMG height=10 alt="Blue bullet" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/blue_bullet.gif"><A href="#3"><FONT color=white>Legality of tier 2 interim cap</FONT></A></LI></UL></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=12 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <DIV align=right>&nbsp;</DIV></TD> <TD class=news> <H2><A name=1></A>Points based system:&nbsp;two cases confirm that&nbsp;sponsor and policy guidance&nbsp;is not legally binding&nbsp;</H2> <P>On Friday 9 July 2010 Mr Justice Foskett, in <STRONG><I>R (on the application of English UK) v Secretary of State for the Home Department</I></STRONG><EM> </EM>[2010] EWHC 1726 (Admin), ruled that paragraph 120 (a) of Annex A of the Immigration Rules&nbsp;did&nbsp;not allow the&nbsp;Secretary of State to make a&nbsp;substantive change to&nbsp;the minimum level of English language course a tier 4 provider may offer simply by changing the&nbsp;sponsor guidance notes, even though&nbsp;paragraph&nbsp;120 (a) states that 'The course must meet the United Kingdom Border Agency's minimum academic requirements, as set out in sponsor guidance published by the United Kingdom Border Agency.'</P> <P>When paragraph 120 (a) was first laid before parliament, parliament was able to cross refer to information published by the Home Office&nbsp;which was in the public domain and which specified that the minimum course level for English language&nbsp;courses&nbsp;under tier 4 was&nbsp;level A2&nbsp;(CEFR). When&nbsp;Alan Johnson&nbsp;made a decision in February 2010 to change the course level from A2 to B2, effective on 3 March&nbsp;2010,&nbsp;the&nbsp;matter&nbsp;was not placed before&nbsp;parliament. </P> <P>Mr Justice Foskett stated that 'The decision is confined to one particular provision within the Immigration Rules although the reasoning that leads to it, if it is correct, is simply that extrinsic guidance cannot be used in the manner in which it was sought to be used in this case to make a material or substantive change in existing immigration policy without the negative resolution procedure set out in section 3(2) of the Immigration Act being implemented. That is what, as I perceive it, <I>Pankina</I> decided in the light of section 3(2) and I am bound by that decision notwithstanding the way in which rule 120(a) is formulated.'</P> <P>This decision, coming&nbsp;less than a month&nbsp;after judgement was handed down in&nbsp;<EM>Pankina </EM>(see below)&nbsp;has significant implications for the points based system because so many material or substantive changes are&nbsp;implemented by way of frequent changes to guidance notes. </P> <P>The Home&nbsp;Office&nbsp;has not&nbsp;applied for permission to appeal the case or for a stay and therefore the legal position for tier 4 sponsors wishing to offer English language courses has reverted to the pre-March 2010 position; they can offer A2 level courses until such time as parliament approves any decision to change the level. </P> <P>English UK had made numerous offers&nbsp;to negotiate a workable solution with the Home Office&nbsp;and the court&nbsp;ordered the Home Office&nbsp;to pay a substantial proportion of&nbsp;the claimant's costs. English UK&nbsp;was&nbsp;represented by&nbsp;Penningtons Solicitors LLP's immigration and dispute resolution&nbsp;teams, led by Nichola Carter,&nbsp;and a team from Doughty Street Chambers led by&nbsp;Judith Farbey. </P> <P>The Home Office was unable to produce evidence which substantiated its claim that&nbsp;an increase in the course level would lead to&nbsp;a reduction in those with unlawful intent coming to the UK. Considering the volume of genuine students who would have been unable to come to the UK to study English, English&nbsp;UK has estimated that this ruling has prevented direct losses to the economy&nbsp;of more than 3,000 jobs and £600 million a year.&nbsp;</P> <P>Turning to&nbsp;the Court of Appeal case, <I>Pankina and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department </I>[2010] EWCA Civ 718<EM>,&nbsp;</EM>judgement was handed down on 23 June 2010.</P> <P>In this case the Court of Appeal's attention&nbsp;was focused on paragraph 2 (b) of&nbsp;Appendix C&nbsp;of&nbsp;the Immigration Rules which&nbsp;relates to maintenance under tier 1 of the points based system. That paragraph states that:</P> <P><EM>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2. 10 points will only be awarded if an applicant:</EM></P> <P><EM>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b) applying for leave to remain, has the level of funds shown in the table below and provides the&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; specified documents.</EM></P> <P><STRONG><EM>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Level of funds&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Points</EM></STRONG></P> <P><EM>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; £800&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 10</EM></P> <P>The guidance notes relating to tier 1 applications state that applications must have held the funds for a continuous period of three months. </P> <P>In this case the Court of Appeal noted:</P> <P>'It is one thing to expect an applicant to have the necessary academic and linguistic qualifications: here a miss is likely to be as good as a mile. It is another for an applicant to fall marginally or momentarily short of a financial criterion which in itself has no meaning: its significance is as a rough and ready measure of the applicant s ability to continue to live without reliance on public funds. Having £800 in the bank, whether for three continuous months or simply at the date of application, is no doubt some indication of this; but people who are able to meet the test may fall on hard times after obtaining indefinite leave to remain, and others who fail it would, if allowed to remain, never become a charge on public funds. The Home Office has to exercise some common sense about this if it is not to make decisions which disproportionately deny respect to the private and family lives of graduates who by definition have been settled here for some years and are otherwise eligible for tier 1 entry. If the Home Secretary wishes the rules to be blackletter law, she needs to achieve this by an established legislative route.'</P> <P>The Home Office's&nbsp;applications for permission to appeal and a stay of the effect have been refused and ministers are now considering whether or not to appeal to the Supreme Court. </P> <P>The current legal position must therefore be that applicants applying under tier 1 do not currently have to show that they have held funds for a continuous period of three months. </P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=12 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align=right></TD> <TD class=news> <H2><A name=2></A>Government announces limits on non-EU economic migration</H2> <P>On Monday 28 June the government announced that the number of workers entering the UK from outside Europe will be controlled by a new limit. Details of how the final limit will be delivered will be agreed following a 12-week government consultation with businesses. In the meantime, an interim limit will be introduced to ensure that there is no 'closing down sale' and the number of work visas issued stays below 2009 levels.</P> <P>There will be two parallel consultations. One, by the government, will consider how the limits on non-EU economic migration, through tiers 1 and 2 of the points based system, should be implemented, including the mechanism for doing so.<BR><BR>The second one will be led by the MAC. This is on the levels at which the limits should be set for the first full year of their operation. The MAC will consult on, and consider, the economic, public service, and social impacts of migration in developing its advice.</P> <P>The consultations will run until September. Permanent limits on non EU economic migration routes will then be decided and put in place by 1 April 2011. We will be preparing responses to both consultations and hosting a client seminar in August, information about which will be dispatched&nbsp;shortly.&nbsp;Nichola Carter is&nbsp;working on the&nbsp;Immigration Law Practitioners' Association's responses coordinating a team of lawyers from a number of firms. </P> <P><B>Interim measures</B></P> <P>To avoid large numbers of applications between now and April next year, the government intends to impose interim limits which will <B>take effect from</B> <B>19 July 2010</B>. The interim limits will ensure the number of visas issued under tiers 1 and 2 of the points based system is below those issued in 2009. </P> <P>These interim measures include:</P> <P>-&nbsp; capping the number of tier 1 (general) migrants at current levels and raising the number of&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; points needed by non-EU workers who come to do highly skilled jobs from 95 to 100; and </P> <P>-&nbsp; limiting the number of certificates of sponsorship that licensed employers can issue to those&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;who wish to come to fill skilled job vacancies. This will reduce the number of people entering&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;through tier 2 by 1,300.&nbsp;</P> <P>The investor, entrepreneur and post-study work categories of tier 1 will not be included in the interim limit. In-country extensions under tier 1 (general) will also be excluded. </P> <P>The interim limit under tier 2 will apply only to the number of certificates of sponsorship that an employer can issue. Applications from migrants will continue to be assessed as normal. The intra company transfer, sportsperson and minister of religion categories of tier 2 will not be included in the interim limit.</P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=12 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TR> <TD align=right></TD> <TD class=news> <H2><STRONG><A name=3></A>Legality of tier 2 interim cap</STRONG></H2> <P>In view of the decisions in <EM>Pankina </EM>and<EM> English UK</EM>, Penningtons' immigration partners consider that the manner in which UKBA proposes to implement the tier 2 interim limit&nbsp;is likely to be deemed unlawful.&nbsp;We are currently preparing representations&nbsp;in this regard. If&nbsp;a reduction in your current allocation of&nbsp;certificates of sponsorship will jeopardise your business&nbsp;and you may&nbsp;wish to&nbsp;be involved in our representations,&nbsp;please contact Nichola Carter.&nbsp;</P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=12 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <DIV align=right> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=130 border=0> <TBODY> <TBODY></TBODY></TABLE></DIV></TD> <TD class=news> <H2>If you would like to discuss any aspect of this update further, please contact:</H2> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P class=findoutmore>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<A href="http://www.penningtons.co.uk/Profiles/A-E/Nichola-Carter.aspx"><IMG style="WIDTH: 126px; HEIGHT: 165px" height=184 alt="Nichola Carter" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/Photos/Nichola_Carter.jpg" width=130 border=0></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<A href="http://www.penningtons.co.uk/Profiles/A-E/Philip-Barth.aspx"><IMG style="WIDTH: 133px; HEIGHT: 170px" height=170 alt="Philip Barth" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/Photos/philip_barth.jpg" width=133 border=0></A> </P> <P class=findoutmore>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<A href="mailto:Nichola.Carter@penningtons.co.uk?subject=Query: Immigration Update - July 2010">Nichola Carter</A>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<A href="mailto:Philip.Barth@penningtons.co.uk?subject=Query: Immigration Update - July 2010">Philip Barth</A></P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=12 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=12 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=20 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD align=left> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=395 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD> <P><STRONG>London</STRONG><BR><SPAN>t:</SPAN> +44 (0)20 7457 3000<BR><SPAN>f:</SPAN> +44 (0)20 7457 3240</P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=7></TD> <TD> <P><STRONG>Hampshire</STRONG><BR><SPAN>t:</SPAN> +44 (0)1256 407100<BR><SPAN>f:</SPAN> +44 (0)1256 479425</P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=8></TD> <TD> <P><STRONG>Surrey</STRONG><BR><SPAN>t:</SPAN> +44 (0)1483 791800<BR><SPAN>f:</SPAN> +44 (0)1483 424177</P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=20 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD> <P class=small><STRONG>Please note:</STRONG> Specialist advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, actions based on comments in this update which is only intended as a brief note. <FONT color=#405a5c size=4>© </FONT>Penningtons Solicitors LLP, 2010.</P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=10 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD> <P class=small>Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575. It is regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Our registered office address is Abacus House, 33 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 8AR.</P> <P class=small>&nbsp;</P></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=10 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=144></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/blue_hr.gif" width=570></TD> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=10 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=36></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=10 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3 height=7><IMG height=5 alt="" src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3><IMG height=10 alt=spacer src="http://response.penningtons.co.uk/reaction/images/emails/spacer.gif" width=750></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></BODY></HTML>