NEW YEAR, NEW UK IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
As if the past year could not be any stranger, there have
recently been some big changes to the UK immigration system. From
the introduction of a “new” points-based system (mostly
a rebranding job), to the end of EU free movement to the UK, for
the first time in decades, EEA nationals will now be subject to the
same rules as non-EEA nationals.
I summarise below some of the new and key routes in the current
UK Immigration Rules which might be of interest to our EEA
colleagues, colleagues further afield, and prospective clients.
British National (Overseas) (“BNO”) citizens
One of 6 types of British nationality, people with links to Hong
Kong were able to apply for BNO status until the
“Handover” on 1 July 1997. Not all Hong Kong citizens
have BNO status, and holders of BNO status are not necessarily
British citizens (the main type of British nationality) and
therefore usually require an appropriate visa to come to the
UK.
