Immigration

Belfast solicitor Una Boyd has been named chair of the Law Society of Northern Ireland's Immigration Practitioners' Group (IPG).

The number of deportations from Ireland rose sharply last year, with almost twice as many deportations in 2019 as in the two previous years. The Department of Justice carried out 293 enforced deportations in 2019, compared to 163 in 2018 and 140 in 2017, the Irish Independent reports.

Demand for H-1B visas to work in the United States has increased because of American economic growth, Tully Rinckey has said. The US-based firm, which opened an office in Dublin in 2018, has said it expects demand for the visas to significantly exceed the annual cap.

Some thought it would never happen but the UK has officially left the European Union and with that departure, we prepare to welcome a new points-based immigration system, writes Leona Rankin, associate at Carson McDowell. A Westminster policy statement issued last week details how the UK needs to sh

A family who were refused international protection and subsequently lost an appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal failed to provide any explanation which would warrant the grant of an extension of time to bring judicial review proceedings in the High Court. Commenting tha

No low-skilled workers will be awarded visas from January 2021 under the UK's proposed post-Brexit immigration system, unveiled today by Home Secretary Priti Patel. The points-based system will see applicants assigned points based on specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions, and visa

Immigration lawyers in Northern Ireland have raised £1,000 for human trafficking charity Flourish NI. The funds were raised at a series of events hosted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland's Immigration Practitioner Group (IPG) last year.

The Supreme Court is hearing an appeal from two people who came to Ireland as refugees but subsequently naturalised as Irish citizens and were subsequently denied access to the family reunification scheme. Ms Justice Marie Baker, sitting in the Court of Appeal, ruled against 'MAM' and 'KN' last May.

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.