Visa & Immigration Update

The largest expansion of the UK Right to Work regime in years takes effect on 1 October, now under three weeks away. From that date the definition of "employer" under the scheme reaches past traditional employees to cover certain worker contracts, individual subcontractors sitting inside contracting chains, and people supplying services through online matching platforms.

Liability travels upward. End users, main contractors and umbrella arrangements can face civil penalties even where no direct contractual relationship with the worker exists. Employers who choose digital verification must now use a provider specifically registered as a Right to Work Digital Verification Service Provider on the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes register. General identity verification authorisation no longer satisfies the requirement.

The Home Office has released draft guidance and a code of practice, and a final Employer's Guide is expected before the effective date.

Immigration New Zealand confirmed on 11 September that the new Short Term Graduate Work Visa, along with widened Post Study Work Visa eligibility, will accept applications from 16 November. The Short Term Graduate Work Visa carries up to six months of open work rights and targets graduates who finish a full time NZQCF level 5 to 7 qualification of at least 24 weeks that does not lead to the standard PSWV.

Applicants must not have previously held a Short Term Graduate Work Visa or a PSWV. It is a one time visa: no extension, no second grant. Separately, PSWV eligibility now reaches graduates who complete a level 7 Graduate Diploma full time in New Zealand where the graduate also holds a bachelor's degree completed in New Zealand or overseas.

USCIS publishes revised editions of Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, on 15 September, three days from today. Both carry edition date 09/15/26 and are timed to the Fixed Time Period of Admission final rule for F, J and I nonimmigrants, which takes effect the same day.

Current editions stay acceptable for a limited transition period, though filings made on or after 15 September should use the new versions wherever possible. Both revised forms sit at the centre of the extension of stay process under the fixed period admission framework.

See How the Training Actually Works

Sit in on a live session and see how we teach the way visa and immigration processes work, through practical, hands on training.