The UK Home Office has announced that there are delays in the decision making of settlement applications in the UK.

The service standard for settlement applications is to make decisions on most of the applications within 12 weeks and all applications within 24 weeks. However, reportedly there are significant increases in the number of applications that are received by the UK Home Office, which are causing delays in the decision-making process.

The UK Home Office has thus cautioned applicants that it may take up to 24 weeks for a decision to be made.

It is important to note that the rules for settlement in the UK have changed on 6 April 2011. If you want to apply for settlement after this date, you should please take note of the following:

• A new income requirement has been introduced for Tier 1 (General). These migrants will now have to meet the same income criteria that applied when they last extended their permission to stay in the UK.
• Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (intra company transfer) or work permit holders must be paid the appropriate rates as per the Border Agency's codes of practice.
• Migrants in Tier 1 and Tier 2 must now pass the Life in the UK test. The ESOL route will not be sufficient. There are however transitional arrangements in place regarding this requirement.
• All applicants will need to be free of unspent convictions when applying for settlement.

Please contact our offices for further information.