£500,000 data breach fine for Dixons Carphone
The parent company of Currys PC World has been fined £500,000 after the tills in its shops were compromised by a cyber-attack that affected at least 14 million customers. Between July 2017 and April 2018, hackers were able to install malware onto 5,390 computer systems and tills located at Currys PC World and Dixon Travel […]
2020 Planned Closures of USCIS Field Offices
USCIS is continuing with the planned closure of 13 US international field offices and 3 district offices by August 2020. USCIS operated 23 international offices in 20 countries around the globe. While it had previously advised of plans to close all of its international offices by March 2020, USCIS confirmed in a statement last summer […]
New H-1B Electronic Visa Registration Process
A new registration process takes effect for the forthcoming H-1B cap selection process which, according to USCIS, will deliver overall cost savings to petitioning employers. Following completion of a pilot testing phase in 2019, USCIS has confirmed it will be implementing the new electronic registration process in the next H-1B visa lottery for the fiscal […]
Ethical Veganism is a Belief Protected by Law, Tribunal Rules
A dismissed employee has been told by an employment tribunal that his ethical veganism is protected against discrimination by UK law. The Employment Tribunal in Norwich held that the beliefs of an ethical vegan qualify as religious or philosophical beliefs and that the employee is entitled to equality protections under the Equality Act 2010. The […]
Controversial US Health Insurance Mandate Blocked Temporarily
A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily blocked President Trump’s order to deny visas to immigrants without health insurance. On October 4, 2019, a Presidential Proclamation suspended entry of immigrants into the US without approved health coverage or without the ability to pay for foreseeable medical issues within 30 days of entering the country. The […]
Online giants pledge to tackle fake online reviews
Facebook and eBay have signed agreements pledging to combat the use of fake and misleading reviews on their sites. Following an investigation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last year, both sites have responded to the CMA’s demand to take measures to better identify, investigate and respond to fake and misleading reviews. Three […]
Overhaul of US Immigration Regulations Ahead of Election
2020 is set to bring wide-ranging reforms in US immigration regulations as the Trump Administration moves ahead with planned changes against a deadline of this year’s Presidential election. The proposed rules, as outlined in the Government’s Unified Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will, if enacted, profoundly affect employers, H-1B and L-1 visa […]
US Public Charge Update
A number of US courts have blocked the Trump Administration from using new, tougher rules on US immigration applications from low-income immigrants. The Public Charge Final Rule is currently being litigated and some courts have issued an injunction, preventing the new rules from being applied until the legal challenges are resolved. On August 14, 2019, […]
No Fault Divorce Bill Set to Go Before Parliament
The Ministry of Justice has announced that the so-called ‘no fault’ divorce Bill is to be one of the first bills tabled in the new Parliament. In news welcomed by the national family justice body, Resolution, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill is being reintroduced into Parliament on 7th January having first been promised by […]
Tier 4 Visa Extension (Students’ Guide)
As a student currently in the UK under a Tier 4 visa, you may be looking to extend your stay to finish your existing course or to progress to a new and higher level of studies. Below we examine the rules relating to Tier 4 visa extensions, including the requirements, process and cost when applying […]
Capital Gains Tax on Second Property (What You Need to Know!)
For owners of multiple properties, it’s important to understand the tax liabilities that arise on the disposal of residential property assets. But the rules for capital gains tax on a second property can seem daunting, not least because the capital gains rules differ between your main home and any additional properties you own. Where the […]