https://freemovement.org.uk Updates, commentary, training and advice on immigration and asylum law Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:27:27 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://freemovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-Goose-logo-32x32.png https://freemovement.org.uk 32 32 https://freemovement.org.uk/what-is-the-oisc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-the-oisc https://freemovement.org.uk/what-is-the-oisc/#comments Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:26:45 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=87996 The Immigration Advice Authority, formerly known as the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner or ‘OISC’, is a governmental body established by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to regulate the provision of immigration advice and services throughout the UK. The Immigration Advice Authority has around 60 staff. The Immigration Advice Authority was set up […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/what-is-the-oisc/feed/ 1 https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-renamed-immigration-advice-authority-from-16-january-2025/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=oisc-renamed-immigration-advice-authority-from-16-january-2025 https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-renamed-immigration-advice-authority-from-16-january-2025/#respond Thu, 16 Jan 2025 08:30:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=218704 The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, or OISC to everyone who knew it, is being renamed from today as the Immigration Advice Authority. A colourful new logo is also being deployed. There is not a huge amount to say about it other than it is a pain. It is a pain for all existing […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-renamed-immigration-advice-authority-from-16-january-2025/feed/ 0 https://freemovement.org.uk/office-of-the-immigration-services-commissioner-to-be-abolished-in-major-shake-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=office-of-the-immigration-services-commissioner-to-be-abolished-in-major-shake-up Thu, 05 Dec 2024 08:30:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=217103 The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, or OISC as we all call it, is to be abolished in the new year. It will be replaced by a new-look Immigration Advice Authority, or IAA. Not to be confused with the Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) run by the Law Society to improve the quality […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-adviser-who-worked-beyond-his-authorisation-loses-appeal-against-cancellation-of-registration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=oisc-adviser-who-worked-beyond-his-authorisation-loses-appeal-against-cancellation-of-registration Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:30:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=215832 The First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) has dismissed the appeal against cancellation of the OISC accreditation of an organisation, Anzan Immigration Lawyers, and its sole adviser Mr Ali Rahmanyfar after a large number of breaches of the code of standards. The case is Anzan Immigration Lawyers v Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner [2024] UKFTT […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/how-do-i-become-an-oisc-adviser/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-do-i-become-an-oisc-adviser Tue, 24 Sep 2024 07:30:03 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=191745 We often get questions about how to become an Immigration Advice Authority (previously known as the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, or ‘OISC’) adviser so we have compiled all the essential information in one place for you. The first thing to say is that if you are looking to provide immigration advice but are […]]]> Immigration Advice Authority - Free Movement nonadult https://freemovement.org.uk/new-oisc-code-of-practice-will-take-effect-from-1-september-2024/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-oisc-code-of-practice-will-take-effect-from-1-september-2024 Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:30:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=206970 The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (’OISC’) has published their response to last year’s consultation on the code of standards. Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 it is a criminal offence to give immigration advice unless you are properly regulated. For those who are not practicing solicitors, barristers or Chartered Legal Executives, that […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-level-2-training-course-in-immigration-and-asylum-law/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=oisc-level-2-training-course-in-immigration-and-asylum-law Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=198643 Our new OISC Level 2 course: immigration and asylum online training is now live and available to all Free Movement members. It covers the whole of the OISC immigration and asylum syllabuses and is perfect for anyone relatively new to the immigration sector who wants to take their knowledge of immigration law to the next level. On […]]]> Immigration Advice Authority - Free Movement nonadult https://freemovement.org.uk/how-do-i-become-accredited-at-oisc-level-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-do-i-become-accredited-at-oisc-level-2 Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:30:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=198133 In this article we look at what registration as an Immigration Advice Authority (formerly the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner or “OISC”) Level 2 adviser really means and how to go about it. We talk you through the Immigration Advice Authority requirements for advancing from Level 1 to Level 2, how you might go […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-consulting-on-new-code-of-standards-for-regulated-immigration-advisers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=oisc-consulting-on-new-code-of-standards-for-regulated-immigration-advisers https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-consulting-on-new-code-of-standards-for-regulated-immigration-advisers/#comments Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:30:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=193654 The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), which regulates immigration advisers who are not practicing solicitors, barristers or Chartered Legal Executives, is consulting on a new code of standards. The OISC was brought into being by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 at the same time that a new criminal offence of providing unregulated immigration […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-consulting-on-new-code-of-standards-for-regulated-immigration-advisers/feed/ 1 https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-amends-judicial-review-practice-note-to-prevent-advisers-conducting-litigation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=oisc-amends-judicial-review-practice-note-to-prevent-advisers-conducting-litigation Mon, 03 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://freemovement.org.uk/?p=190728 The OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) has again amended its guidance note on advisers conducting litigation in judicial review cases. The amendment appears to be with immediate effect, although the online version of the practice note had not actually been updated at the time I was writing this. [update: the new version was uploaded […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/big-news-at-free-movement-new-editor-and-new-live-oisc-level-1-training-course/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=big-news-at-free-movement-new-editor-and-new-live-oisc-level-1-training-course https://freemovement.org.uk/big-news-at-free-movement-new-editor-and-new-live-oisc-level-1-training-course/#comments Mon, 22 May 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=189061 Some big news at Free Movement. Two bits of big news, in fact. New Editor Firstly, I am delighted to announce that Sonia Lenegan is joining Free Movement as the new Editor in August. She will be replacing me, although I’ll still be lurking in the background and contributing from time to time. Josie Laidman […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/big-news-at-free-movement-new-editor-and-new-live-oisc-level-1-training-course/feed/ 1 https://freemovement.org.uk/regional-enforcement-thematic-audits-and-a-drop-in-convictions-for-immigration-regulator/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=regional-enforcement-thematic-audits-and-a-drop-in-convictions-for-immigration-regulator Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:30:00 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=176106 As we move into a post-pandemic working environment, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) has been developing its working practices, according to the regulator’s annual report for 2021/22. And as it catches up on delayed investigations (conducting 81 in the year 2021/22) the OISC secures two convictions for illegal immigration advice in the […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/lawyers-who-earned-millions-from-unregulated-immigration-advice-fined-45000/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lawyers-who-earned-millions-from-unregulated-immigration-advice-fined-45000 https://freemovement.org.uk/lawyers-who-earned-millions-from-unregulated-immigration-advice-fined-45000/#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2021 13:30:36 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=144677 Three lawyers convicted in 2019 of providing unregulated immigration advice worth millions have been ordered to cough up over £45,000 between them in fines and compensation. Dan Romulus Dandes, Babbar Ali Jamil and Zia Bi were sentenced at the Old Bailey on 5 January 2021 for their roles in a sham supervision scheme rumbled by […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/lawyers-who-earned-millions-from-unregulated-immigration-advice-fined-45000/feed/ 1 https://freemovement.org.uk/immigration-law-cpd-training-online-solicitor-barrister-oisc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=immigration-law-cpd-training-online-solicitor-barrister-oisc Thu, 22 Aug 2019 06:26:18 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=58575 Since 2016 there has been no minimum CPD training hours requirement and training can be undertaken by any training provider or even by informal methods including self study. The rules for solicitors, barristers and OISC advisers are all broadly similar and were all changed at around the same time. The practicalities of the CPD training […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/immigration-law-cpd-training-for-barristers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=immigration-law-cpd-training-for-barristers Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:24:43 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=18869 We’ve been busy working away at creating new CPD immigration training courses and updating our existing ones. Our courses are perfect for CPD for solicitors, barristers and OISC advisers and we now offer over 100 hours of CPD training to our 2,500+ members, covering all aspects and all levels of immigration law. Our online courses […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/upper-tribunal-oisc-adviser-hamid-hearing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upper-tribunal-oisc-adviser-hamid-hearing https://freemovement.org.uk/upper-tribunal-oisc-adviser-hamid-hearing/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2019 07:16:53 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=93734 The Upper Tribunal has referred an immigration adviser to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), accusing him of running judicial review cases without a licence and failing to properly check expert reports. The case is R (Hoxha & Ors) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (representatives: professional duties) [2019] UKUT 124 […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/upper-tribunal-oisc-adviser-hamid-hearing/feed/ 1 https://freemovement.org.uk/briefing-overcoming-language-barriers-in-lawyer-client-communication/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=briefing-overcoming-language-barriers-in-lawyer-client-communication Fri, 22 Feb 2019 11:24:06 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=86240 In this blog post, Judith Reynolds, Research Associate at Cardiff University’s Centre for Language and Communication Research, offers immigration law practitioners some reflections and tips for communicating with foreign language-speaking clients. As all legal practitioners are keenly aware, communicating effectively with clients is central to good legal practice. Being aware of your client’s communication needs, and […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/oisc-eu-settlement-scheme-applications/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=oisc-eu-settlement-scheme-applications Tue, 29 Jan 2019 07:28:40 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=84423 The OISC, the regulator for immigration advisers who are not solicitors, barristers or CILEx qualified, has launched a new, light touch Brexit scheme. It will enable charities and not-for-profit organisations to qualify to give immigration advice on the EU Settlement Scheme without breaking the law. The scheme launches on 1 February 2019 and decisions on […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/advising-eu-citizens-on-their-settlement-rights-may-be-illegal-warns-regulator/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=advising-eu-citizens-on-their-settlement-rights-may-be-illegal-warns-regulator Wed, 05 Dec 2018 09:37:33 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=80947 The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (the OISC to those who know it well) has quietly published guidance outlining when it considers it will be illegal to provide advice to EU citizens and their non-EU family members under the settled status scheme. The guidance barely mentions the scheme itself and was published with no fanfare […]]]> https://freemovement.org.uk/suspended-solicitors-immigration-advisers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=suspended-solicitors-immigration-advisers Thu, 30 Nov 2017 09:38:07 +0000 https://env-7121714.mightybox.site/?p=61458 A solicitor who is suspended from practice can nevertheless advise clients on immigration law. This simple but perhaps surprising fact was highlighted by a recent case before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in which an East London solicitor unsuccessfully challenged an indefinite suspension given to him in 2009. Since that time, the judgment shows, he has […]]]>