Immigration Bill receives Royal Assent (Immigration Act 2014)

Today the Immigration Bill received Royal Assent. The new Act (the Immigration Act 2014) will make a series of new radical reforms to the UK's immigration laws.

According to Home Office officials, the new Immigration Act 2014 has been passed in order to "limit the factors which draw illegal migrants to the UK, make it easier to remove those with no right to be here and ensure the Courts have regard to Parliament’s view of what the public interest requires when considering Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in immigration cases".

Key changes to be introduced by the Immigration Act 2014 include:

• Amendments to the approach courts should adopt to public interest issues when considering European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) Article 8 claims in immigration cases
• Further measures relating to sham marriages or civil partnerships
• Introduction of an obligation for private landlords to check the immigration status of tenants
• Introduction of a new requirement for some migrants to make a financial contribution to the National Health Service