United Kingdom · Immigration Rules
HC 584: what the September changes mean for Global Talent and Innovator Founder
The 3 September 2026 rules package and its practical significance for two independent talent routes.
Samotsvet insights
Analysis of immigration rules and practice
We check primary sources, analyse changes and explain how they affect preparation and filing.
United States · Diversity Visa
Diversity Visa issuance is paused again after the earlier pause was set aside
Why the end of the December restriction did not restart Diversity Visa issuance.
United States · Immigrant visas
The Department of State has lifted the general immigrant-visa pause for Russian nationals
The official 28 August update and the remaining checks for EB-1A and NIW consular cases.
United States · Immigrant visas
Court vacates the immigrant-visa pause: what it means for Russian nationals
The 21 January to 26 August 2026 chronology: district-court judgment, disputed implementation and the effect on EB-1A and NIW.
Context · Europe in 2026
European status pathways are changing in four different ways
What has taken effect in Portugal, France and Spain, and what remains a proposal in the United Kingdom.
Spain · Remote work
What to check before applying for Spain's international remote work visa
An early review of the work arrangements, income and family documents required for Spain.
United States · Route comparison
EB-1A, EB-2 NIW or O-1: how to compare the routes
How to choose a US route by looking at the status required, available evidence and proposed work.
United States · EB-1A
How to use the EB-1A processing time in a relocation plan
How USCIS calculates processing time and why a relocation plan needs more than one scenario.
United Kingdom · Global Talent
How to turn a strong professional record into a convincing application
How to evidence a specialist's achievements in a Global Talent application.
United States · EB-2 NIW
EB-2 NIW: what the applicant must establish
Why NIW examines the proposed work, national importance and the applicant's ability to advance the plan.
United States · USCIS data
The limits of applying USCIS statistics to an individual case
How to read quarterly immigration-petition data without turning it into a false prediction of approval.
Spain · Digital Nomad Visa
Can a Digital Nomad application be made from Spain?
The difference between a consular visa and a three-year authorisation while lawfully present in Spain.
Spain · Digital Nomad Visa
Spain examines the genuine remote work before filing
The facts that support genuine and continuous activity for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa.
United Kingdom · Global Talent
Global Talent for designers: what changed in practice
The design pathway introduced on 1 July 2026 and the distinction between a portfolio and evidence of recognition.
Context · Portugal
Portugal changed the residence period for naturalisation: the 2026 law
Seven years for EU and Portuguese-speaking-country nationals, ten years for others, and the transitional provision.
United Kingdom · 2026 changes
HC 1691: why the filing date determines which rules apply
The commencement timetable for the main changes in the UK HC 1691 package.
United Kingdom · English for settlement
B2 for settlement: who should prepare for 26 March 2027
The new English level for settlement under Global Talent, Innovator Founder and other routes.
Spain · Digital Nomad Visa
Digital Nomad Visa: the 2026 income threshold and family calculation
The current calculation using 200%, 75% and 25% of the Spanish SMI after Royal Decree 126/2026.
France · Citizenship
Naturalisation in France now requires spoken and written B2
The B2 requirement from 1 January 2026, accepted evidence and the civic examination.
France · Integration requirements
France's civic examination from 2026: 40 questions and an 80% pass mark
Who needs the new examen civique and why the precise card-issue procedure matters for Carte talent.
United Kingdom · Settlement
The ten-year route to settlement has not yet become an operative rule
Which elements of Earned Settlement remain proposals and which settlement periods currently apply.
United States · Proposed rules
Future EB-1A and NIW rulemaking: the current position
The status of the DHS project to modernise requirements for employment-based petitions.
France · Carte talent
Carte talent: what changed after Passeport Talent
The current official name of the French talent routes and why the former term still appears.