Migration News of the Week: Learn English!

Britain and the United States are tightening rules for foreigners, digital nomads are being criticised for negatively reshaping urban economies and local traditions, and Latvia has become so absorbed in crafting new restrictions for Russians that the European Commission has taken notice.

United Kingdom: New Standards for Workers and Families

The UK is tightening immigration rules and introducing stricter English-language requirements. The higher standards will affect Skilled Worker visa holders as well as spouses and dependants, and will also apply to applications for indefinite leave to remain.

For Skilled Worker visas, the English level is raised from B1 to B2. Candidates must now be able to negotiate, handle formal correspondence, and participate in detailed discussions. For family visas, mandatory language proficiency is introduced at entry for the first time: A1 at the start, A2 upon extension, and B2 for settlement.

The government also plans to reduce the occupation list for Skilled Worker, remove exemptions for social-care workers, and increase the minimum residence period for settlement from five to ten years. Employers warn that social care, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality—sectors highly dependent on migrants—will be hit hardest.

Students may also be affected: proposals include taxing universities’ income from international students, shortening the Graduate visa from two years to 18 months, and tightening university licensing. Most measures will be enacted via changes to the Immigration Rules; some will require parliamentary approval.



U.S. Citizenship: More Questions
From 20 October 2025, a new format for the U.S. citizenship test takes effect. There will be more questions and a tougher process, though concessions remain for older applicants. The item bank now contains 128 questions instead of 100. At the interview, an officer will ask up to twenty, and at least twelve must be answered correctly. The exam ends early if the candidate reaches the minimum or makes nine errors.

For foreign nationals aged 65+ with at least twenty years of U.S. residence, the simplified version remains: ten questions, six correct answers required. This category may also take the test in their native language. Applications filed before 20 October will be processed under the 2008 format; the new version automatically applies thereafter. USCIS has prepared two sets of study materials to avoid confusion. If you fail, a retest is scheduled in 60–90 days, and you only retake the part you failed—civics or English.

According to USCIS, the new test is intended to probe more deeply applicants’ knowledge of history and U.S. civics. Officials stress that a U.S. passport is a privilege for those who fully embrace American values and are ready to contribute to the country’s development.

Latvia: Complaints to the European Commission

The European Commission has accepted three complaints alleging violations of Russians’ rights in Latvia. The first concerns a mandatory electronic declaration for entry, which foreigners must complete 48 hours before travel. The complainant argues this breaches the Schengen Borders Code and effectively restricts entry for Russian citizens.

The second involves renewal of the EU long-term resident permit. The applicant contests the requirement to present a valid passport, since Directive 2003/109/EC provides for automatic renewal without such a condition. The situation is complicated by Latvia’s refusal to recognise non-biometric Russian passports, while new documents cannot be obtained at the Russian embassy in Riga.

Another complaint targets financial requirements for family members of EU citizens. The complainant says applicants must in practice prove income not below the minimum and freeze about €8,880 in an account, which contradicts Directive 2004/38/EC and turns residence rights into a financial barrier. Numerous other restrictions exist in the country, including on property purchases and residence-permit renewals; some allegedly exceed EU-wide rules.

Digital Nomads: Downsides and Upsides

Digital nomads are posing challenges for Europe’s tourist centres, according to Knight Frank analysts. Their growth has increased pressure on rental markets, displaced some local residents, and changed the character of neighbourhoods. Some residents complain there are too many pizzerias and fast-food outlets.

In Lisbon, the number of foreigners rose by 200,000 over a decade and the population grew by 8%, but around 27,500 Portuguese left the city centre. Rents jumped by 40% or more. Similar trends are seen in Barcelona and Venice: authorities are revising rental rules and introducing taxes and restrictions. At the same time, most experts stress digital nomads’ positive impact. There are about 40 million remote workers worldwide, contributing an estimated $787 billion a year to the global economy, while pressures on cities are localised.

Competition among countries to attract mobile professionals continues to intensify, and more governments are opening programmes for them. Recent additions include Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Moldova. Portugal (income from €3,040/month) and Greece (€3,500) continue to issue digital nomad visas. Georgia’s conditions are softer: a 1% small-business tax on income up to $1,500. In Asia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are popular; in the Americas, Barbados, Costa Rica, and Brazil; and in the Middle East, Dubai stands out with a high income threshold of $5,000/month.

Experts call the attraction of digital nomads an “immediate economic stimulus”: they spend more than tourists and create demand for housing, services, and start-ups. For many countries, it is also a way to bolster their international image.