HC 1619 · published 2026-03-05 · in force 2026-03-26
Mandatory refusal for suspended sentences of 12 months or more
Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Graduate, Student, Partner (family)
What changed
The suitability rules are being tightened to mandate the refusal or cancellation of permission for anyone received a suspended sentence of 12 months or more. This aligns immigration suitability with new deportation duties in the Sentencing Act 2026.
Who the official source says it applies to
Anyone convicted in the UK on or after 22 March 2026 and given a suspended sentence of 12 months or more. It does not affect people without such a conviction.
The source does not state the conditions precisely enough to be certain who is affected. Routewatch sends this as "may apply" to everyone on the routes above.
A person who has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK and received a suspended sentence of 12 months or more will be subject to mandatory refusal or cancellation
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This page is information about a published rule change, not advice about your case. Whether a rule applies to you depends on facts Routewatch does not assess. For advice about your own situation, use a regulated immigration adviser.