Guidance

Previous breach of UK immigration laws: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on considering a previous breach of immigration laws.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Published: 4 December 2020
• Last updated: 27 February 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 27 February 2026

     Updated to accurately reflect policy that the discretionary factors that apply to SUI 11.2. apply equally to SUI 11.3.

  2. 11 November 2025

     Changes to reflect Part Suitability replacing Part 9: grounds for refusal of the Immigration Rules

  3. 15 November 2023

     Information on Appendix ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation’ added in the ‘Introduction’ section.

  4. 1 June 2023

     'Appendix Adult Dependent Relative’ added in the ‘Introduction’ section, in line with Immigration Rules changes.

  5. 11 October 2021

     Updated guidance for use on or after 11 October 2021.

  6. 23 April 2021

     Guidance updated with minor amendments to clarify when an application can be refused where previous deception has been used.

  7. 22 December 2020

     Minor amendment to the introduction to clarify that some of this guidance applies to family reunion applications.

  8. 4 December 2020

     First published.

Documents

Part Suitability: previous breach of UK immigration laws (accessible)

HTML

Part Suitability: previous breach of UK immigration laws

PDF, 276 KB, 20 pages

Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff on the process when an application for entry clearance, permission to enter or permission to stay must or may be refused, or when it may be cancelled on grounds of a previous breach of UK immigration laws.