Alex Piletska
@alexinlaw.bsky.social
Senior associate at Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law. Contributing author to Free Movement and LexisNexis. Ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. All views are my own.
Reposted by Alex Piletska
It's time we asked a different question about migration: Why are so many British people leaving the UK?
inews.co.uk/opinion/immi...
inews.co.uk/opinion/immi...
November 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It's time we asked a different question about migration: Why are so many British people leaving the UK?
inews.co.uk/opinion/immi...
inews.co.uk/opinion/immi...
Reposted by Alex Piletska
Reposted by Alex Piletska
I'm reading through the white paper or whatever it is. RESTORING ORDER AND CONTROL: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy www.gov.uk/government/p...
Asylum and returns policy statement
This policy statement sets out significant reforms to the UK’s asylum and returns policy.
www.gov.uk
November 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I'm reading through the white paper or whatever it is. RESTORING ORDER AND CONTROL: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Alex Piletska
A friend and I spent a rainy day looking at this and there are some changes that essentially means that an "exceptional circumstances" test will be applied to those in this situation. Superior analysis here @alexinlaw.bsky.social : freemovement.org.uk/new-suitabil...
October 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A friend and I spent a rainy day looking at this and there are some changes that essentially means that an "exceptional circumstances" test will be applied to those in this situation. Superior analysis here @alexinlaw.bsky.social : freemovement.org.uk/new-suitabil...
Well well well, if it isn’t the Tories doing something right for a change
news.sky.com/story/ban-pa...
news.sky.com/story/ban-pa...
Ban passengers playing loud music on public transport, say Tories
The Tories say they would change the law to so that nobody has to "endure somebody else's choice of crap music" while on the move.
news.sky.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Well well well, if it isn’t the Tories doing something right for a change
news.sky.com/story/ban-pa...
news.sky.com/story/ban-pa...
Really fun Tudor fact: Katherine Parr, Henry III’s sixth wife, is named after Catherine of Aragorn, his first wife, because her mother was her lady in waiting.
Henry VIII was in the wife business for so long that his last wife was named after his first wife.
Henry VIII was in the wife business for so long that his last wife was named after his first wife.
August 15, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Really fun Tudor fact: Katherine Parr, Henry III’s sixth wife, is named after Catherine of Aragorn, his first wife, because her mother was her lady in waiting.
Henry VIII was in the wife business for so long that his last wife was named after his first wife.
Henry VIII was in the wife business for so long that his last wife was named after his first wife.
Reposted by Alex Piletska
The UK’s National Referral Mechanism traps migrant workers like Cynthia—who escaped abusive employers—in limbo without the right to work, leaving them vulnerable to re-exploitation. Advocates demand real protections beyond this ineffective “band-aid” system.
www.freedomunited.org/news/uk-surv...
www.freedomunited.org/news/uk-surv...
UK system trapping survivors in “the grey zone” - FreedomUnited.org
Survivors in the UK are being left without the right to work, trapped in a grey zone facing ongoing uncertainty and insecurity.
www.freedomunited.org
July 5, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The UK’s National Referral Mechanism traps migrant workers like Cynthia—who escaped abusive employers—in limbo without the right to work, leaving them vulnerable to re-exploitation. Advocates demand real protections beyond this ineffective “band-aid” system.
www.freedomunited.org/news/uk-surv...
www.freedomunited.org/news/uk-surv...
Reposted by Alex Piletska
NEW
Explaining a 31-month sentence for a tweet
How a mixture of court process, law and sentencing policy led to the lengthy imprisonment of Lucy Connolly
By me
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/explaining...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/05/expl...
Explaining a 31-month sentence for a tweet
How a mixture of court process, law and sentencing policy led to the lengthy imprisonment of Lucy Connolly
By me
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/explaining...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/05/expl...
Explaining a 31-month sentence for a tweet
How a mixture of court process, law and sentencing policy led to the lengthy imprisonment of Lucy Connolly
emptycity.substack.com
May 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
NEW
Explaining a 31-month sentence for a tweet
How a mixture of court process, law and sentencing policy led to the lengthy imprisonment of Lucy Connolly
By me
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/explaining...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/05/expl...
Explaining a 31-month sentence for a tweet
How a mixture of court process, law and sentencing policy led to the lengthy imprisonment of Lucy Connolly
By me
Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/explaining...
Personal blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/05/expl...
Court of Appeal really lays into the EUSS rules for being basically impenetrable in a recent case.
May 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Court of Appeal really lays into the EUSS rules for being basically impenetrable in a recent case.
Reposted by Alex Piletska
So after months chasing after Reform votes and a major announcement which caused widespread offence and anger among everyone left of Robert Jenrick, a full four per cent of Reform voters now have a favourable impression of Labour, top work from all concerned
Very low favourable ratings from Green and LD voters also a major flashing red light for Labour as they need tactical votes from such supporters to win in a fragmented context. Bill coming due on the left for Farage hugging on the right?
May 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
So after months chasing after Reform votes and a major announcement which caused widespread offence and anger among everyone left of Robert Jenrick, a full four per cent of Reform voters now have a favourable impression of Labour, top work from all concerned
Reposted by Alex Piletska
I am obviously extra conscious of this since Alex's article (freemovement.org.uk/housesitters...) but a health warning on this would be sensible especially given the recent reports of tourists getting banged up on the US border
March 11, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I am obviously extra conscious of this since Alex's article (freemovement.org.uk/housesitters...) but a health warning on this would be sensible especially given the recent reports of tourists getting banged up on the US border
Reposted by Alex Piletska
What a lot of people are missing about Trump’s meeting with Zelensky is that there was a massive language barrier which obviously hindered communication. But if Trump takes some English lessons before their next meeting, it might be more productive.
March 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
What a lot of people are missing about Trump’s meeting with Zelensky is that there was a massive language barrier which obviously hindered communication. But if Trump takes some English lessons before their next meeting, it might be more productive.
What a lot of people are missing about Trump’s meeting with Zelensky is that there was a massive language barrier which obviously hindered communication. But if Trump takes some English lessons before their next meeting, it might be more productive.
March 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
What a lot of people are missing about Trump’s meeting with Zelensky is that there was a massive language barrier which obviously hindered communication. But if Trump takes some English lessons before their next meeting, it might be more productive.
Reposted by Alex Piletska
In case you missed it: Housesitters and holiday swappers: what are the immigration law implications? | Alex Piletska
Housesitters and holiday swappers: what are the immigration law implications? - Free Movement
Companies like TrustedHousesitters have recently hit the news following a number of incidents whereby some of its international members tried to enter the UK
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 12:32 PM
In case you missed it: Housesitters and holiday swappers: what are the immigration law implications? | Alex Piletska
Reposted by Alex Piletska
Interesting and very useful piece from @alexinlaw.bsky.social
Housesitters and holiday swappers: what are the immigration law implications? - Free Movement
Companies like TrustedHousesitters have recently hit the news following a number of incidents whereby some of its international members tried to enter the UK
freemovement.org.uk
February 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Interesting and very useful piece from @alexinlaw.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Piletska
Top 10 Free Movement blog posts of 2024 by page views. Some of these were open access already and I’ve removed the lock on the others.
January 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Top 10 Free Movement blog posts of 2024 by page views. Some of these were open access already and I’ve removed the lock on the others.
Reposted by Alex Piletska
4. There is no 180 day a year rule for visitors to the UK, @johnvassiliou.bsky.social , last republished 11 July 2023, 90,522 views freemovement.org.uk/there-is-no-...
There is no 180 day a year rule for visitors to the UK - Free Movement
One of the most common UK immigration myths is that there is a maximum permitted stay of 180 days in a year (or six months in 12 months) for UK visitors.
freemovement.org.uk
January 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
4. There is no 180 day a year rule for visitors to the UK, @johnvassiliou.bsky.social , last republished 11 July 2023, 90,522 views freemovement.org.uk/there-is-no-...
Reposted by Alex Piletska
5. High Court finds passport office prevented from refusing passport to person who may not actually be British, @alexinlaw.bsky.social, 24 July 2024, 74,536 views freemovement.org.uk/high-court-f...
High Court finds passport office prevented from refusing passport to person who may not actually be British - Free Movement
In a really interesting case, the High Court has held that issue estoppel prevents His Majesty's Passport Office from refusing to issue a passport to an
freemovement.org.uk
January 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
5. High Court finds passport office prevented from refusing passport to person who may not actually be British, @alexinlaw.bsky.social, 24 July 2024, 74,536 views freemovement.org.uk/high-court-f...
Reposted by Alex Piletska
6. “But I don’t know any barristers” – the case for scrapping the referee requirement for citizenship applications, @alexinlaw.bsky.social, 26 November 2024, 66,270 views freemovement.org.uk/but-i-dont-k...
"But I don’t know any barristers" – the case for scrapping the referee requirement for citizenship applications - Free Movement
Currently, anyone applying for British citizenship has to find two referees to vouch for their identity and confirm they are unaware of any reason why the
freemovement.org.uk
January 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
6. “But I don’t know any barristers” – the case for scrapping the referee requirement for citizenship applications, @alexinlaw.bsky.social, 26 November 2024, 66,270 views freemovement.org.uk/but-i-dont-k...
The potential concession is a youth mobility scheme, possibly along the lines of free movement for under 30s but no details have been hashed out yet.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
No time for baby steps. The majority of Brits are behind this!.
Do it now.
No pussy footing around, just get it done.
No time for baby steps. The majority of Brits are behind this!.
Do it now.
No pussy footing around, just get it done.
Starmer’s lead EU negotiator opens door to a major concession in Brexit reset talks
European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has opened the door to agreeing a youth mobility scheme
www.independent.co.uk
December 11, 2024 at 12:14 PM
The potential concession is a youth mobility scheme, possibly along the lines of free movement for under 30s but no details have been hashed out yet.
Reposted by Alex Piletska
Some positive news! The Home Office are piloting giving newly recogised refugees 56 days before they lose their asylum support instead of the current 28 days. Some concerns about the details, but 28 days isn’t long enough to find somewhere to live & another income
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/home...
'Move on' period for refugees doubled to 56 days in victory for the Standard
The Standard has secured a major victory in its A Place to Call Home winter appeal
www.standard.co.uk
December 5, 2024 at 7:44 PM
Some positive news! The Home Office are piloting giving newly recogised refugees 56 days before they lose their asylum support instead of the current 28 days. Some concerns about the details, but 28 days isn’t long enough to find somewhere to live & another income
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/home...
I really want to spread awareness of this ridiculous Home Office requirement that doesn’t get enough coverage in the hopes that it will finally be scrapped (since even the Home Office probably doesn’t want it) so please RT widely!
In case you missed it: “But I don’t know any barristers” – the case for scrapping the referee requirement for citizenship applications | Alex Piletska https://freemovement.org.uk/but-i-dont-know-any-barristers-the-case-for-scrapping-the-referee-requirement-for-citizenship-applications/?utm_source=r…
"But I don’t know any barristers" – the case for scrapping the referee requirement for citizenship applications - Free Movement
Currently, anyone applying for British citizenship has to find two referees to vouch for their identity and confirm they are unaware of any reason why the
buff.ly
December 3, 2024 at 5:15 PM
I really want to spread awareness of this ridiculous Home Office requirement that doesn’t get enough coverage in the hopes that it will finally be scrapped (since even the Home Office probably doesn’t want it) so please RT widely!
Reposted by Alex Piletska
I was blown away to discover recently that fees for loads of stuff were only introduced in 2003. And the fees that did exist were pretty affordable - 33 quid for a student visa!
October 10, 2023 at 5:30 PM
I was blown away to discover recently that fees for loads of stuff were only introduced in 2003. And the fees that did exist were pretty affordable - 33 quid for a student visa!
Reposted by Alex Piletska
Immigration lawyer Alex Piletska @alexinlaw.bsky.social is here!
October 10, 2023 at 4:58 PM
Immigration lawyer Alex Piletska @alexinlaw.bsky.social is here!
Quoting the new Home Office fees is painful but not as painful as it will be once IHS goes up as well 😬
October 10, 2023 at 4:58 PM
Quoting the new Home Office fees is painful but not as painful as it will be once IHS goes up as well 😬