From 16 January 2025, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) will take on a new title as the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

The OISC (soon to be IAA) regulates immigration advisers; ensuring they are fit, competent and act in their clients’ best interests.

According to this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the department states that:

“Immigration is a top priority for the UK government, and with an increased demand for services, the IAA needs to build on the work of the OISC to enhance its capacity, increase public trust, and better serve those seeking immigration advice. Our new brand identity will reflect our bolder, more ambitious plans, add clarity to who we are, and demonstrate our threefold approach as an organisation that achieves its mission through regulation, enforcement and promoting best practice.”

The IAA goes on to say that the changes include: 

“…[making] our services easier to access and understand, with an improved website, clearer communications, and user-friendly tools to enhance the experience for immigration advisers and advice seekers. A new logo, branding, vision, mission, and values have been developed, shaped by insights from advisers, stakeholders, and advice seekers. With a new leadership structure, enhanced workforce, and strengthened processes, the IAA is committed to growth, transformation, and ensuring reliable immigration advice.”

One practical change is that official communications will now come from -@immigrationadviceauthority.gov.uk addresses, to replace -@oisc.gov.uk email addresses. If in doubt about the validity of an email, do contact the IAA directly to check. The phone number (020 3617 1081) will remain the same. 

We have yet to see how else this change will manifest in practice. We will provide updates to our community as swiftly as we can.