The UK's Biggest Asylum Overhaul in Years Just Took Effect. Here's What Actually Changed on July 30 and August 3. Two Dates That Matter This Week On July 9, 2026, the Home Office laid a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules — officially "HC 259" — before Parliament. Most of it took effect on July 30, with the rest landing on August 3. On paper, the Home Office itself describes this round as largely technical: consolidations, corrections, alignments with rules made