2.1 Primary legislation

Acts of Parliament start as bills introduced in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords. When a bill has been agreed by both Houses and given Royal Assent, it becomes an Act. When the Act comes into force, it becomes the law in regard to the topic area it covers.

Acts are referred to as ‘primary legislation’ because they do not depend on other legislative authority.

The primary legislation that you are most likely to encounter in your Level 1 studies of immigration law includes:

• Immigration Act 1971
• British Nationality Act 1981
• Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
• Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009

As well as primary legislation, you will also encounter secondary legislation and Government policy.