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UK Ireland Borders Deal Targets Illegal Immigrants
20th December 2011
A cooperation deal will help crack down on illegal immigration - the two countries will share info on visa applications, including fingerprint biometrics.
More info here.
Signs the Occupation Shortage List May be Revised to Restrict UK Immigration
14th Sept 2011
Immigration to UK by workers from outside the European Economic Area should be restricted to a smaller number of occupations, a Home Office committee has said.
More info here.
Life in the UK Test Changes
6th July 2011
As of 18th July 2011, all Life in the UK tests must be booked on line.
More info here.
UK Government Proposes Breaking the Link Between Temporary and Permanent Immigration to UK
9th June 2011
Immigrants to the UK working on temporary visas will no longer be able to apply for settlement,
under proposals announced by the government today.
The government is implementing reforms to the immigration system which will reduce the level of
immigration to sustainable levels. Today's announcement is the next step in this process.
More info here.
Main Changes to UK Immigration Rules
6th April 2011
All categories: ILR will no longer be granted to those with an unspent criminal conviction
Applications made outside of the UK, within the tier system, will be granted for an extra four
months, to allow for later entry to the UK without the need for a second extension later on.
Tier 1 (General)
This category has now been abolished. If you are already in the UK with a Tier 1 (General),
HSMP, writer, composer or artist or self-employed lawyer, you can still extend in this category.
You need to meet the points criteria to extend. You now also need to meet the points criteria
to be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
This category now has two different levels; an increased level of investment or stimulating growth
of £5 million in the first 3 years, along with employing 10 full time resident workers, will result
in achieving ILR in 3 years rather than 5.
As well as keeping the previous rule that an entrepreneur must have access to £200,000, it can now be
possible to gain a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa if the applicant has access to just £50,000, providing
this has come from the UK government or registered venture capitalists.
It will also be possible to be out of the UK for up to 180 days per year and still be granted ILR.
Tier 1 (Investor)
This category now has three different levels; with an investment of £1 million, ILR can be achieved
in 5 years, investing £5 million can bring you ILR in 3 years, and investing £10 million can bring you ILR in 2 years.
It will also be possible to be out of the UK for up to 180 days per year and still be granted ILR.
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
This is a new category which will be open to 700 people in the field of science and 300 in the arts.
The Home Office will rue on what organisations can be classified as a 'designated competent body':
evidence from such a body is the only requirement to qualify for this category (although the applicant
must show that they will have no recourse to public funds).
Tier 4 (student)
The main changes to applications are that only 'A' rated institutions will be be able to sponsor new applicants.
'B' rated can now only sponsor current students trying to extend.
There are other changes to conditions. Only those studying at publicly funded universities will retain the right
to work for 20 hours during term time, and those at publicly funded FE colleges can work 10 hours per week.
No one else will be able to work at all.
Also, only those studying on post-graduate courses which last for over 12 months can bring dependants.
Students will be limited to being in the UK for 3 years for undergraduate courses and 5 years for post-graduate
courses, although there will be some exceptions.
Tier 2 (General)
The Tier 2 (General) scheme has been altered so as to restrict the numbers dramatically. The skills shortage list
has been massively reduced. Fewer Certificates of Sponsorship will be granted to employers, with an annual limit
of just 20,700 being set, although those earning more than £150,000 will be outwith the limit.
Applicants must now prove an intermediate level of English, and meet strict salary requirements.
In order to get ILR, applicant must meet the same conditions, showing that they are still being paid the right
amount according to the occupation list
Tier 2 (ICT)
Intra-company transfers are also being changed in an attempt to reduce numbers. From now:
- the job will have to be in an occupation on the graduate occupation list;
- only those paid £40,000 or more will be able to stay for more than a year -
they will be given permission to stay for 3 years, with the possibility of extending
for a further 2 years; and
- those paid between £24,000 and £40,000 will be allowed to come to the UK for no
longer than 12 months, at which point they must leave the UK and will not be able to re-apply for 12 months
Those on an ICT are unlikely to be able to apply for ILR as they will not be able to accumulate 5 years continuous residency.
Overhaul of UK Student Visas
22nd March 2011
Tougher entrance criteria, limits on work entitlements and the closure of the post-study work route are among the changes to the student visa system announced today by Home Secretary Theresa May.
The announcement follows a major public consultation on reforming Tier 4 of the points-based system, after a Home Office review revealed widespread abuse. A sample of Tier 4 students studying at private institutions revealed that 26 per cent of them could not be accounted for.
More info here.
Takeaway Jobs Ban for UK Immigrants from Outside EEA
14th March 2011
Migrants from outside the European Economic Area will no longer be allowed to work in the UK as chefs in takeaway restaurants, the government has said.
The ruling comes after the Migration Advisory Committee (Mac) was asked to review the country's skill shortages.
A similar ban will apply to workers such as hairdressers, beauty salon managers and estate agents from April.
More info here.
Changes to Tier 2 Shortage Occupations List - 3rd March 2011
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has today recommended that 8 job titles be removed from the UK shortage occupation list.
This follows the MAC's recommendation last month that 71 occupations be removed from the list of occupations that qualify for Tier 2 of the points-based system. This is to meet the government's objective of raising the skill level of Tier 2 to National Qualifications Framework level 4 and above (NQF4+).
To bring the shortage occupation list into line with the rest of Tier 2 the MAC has recommended removing job titles including high integrity pipe welder, skilled meat boner and skilled meat trimmer and skilled senior care worker. The latter recommendation will not, however, affect care home managers and nurses working in care homes as these occupations are level NQF4+.
Some job titles are recommended for amendment. The MAC found that only a small proportion of chefs are skilled to NQF4+. Chef jobs on the list are, therefore, recommended to be restricted to those requiring a minimum of 5 years relevant experience and paying at least £28,260 per year.
More info here.
UK Border Agency proposed fees increase
28th February 2011
The proposed fees will be laid in Parliament in two separate regulations. Fees will not come into force until they have been debated and approved in Parliament, but are due to take effect from 6 April 2011.
There seems little reason to suspect the debate will change the outcome.
More info here.
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