Know the latest changes to the UK immigration rules

The UK announced a statement of changes to its immigration rules on 9^th September 2019.

Here are the most relevant changes to the UK immigration rules:

Tier 2 (General)

Employers in the UK can sponsor skilled workers outside of the European Economic Area on Tier 2 (General) Visa. There are 20,700 visa places available annually which is further divided into month-wise allocations.

The main changes that employers should keep in mind are:

• PhD level roles will not be included in the annual quota of Tier 2 (General). Effective 1^st October 2019, these job roles will not need a restricted certificate of sponsorship. Since they will be removed from the annual quota, it will free up visa places for other skilled roles.
• PhD Level immigrants on Tier 2 Visas who are undertaking research abroad linked to their jobs will not have the absence counted for the ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) applications. It will also apply to their dependents who are accompanying them.
• The UK has expanded its Shortage Occupation List. The new list includes occupations like web designers, architects and veterinarians which were earlier excluded. There is one occupation list which covers the entire UK and a separate one for Scotland. The new SOL will come into effect from 6^th October 2019.
• Migrants on a Tier 2 Visa will not be penalized for absence from work. This could be due to parental leave, sickness, assisting in a domestic or international environmental or humanitarian crisis. This means that Tier 2 Visa holders will not be refused ILR if their salary falls below the threshold due to these absences.

EU Settlement Scheme

Swiss citizens and citizens of the EEA will be required to apply under this category to live in the UK after December 2020. These changes will become effective from 1^st October 2019:

• Close family relatives of UK citizens who had been living with the UK citizen abroad will be able to apply under the EUSS till 29^th March 2022.
• Non-EEA family members who hold the EUSS status but have lost the biometric residence card will be allowed to travel free of cost to the UK. They can then apply for a replacement biometric residence card.
• People who have had their EUSS status cancelled at the border will be eligible for an administrative review.

Startup and Innovator

Both these entrepreneur categories were introduced in March 2019. The following changes will be effective from 1^st October 2019:

• Changes will be made to the requirements for an organization to become an endorsing body.
• Students on Tier 4 (General) Visa who have applied for the Startup Visa with support from an endorsing body may be allowed to start their business activities while their application is being processed.
• A new requirement for students not to have established a prior business in the UK will be added to the Startup Visa requirements. This will apply to Tier 4 Visa holders on a doctorate extension scheme, as per The Guardian.

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) applicants must be endorsed by a designated competent body in the UK. The following changes will apply from 1^st October 2019 to individuals who apply for endorsement from The Royal Academy of Engineering, The Royal Society and The British Academy:

• The list of peer-reviewed fellowships will be expanded. It will also include fellowships which are awarded by the National Institute for Health Research.
• Applicants who have had a peer-reviewed fellowing in the recent 12 months will also be included in the expansion.
• A wider range of research positions and senior academics will now be eligible.

The following changes will apply to individuals applying for endorsement through Tech Nation from 1^st October 2019:

• Applicants will now need three letters of support instead of the earlier two. These must come from established organizations in the digital industry. This will give a more in-depth consideration of the skills of the applicant.
• The requirement will now have “product-led” added so that the route is only used by immigrants with the appropriate set of skills.

Y-Axis offers a wide range of Visa and Immigration services as well as products to overseas immigrants including UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, Business Visa for the UK, Study Visa for the UK, Visit Visa for the UK, and Work Visa for the UK.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or  Migrate to the UK, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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