U.K. announces the expansion of Shortage Occupation List

On September 9, 2019, the Immigration Rules of the U.K. underwent a change.

As per the announcement by the Immigration Minister, Seema Kennedy, businesses based in Britain would now have an improved access to skilled workers. Procuring the “brightest and the best global talent”, the latest additions will make it “easier for employers to hire the skilled workers”.

Accordingly, occupations that will be added to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) will include -

• Architects
• Web designers
• Veterinarians

These were not originally on the SOL.

What can we expect from the September 9 change in the SOL?

With the change in the SOL:

• All those coming to the U.K. for working as an architect/veterinarian/web designer will be given priority in Tier 2 processing as compared to others whose occupation is not listed on the SOL.
• Employers can now advertise vacancies for such jobs to all nationalities.
• K.-based employers will have access to global talent in such industries

What is the Tier 2 SOL list?

Recognized by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the Tier 2 SOL is a list of occupations that are in national shortage in the U.K.

The recent changes made in the SOL were in keeping with the recommendations by the independent MAC that were made after its review of the SOL in May 2019.

At the time of review, the MAC considers a wide range of factors, that include -

• If the occupational role is indeed in shortage throughout the U.K. to be considered a “national shortage”, and
• If, in case of national shortage being discovered, the same shortage can be filled by migrant workers.

Is it easier to obtain a Tier 2 visa for occupations that are on the SOL?

It is indeed easier to get a Tier 2 visa if your occupation is on the SOL because -

• Exemption from the minimum salary threshold
• No requirement for employers completing a resident labour market test

It was in May this year that the MAC advised the expansion of the U.K. Tier 2 SOL. While the advice was given to Theresa May’s government, following her resignation as PM on June 7, the advice was acted upon by the government under Boris Johnson.

These changes were intimated in a joint press release by Seema Kennedy, the recently appointed U.K. Immigration Minister, the Home Office, and U.K. Visas and Immigration.

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