The UK Government has announced changes to the immigration rules that will come into effect on 6 July 2018. Many of the changes are positive and will bring welcome news to those looking to work or invest in the UK. Below is a summary of the main changes....
The UK government has now released details of the “settled status” scheme which EU nationals in the UK will use to apply for permanent residence after Brexit. Sajid Javid confirmed the government’s default position will be to grant, not refuse, settled status. The government has also provided clarity on application fees and Comprehensive Sickness Insurance, which will no longer be required....
Last week, Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced plans to introduce a new start up visa for entrepreneurs. The new start up visa will launch in Spring 2019 and is expected to replace the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur scheme. The announcement was made during London Tech Week and the government hopes a simpler visa route will create a favourable environment for entrepreneurs. ...
A sponsor licence is valid for 4 years and Tier 2 sponsors must ensure that they submit a renewal application in good time to avoid losing the ability to sponsor workers. Whilst the application process is straightforward, there are some key steps an Authorising Officer must take before authorising a renewal....
Russian billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich’s Tier 1 Investor visa extension application is still under scrutiny despite him previously satisfying the Home Office he was eligible. Last week, the Financial Times reported that Abramovich had returned to Russia after his Investor visa expired and his current application is “taking longer than usual” to be processed. Whilst little is known about the reasoning behind the delay, many have speculated that the Home Office is looking into the source of his investment funds....
According to a FOI request to the Home Office, approximately 6,080 skilled workers have been unable to apply for Tier 2 visas due to their sponsors being unable to secure Restricted CoS for them. This relates to CoS applications made between December 2017 to March 2018 and includes 3,500 applications for engineering, IT, technology, STEM teaching and medical roles with professional services making up the remainder. ...
Whilst the process of assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is straightforward, it’s useful for sponsors to know what validates a CoS. If a CoS is not valid at the time the Tier 2 worker submits their visa application, the application will be refused resulting in delays to start date....
In recent days, the government has faced criticism of its treatment of people from the so-called Windrush Generation. Those who arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries have been labelled the Windrush generation, after the ship which brought them here as a response to post-war labour shortages in the UK. Almost 500 migrants from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados came to the UK at the invitation of the British government....
The Tier 2 visa cap has been reached for the fourth month in a row resulting in sponsors being unable to employ workers under the Tier 2 General category from overseas. UKVI data shows that the minimum points required to be successful was 56 – a stark contrast to the usual 21. Many businesses have been trying to secure Restricted CoS since December....
New fees for immigration and nationality are to come into effect on 6 April 2018. The changes include increases to Tier 2 work visa fees, indefinite leave to remain and naturalisation applications. ...
On 11 January 2018, the immigration rules were amended and new provisions were introduced which affect how the Home Office assesses continuous residence for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications. Whilst the changes affect all Points Based System migrants, we will be focusing on Tier 2 General workers. ...
Campaign groups are continuing to increase pressure on the government to reconsider the ‘immigration exemption’ in the Data Protection Bill which could prevent people from gaining access to immigration data held on them. The Bill had its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday where Tory MP Matt Hancock confirmed that the exemption was necessary, so the government could “properly police [its] borders”....
The non EEA skilled worker cap has been hit again this month, now for the third month running. Many Tier 2 sponsors have seen their Restricted CoS applications refused causing delays to new recruits start dates. ...
Last month, we posted an article on the role of the Authorising Officer and explained that this person does not have access to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) unless he/she is a Level 1 or 2 user. Since then we’ve received enquiries from HR staff wanting to know more about the SMS, who has access to it and the differences between a Level 1 and 2 user....
Tier 2 sponsors should have by now received an email from UK Visas & Immigration reminding them that the CoS annual allocation process will soon begin and any unused unrestricted CoS in the SMS will expire on 5 April 2018. Sponsors should start thinking about how many unrestricted CoS they’ll need from 6 April 2018 to 5 April 2019....
Tier 2 sponsors will be pleased to hear that rules which came into effect from 11 January 2018 now allow Tier 4 Students on non-PhD courses to switch to a Tier 2 General visa when they have completed their course....
A few weeks ago we wrote about how the Home Office’s Restricted CoS limit was reached in December and many employers saw their applications refused. ...
Businesses with sponsor licences have a huge responsibility to ensure that the points based system is not abused. The role of the Authorising Officer is to effectively manage the licence and ensure the employer is not in breach of its sponsor duties. ...
For the first time since July 2015, the Home Office’s monthly Restricted Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) limit was reached and many employers saw their applications refused. Data published on the government’s website shows that 1,527 applications were granted. Successful applications had to score a minimum of 55 points as opposed to the usual 21 points (see data for previous months)....
Last year, UK Visas & Immigration launched the Tier 2 and 5 priority change of circumstances service for business sponsors. UKVI’s current processing time for requests via the SMS is 18 weeks – which as our clients know is 18 weeks too long....