Substantial Changes to Employment categories
The Statement will implement significant changes to the Skilled Worker category, to be implemented from 4 April 2024.
The Statement will implement significant changes to the Skilled Worker category, to be implemented from 4 April 2024.
The Home Office has announced significant new measures to reduce legal migration to the UK, following the latest round of statistics showing record net migration figures for 2023. These proposed changes are likely to be implemented during Q2 2024, although the exact timeframe is yet to be finalised.
On Thursday 13 July 2023, the Government announced across-the-board increases in immigration and Immigration Health Surcharge fees for migrants. These fees are intended to fund a pay rise for public sector workers, ranging between 5% to 7% across sectors.
The Home Office has introduced updates to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), new minimum salary requirements for Skilled Worker, Scale-up and Senior or Specialist Worker applicants, and general sponsor requirements.
Whilst the Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) routes are closed to new applicants, many migrants already holding immigration permission in these categories will need to take action before the relevant deadlines to maintain their immigration permission in the UK.
The recently announced India Young Professional Scheme visa will allow Indian nationals between the age of 18 and 30 to live and work in the United Kingdom for up to two years.
H-1B season has finally arrived for fiscal year 2024. H-1B visas enable foreign workers with bachelor’s degrees or equivalent experience to work in the U.S. in specialty occupations.
These changes affect reporting obligations and migrant deadlines relating to work start dates, extended absences from work without pay, salary reductions and the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC).
The new UK immigration system has now been implemented, representing the greatest change to UK immigration law since the introduction of Tier 2 of the points-based system in 2008.
In February 2020, the Home Office released a policy statement setting out the main features of the new UK immigration system – which will take effect early 2021.