UK announces new rules for migrants
PTI
NEW DELHI, MARCH 18
Britain today announced new immigration rules for skilled and highly skilled migrants, including those from India, under which the criteria of earnings has been increased.
Under the new rules, which will be applicable from April 6, the minimum previous earnings for those applying under Tier 1 has been increased from the current 20,000 pounds to 25,000 pounds.
For Tier 2, the minimum prospective earnings has been increased from 17,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds, while the highest earnings threshold has been set at 32,000 pounds, increased from 24,000 pounds, a release from the British High Commission said.
India continues to be an important source country of highly skilled and skilled migrants and Indian migrants continue to do well under Tier 1 and 2 of the points-based system, with New Delhi accounting for the highest number of Tier 2 applications worldwide.
Tier 2 (ICT) will no longer lead to settlement in the United Kingdom, to reflect the intrinsically temporary nature of ICT roles, the release said.
The United Kingdom government also accepted changes to Tier 1 recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and has set out further details of how it will implement changes the MAC recommended to Tier 2.
It also reintroduced points for bachelor’s degrees for those with high previous earnings (of at least 35,000 pounds).
“Under the new rules, those with very high previous earnings of at least 1,50,000 pounds but no formal qualifications to come to the UK using Tier 1 will be allowed,” the release said.
It also increased 15 points for master’s degrees from the current 10 points.
The initial grant of leave for Tier 1 (general) will be two years, reduced from three, with a further three–year extension for those working in highly skilled employment, it said.
The release said graduates of UK medical/dental schools will be able to work as doctors/dentists in training and may switch into Tier 1 (post-study work) on completing their foundation programme.
Tier 1 (general) migrants will not be permitted to work as a professional sportsman (including as a sports coach), the release said.
