There has been a white paper published by the Home Office on new immigration routes to be introduced and the future of the UK Immigration System will have new routes as: 

Skilled Workers           

• There will be a new route for skilled workers.
• In line with the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the Home Office will be widening the skilled route to encompass those at medium skill level – any job above RQF 3 (essentially, A-level and above). This is most likely to be covered under the Tier 2 Route.
• In line with the MAC recommendations, there will be no cap on numbers and no requirement to undertake a resident labour market test, but there will be a minimum salary threshold.
• Businesses and employers will be consulted on the salary threshold.
• The skilled route will be a sponsored route - i.e. the migrant will be linked to a particular employer.

Temporary Workers

• We will create a Temporary Worker route, as a transitional measure.
• This is an important safety valve for the economy. It gives businesses and employers time to adapt – to further invest in the skills of UK workers and in productivity.
• This will enable nationals of low-risk countries to come for a maximum of 12-months to work at any skill level, to be followed by a further 12 month cooling off period.
• This will be an unsponsored and uncapped route. People coming under this route will have no rights to access public funds, settle or bring dependants.
• Operation of this route will be kept under review and be fully reviewed in 2025.
• In line with the MAC’s advice, Home Office are not planning to put in place sectoral schemes, other than possibly for agriculture. Home Office is launching a Season Agricultural Workers pilot this spring.

The New Post Study Worker Visa

• There will continue to be no limit on the numbers of genuine international students wanting to study in the UK.
• There will be a single system for international students of all nationalities. We will want to test academic ability, funds, and English language, but do so in as light-touch a way as possible.
• The MAC recommended some extension of post-study leave periods which we will implement: master’s students will get six months and Ph.D. students will get a year.

The bill is currently in front of parliament and we should have the new immigration rules introduced soon. 

If you are looking for UK Immigration Advise or Services, please contact Visa and Migration Ltd on 02034111261