Immigrant Worker Rules Changed

The UK Border Agency has made changes in relation to Tier 1 (highly-skilled) and Tier 2 (skilled worker with job offer) point based system.

Tier 1:

• Bachelor Degree taken into consideration
• Maximum age to claim points is 39 on initial applications and 41 on extension
• Minimum previous earnings for points raised to ¬£25,000 with nine divisions up to ¬£150,000+
• Initial grants restricted to 2 years with extension for further 3 years possible
• Doctors in Training amendments extended to Dentists in Training, including possiblity of switching into Tier 1(Post-Study Work) withing 12 months of completing the foundation programme rather than 12 months from obtaining a degree.

Tier 2:

• Change to points for sponsorship
• Masters Degree attracts 5 points
• Minimum salary to qualify as skilled worker increased to ¬£20,000
• Change of job with same employer does not require new application unless decrease in salary or SOC code will change.

Intra-company transfers changes include:
- Established overseas workers must have worked for 12 months in overseas subsidiary to transfer to UK branch of a company. There is no route to permanent residency.
- Graduate employees (defined in statement of policy Annex A) must have worked for 3 months before UK assignment, and maximum stay of 12 months. unable to switch to other categories.

Skills transfer – applicant does not need to have been employed by the overseas company prior to the assignment. This category is for new employees who will not fill a UK vacancy and are coming solely for skills transfer reasons.