New UK Immigration Cap Restricts Non-EU Workers
Major immigration changes have come into place to restrict the number of non-EU workers moving to the UK. The Home Office has imposed an annual cap of 20,700 on non-EU people coming to work in skilled professions, as a boost to home-grown employment.
From today, people coming from outside the EU wishing to work in the UK will need to have a graduate level job, speak an intermediate level of English, and meet specific salary and employment requirements
A further 1,000 visas will be made available to people of ‘exceptional talent’ who experts believe will make the biggest contribution to science and arts in the UK.
British immigration minister, Damian Green, announced the latest major change as part of the coalition Government’s reforms to reduce immigration to the UK. This comes in addition to new restrictions on the number of foreign students able to study in the UK and a tightening of the intra-company transfer route.
In a Home Office statement, immigration minister Damian Green said: “The annual limit will not only help reduce immigration down to sustainable levels but will protect those businesses and institutions that are vital to our economy. The new system was designed in consultation with business. We have made clear that as the recovery continues, we need employers to look first to people who are out of work and who are already in this country.”
New rules for entrepreneurs and investors in the UK business economy promise a smoother route to the UK, if you have the cash.
The Home Office reports that “Under the new visa rules for investors, those who invest large sums of money will see their right to settle permanently in the UK speed up. Those who invest £5m will be allowed to settle here after three years, and those that invest £10m or more will be allowed to settle after two. This compares with the minimum five year requirement that is currently in place.”
A further benefit allows entrepreneurs to settle in the UK more quickly if they create ten jobs or turn over £5m in a three year period.
Damian Green said: “Last year we issued far too few visas to those who wish to set up a business or invest in the UK — I intend to change that.”
These new rules will certainly raise debate so Damian Green is putting himself up for questions, which he will answer via the ministry’s website and YouTube channel.
Send questions to the Home Office by email to asktheminister@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or via Twitter at @ukhomeoffice and using hashtag #askdamiangreen. The closing date is 20 April. They ask for brief questions that are relevant to the top, not party political and do not concern individual cases. See this link for more details.
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