New Immigration
Rules announced for
24 November 2016
3 November 2016
The autumn changes to the UK Immigration Rules have finally been announced and will be introduced on 24 November 2016.
The announcement confirms that the changes promised earlier this year will be realised, with only a few surprises.
Main changes to be introduced on 24 November:
- The salary threshold for new Tier 2 General hires will increase to £25,000 (this will not apply to any workers sponsored before 24 November 2016 who apply to extend their Tier 2 General visa)
- The salary threshold for new Tier 2 Intra-company Transfer (ICT) Short Term hires will increase to £30,000
- The Tier 2 ICT Skills transfer sub-category will close to all new applications
- Overseas graduate hires will be more heavily weighted within the Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) monthly allocation system
- The salary threshold for Tier 2 Graduate Trainees will decrease to £23,000
- The number of Graduate Trainee places available to every sponsor will increase from five to 20 per year
- Nurses will remain on the Shortage Occupations list but a Resident Labour Market Test will now be required before a CoS can be assigned
- The 28-day grace period for overstayers is to be abolished and any application for further leave to remain by an overstayer will be refused unless ‘good cause’ is given and it is made within 14 days of the applicant’s leave expiring.
We will soon release more detailed information on each of the changes which are to be introduced later this month.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact your Smith Stone Walters immigration advisor.
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