A written ministerial statement was laid in Parliament on 6 September 2013 outlining a number of changes to the Immigration Rules. The changes, which come into effect on 1 October 2013, include: removing the English language requirement for intra-company transferees; making it easier for graduate entrepreneurs to switch into Tier 2; waiving share ownership restrictions for some senior staff; and allowing some students to work as interns under the Tier 5 government authorised exchange scheme.
Tourist and business visitors will benefit from the following changes:
Allowing tourists and business visitors to do some study where it is not the main purpose of their visit. Expanding the activities a business visitor can do in the UK. Removing the prospective student route.
Further changes include:
expanding checks to ensure applicants for work and student visas are genuine, and that they intend to meet the conditions of leave they apply for; introducing powers to refuse Tier 4 extension applications where the applicant cannot speak English; introducing a scheme which allows some locally engaged staff in Afghanistan to relocate to the UK; setting new youth mobility scheme quotas for 2014; enabling those who demonstrate exceptional promise in the arts to apply under Tier 1; changes to the way we handle settlement applications for refugees who have committed crimes, and adding the power to curtail leave for persistent or serious offenders; introducing temporary Immigration Rules so participants and personnel can come to the UK during the 2014 Commonwealth Games; minor changes and clarifications to the Immigration Rules, including those relating to family life. From 28 October there will also be changes to the way applicants for indefinite leave to remain are required to demonstrate their knowledge of the English language and of life in the UK.
For full details of the changes please see the Statement of Changes to the Immigration rules (HC 628) and the explanatory memorandum on the UK Border Agency’s website .
Pilot launched to help SMEs recruit skilled international employees
26 September 2013
UK Visas & Immigration has launched a 3 month pilot to provide online support to SMEs who need to recruit skilled international employees.
UK Visas & Immigration in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA), has launched a 3 month pilot to provide online support to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).
CIPP Policy News Journal
16/04/2014, Page 61 of 519
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