New points based immigration system

On 19 February, the Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the launch of a new points based immigration system. This will take effect from 1st January 2021 and coincides with the end of free movement from the European Union. 

Priti Patel made this announcement:

“We are ending free movement, taking back control of our borders and delivering on our people’s priorities by introducing a new UK points-based immigration system which will bring overall immigration numbers down…we will attract the brightest and the best from around the globe, boost on the economy and our communities and unleash this country’s full potential”.

The announcement can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-policy-statement/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-policy-statement

Skilled Workers

Under the new system, skilled workers will need to meet a number of relevant criteria, including specific skills and the ability to speak English to be able to work in the UK. In addition, all applicants will be required to have a job offer and the minimum salary threshold will be set at £25,600. Those looking to live and work in the UK will need to be qualified up to A-level or equivalent.

Where a salary is less than £25,600 (but not less than £20,480) then you still may be able to apply for the new visa as a skilled worker by trading points on specific characteristics against your salary. For example, if you have a job offer in a shortage occupation or have a PhD relevant to the job. 

The system for a skilled worker will work in this way:

 

 A total of 70 points is required to be eligible to apply.

The easiest way to understand the trading of points is to look at an example : a university researcher in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subject wishing to come to the UK on a salary of £22,000, which is below the general minimum salary threshold, may still be able to enter the UK if they have a relevant PhD in a STEM subject. 

Highly skilled workers

The Government are also going to introduce a category for highly skilled workers, which will extend the global talent route to EU citizens on the same basis as non-EU citizens. The most highly-skilled, who can achieve the acquired level of points, will be able to enter the UK without a job offer if they are endorsed by a relevant and competent body. 

Lower skilled workers

The Government have stated that as part of their manifesto commitment to reduce overall migration numbers they will end free movement and not implement a route for lower-skilled workers. The Government have said that they will expand the pilot scheme for seasonal workers in agriculture and maintain the youth mobility arrangements. 

Students

The Government have stated that students will remain within the points-based system and will achieve the required points if they can demonstrate that they have an offer from an approved educational institution, speak English and are able to support themselves during their studies in the UK.

Once freedom of movement ends on the 1st of January 2021 the Government have stated that they expect to treat EU citizens as non-visa nationals meaning that they will be able to come to the UK as visitors for six months without the need to obtain a visa.

In their policy statement, the Government have stated, “we intend to open key routes from Autumn 2020 so that migrants can start to apply ahead of the system taking effect in January 2021”. Employers not currently approved by the Home Office to be a sponsor should consider doing so now if they think they will want to sponsor skilled migrants including from the EU from early 2021.

The immigration team at Drummond Miller will be carefully following the Government’s proposals and we will update our website as more details become clear.