Home Office announce Tier 2 changes

Further to the Migration Advisory Committee’s report on the Tier 2 route the Home Office have now published their proposed changes to the route. The changes include:

• Tier 2 (General) salary thresholds will be increased to £25,000 in autumn 2016, then to £30,000 in April 2017 (some health and education professionals will be exempt from the higher threshold until July 2019);
• The minimum threshold of £20,800 for new entrants will remain the same;
• Tier 4 students switching to a Tier 2 visa will not be subject to a limit on numbers and their sponsor will not have to carry out a Resident Labour Market Test;
• Nurses will remain on the Shortage Occupation list, however sponsors will need to conduct a Resident Labour Market Test;
• Tier 2 employers will be required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge from April 2017, this will be at a rate of £1,000 per person, or £364 for smaller businesses and charities;
• The Immigration Rules will be simplified, making them easier for all to understand.

At present these are only responses to the MAC’s report, however the changes are intended to come into effect in autumn 2016 and then April 2017.

We will continue to keep you updated.