The Statement of Changes for February 2020 for the Immigration Policies

As the UK have completed the withdrawal agreement from the EU, we will now see a number of changes from now and here is a summary of the new policies to be changed:

1. Global Talent category for talented and promising individuals in specific sectors wishing to work in the UK, replacing the existing Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) category. This is to focus on the science, technology and mathematics (STEM) sector. This will start from 20th February 2020.
2. There will be 2 types of application’s, either under the “talent” route or “promise” route, similiar to what we have under the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa, as this would now be replaced.
3. Global Talent applicants must hold an endorsement from an organisation engaged by the Home Office to develop sector specific criteria and consider individual applications on its behalf. The existing Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) endorsing bodies (the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, Tech Nation and Arts Council England) will be joined by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the new Global Talent category.
4. The Royal Society (for science and medicine), the Royal Academy of Engineering (for engineering), the British Academy (for
   humanities), Tech Nation (for digital technology) and Arts Council England (for arts and culture).
5. Applicants endorsed by the endorsing bodies responsible for science, engineering, humanities and medicine will be able to apply for settlement after 3 years regardless of whether the applicant is granted under “promise” criteria, “talent” criteria or the
   new endorsed funder option. The qualifying period to apply for settlement under “promise” criteria for digital technology and arts and culture applicants will remain as 5 years (as was previously required under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)).
6. There will be no caps on the number of applications.
7. Applicants will be able to choose how much leave, in whole years, up to a maximum of 5 years they wish to be granted in a single application. This means that Global Talent applicants who only wish to come to the UK for 2 years in this category will not need to pay the maximum 5-year Immigration Health Surcharge payment.
8. To apply for the visa, stage 1 is charged at £456 and then for the visa application at £152. Dependants are at £608.

Changes to the current Tier 2 General being discussed

1. Tier 2 General. The MAC advisory is considering to abolish RLMT and the cap which is currently set out.
2. When applying for ILR at this moment, a Tier 2 General Migrant is required to meet the financial salary threshold, so for this year a person must be earning more than £36,200 and this rises on yearly basis, with the next change in April 2021, which will require an applicant £36,900.
3. The MAC advisory committee are considering to place one level of salary threshold which could be up to £49,000 per annum.
4. There are currently some exemptions in place to the minimum earnings threshold if: the applicant has been employed in a job which has been on the SOL at any time in the last six years and during the period in which they have been sponsored;  the applicant has been employed in a PhD level occupation.

EEA Regulations and Other Relevant Changes

1. All EEA nationals and family members must apply under the settlement scheme by 31st Dec 2020 albeit the Government have extended this until 30th June 2021.