Changes to the Immigration Rules

Posted: 16/03/2012

The Government has formally announced the changes to the Immigration Rules which will come into force from 6 April 2012.

The changes follow on from the Statement of Intent released on 29 February 2012, which we reported on here. 

Key changes include:

• introduction of a new tier 1 (graduate entrepreneur) route;
• introduction of a 12 month 'cooling off period' for tier 2 migrants from the expiry of their previous visa before they can apply for a further tier 2 visa;
• limiting the length of stay for tier 2 migrants to six years for those who entered after 6 April 2011 in this category;
• introduction of minimum £35,000 pay requirement for tier 2 migrants applying to settle from April 2016;
• introduction of new post-study arrangements for graduates switching into tier 2; 
• introduction of studying time limits for tier 4 student migrants; 
• limiting the length of time temporary workers can stay in the UK under tier 5 under certain Government authorised exchange schemes to 12 months;
• increasing the amount of funds that applicants will need to evidence to meet maintenance requirements across all tiers.

The UKBA summary is available here and the full written ministerial statement here.

Contacts: Pat Saini
Related services: Immigration

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