The Home Secretary Priti Patel today revealed the UK’s new points-based system which will come into effect post-Brexit form January 2021. Ms. Patel outlined a new ”firm but fair” approach that will focus on ensuring only the brightest and best come to the UK after Brexit. The new points-based system will encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce instead of relying on the foreign workforce.
She indicated necessary changes to make it simpler for employers to attract the best and the brightest from around the world to come to the UK. The prime minister insisted that there is no blanket ban on people coming to the UK.
Skilled Worker
Anyone coming to the UK for work, including EU citizens, will need to demonstrate they meet requirements for which they will score points. The skilled worker will not be capped. The applicant must meet the following criteria in addition to passing the relevant UK criminality checks:
• Have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor;
• The job must be at or above the minimum skill level: RQF3 level or equivalent (A level or equivalent qualification). Workers will not need to hold a formal qualification.
It is the skill level of the job they will be doing which is important.
• The applicant must speak English to a required standard. Read more on the tier 2 general visa here
Fast track Health Visas
A fast track health and care visa unveiled, it will allow health professionals to work in the UK. Senior health care workers will be able to access the health care visa however junior workers will not be able to.
Highly skilled workers
After January 2021 the UKVI will create an unsponsored route under the Points-Based System to run alongside the employer-led system. This will allow a smaller number of highly skilled workers to come to the UK without a job offer. This route will not open on 1 January 2021. The UKVI is still exploring proposals for this additional route over
the coming year. The numbers for this route will be capped and would be carefully monitored during the implementation phase.
Global Talent
The UK wants to attract the very best and brightest talent from around the world. On
20 February 2020 the UKVI launched the Global Talent route to improve the UK’s attractiveness to highly skilled individuals with specialist skills. This route replaced Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) applicants will be able to benefit from a quicker endorsement process as part of a fast track STEM scheme.
Student Route
The student route will continue under tier 4. There will be no limit to the number of students allowed to the UK. These will include universities, further education, and English language colleges, and independent schools.
The UK plans to retain the brightest and the best students to continue
to contribute to the UK post-study, A Graduate route will be launched
in Summer 2021 it will allow those who have completed a degree at a UK Higher
Education Provider, to stay in the UK for two years, (three years for PhD graduates) work at any skill level, and to switch into work routes if they find a suitable job. Find out more about the student route here
Graduate Route
The Graduate route will be launched in summer 2021 and will provide international students the opportunity to stay in the UK to work or look for work after they graduate.
Undergraduate and master’s degree students will be able to stay for two years under
the route, whilst PhD students will be able to stay for three years. Graduates will be
able to switch into other routes in line with the wider approach to switching when
applying for leave inside the UK.
No sponsorship will be required. All successful applicants will be granted a one-time
non-extendable leave period of two years if graduating at undergraduate or masters
level, or three years if graduating with a PhD, on this route and will be able to work, or
look for work, at any skill level during this period. The route will also be Points-Based,
with the full number of points being awarded for the successful completion of a degree
from a UK Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance.
95. The current Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES), open to international students who
have completed a PhD in the UK, allowing them to remain and work for 12
months after completing their studies in the UK will be closed at the point, the new Graduate Route is introduced.
Hong Kong
The UK Government is deeply concerned by China’s imposition of a national security
law on Hong Kong that restricts the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong in
breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The UK has a historic and moral obligation to British Nationals (Overseas) in Hong Kong who elected to retain their ties to the UK,
and we will honour the UK’s commitment to them. The UK we will introduce a new immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) and their immediate family dependents that are usually resident in Hong Kong, allowing them to live and work in the UK and providing a pathway to citizenship.
Seasonal Workers pilot for agriculture: Currently further information has not been included on the Seasonal Workers pilot, as it will conclude at the end of 2020.
Overseas Domestic Workers: This route currently allows a domestic worker in a private household, that has worked for their employer for at least one-year, to visit
the UK with their employer for six-months.