UK Announces Annual Interim Limit for Tier 2 UK Immigration

UK Parliament has approved changes in employer sponsored Tier 2 work visa. Changes were made after reviewing report filed by Migration Advisory Committee of United Kingdom (UK). Migration Advisory Committee submitted this report in October 2011 for approval of interim limit to the Tier 2 of UK immigration point based system. The main changes made by UK Border Agency are given as under;

• Tier 2 (General) limit will remain as previously set as 20,700 workers. Limit will not change for next two years until April 2014. Limit will only affect workers will salary below £1,50,000 per year. Limit is not for the workers whose salary level is above £1,50,000 per year.
• Required skill level is increased so only high management and quality jobs should be offered to international workers. Middle management level jobs will no longer be available for workers migrating from other countries under Tier 2. Architects, chemical engineers and teachers will be treated as highly skilled occupations and will still be available for international Tier 2 workers.
• Advertisement rules for UK businesses will be relaxed for PhD level and highly paid jobs. They will have opportunity to advertise their jobs more widely instead of JobCentrePlus. However more efficient and best candidate will be selected for these level jobs even if you sponsor a Tier 2 worker.

Besides these limits, Tier 2 workers will still need to comply with intermediate level English language requirements and showing maintenance funds for a period of 90 days prior to their UK visa application date. Damian Green, UK immigration minister, said that these changes will strengthen UK immigration system. He added;

‘The government has been clear that the UK is open for business and our limit has been designed with the industry’s needs in mind. We believe there is no incompatibility between economic growth and controlling migration – our reformed, more selective immigration system can achieve both.’

These limits will decrease unemployment for UK residents and restrict lesser skilled workers. UKBA is also taking serious actions against Tier 4 students coming to UK for working and not having genuine study intention.