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ARTICLE · 11 AUGUST 2023

Changes To The UK Business Immigration Rules

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On 17 July 2023, the UK government published a Statement of Changes introducing widespread changes to the Immigration Rules. The key changes from a business immigration perspective are...

United KingdomImmigration
Ed Mills
Ed Mills
Siân Keall
Siân Keall
Tim Gilbert
Tim Gilbert
Adam Wyman
Adam Wyman
Ailie Murray
Ailie Murray
Moji Oyediran
Moji Oyediran
Katie Good
Katie Good
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On 17 July 2023, the UK government published a Statement of Changes introducing widespread changes to the Immigration Rules. The key changes from a business immigration perspective are:

  • Following the Home Secretary's statement on 23 May 2023, if an international student's course start date is on or after 1 January 2024, they are no longer permitted to bring dependants unless the course is a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree. The ability for international students to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been completed has also now been removed. Before 17 July 2023, students were permitted to apply for a work visa up to three months prior to the date of their course completion. From 17 July 2023 onwards, students can only switch to a work visa once they have completed their course.

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