Migration Cap To Be Lifted For High Earners – New Rules

The UK Border Agency has released their Statement of Intent today and will be placed before Parliament in mid March. We can therefore expect more detailed guidance in that period. However in the meantime, here is a summary of the main points announced today:-

Tier 2 (General)

Entry clearance applications will be subject to an annual limit of 20,700 from April 6 2011 as already published late last year. The limit will apply to a new 'restricted' CoS category, which includes those non-EEA migrants filling a UK job role. Therefore employers can expect going back to the old style work permit system, whereby each application for a new hire must be made to the UKBA before it is allocated to a migrant.