UK Immigration – Latest Changes - December 16, 2015

We summarise below some recent changes to the Immigration Rules and Guidance and look at changes which may be implemented in 2016.

What's changed?

1. Tier 2 general monthly quota: Effective October 2015, the points awarded for salary bands have changed. The effect is that Requests with lower salary levels are more susceptible to refusal
2. If the Home Office refuses a visa to a sponsored migrant on the basis that it does not consider a "genuine" vacancy exists, it may suspend the employer's Sponsor Licence whilst it investigates
3. Some restrictions have been introduced in cases where Tier 4 migrants are switching into the Tier 2 (General) category including that the institution where the Tier 4 Student studied their degree must be a publicly funded institution.