All the UK immigration news that made us happy in 2019
Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants have compiled a list of all the changes and announcements that made us glad this past year.
Some of the good news about immigration
- With Brexit looming, the EU Settlement Scheme brought some good news. The scheme allows EU, EEA, and Swiss Nationals and their eligible family members to apply for UK immigration status to remain in the UK after Brexit. Persons can apply for settled status if they have lived in the UK for five years or more. Pre-settled status can be obtained by those who have not completed the five-year qualifying period for settled status.
- The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) made recommendations to the UK Government to expand the Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List. The Government accepted the proposals, and several new job titles are now included on the Tier 2 list. It is much easier for persons with these professions to apply, qualify and settle in the UK.
- Changes to the UK Ancestry visa now make it possible to apply for settlement, where a person relies on a historical five-year period rather than the last five years.
- Voluntary work done by UK Ancestry visa holders now also count towards meeting the requirement to take or seek work in the UK. This change is welcome news for some of our more elderly clients who use the Ancestry route but struggle to find work.
- The new online system allows supporting documents to be submitted to the Home Office online, and original documents are (usually) no longer required.
- The UK Government is planning to create a new fast-track visa for individuals with skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The scheme will be open to both EU and non-EU citizens.
- A new Graduate Immigration Route will open in the British Summer 2021. This route will allow overseas graduates to stay for two years in the UK after their graduation. They will be able to stay and work or look for work for two years. The work can be in any job at any level. Once they can secure such employment in their field, they should be able to apply for a visa or permit that will enable them to stay for longer.
- The introduction of a new NHS visa will hopefully offset a possible fall in NHS workers due to Brexit. The UK Government aims to make it easier for migrants to work in the National Health Service (NHS). The visa will cost half the normal fee, and it will be a fast-track process. Persons will, according to plan, expect decisions on their visas within two weeks.
Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants hope that all the exciting changes due to be implemented will come faster than anticipated to benefit all our clients. We will update readers as new information becomes available.
Please note that the information in this article does not constitute professional advice. It is provided for general information purposes, without giving any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. For more information or help with your immigration matter, please send an email to info@bic-immigration.com or visit the Breytenbachs website at www.bic-immigration.com
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