New british immigration policy
The UK government has introduced a new points-based immigration system, which came into effect on January 1, 2021. The system is designed to attract skilled workers from around the world while reducing the number of low-skilled workers entering the country. Here are the key features of the new policy:
Points-based system:
- The system awards points to applicants based on their skills, qualifications, language proficiency, and other factors.
- Applicants must score at least 70 points to be eligible for a visa.
- The points are awarded in the following categories:
- Skills and qualifications: 30 points
- Language: 10 points
- Work experience: 10 points
- Salary: 20 points
- PhD or other higher education: 10 points
- Youth mobility: 10 points
Tiers:
- The system has five tiers, each with its own set of requirements and points:
- Tier 1: Exceptional talent (scientists, researchers, and artists)
- Tier 2: Skilled workers (highly skilled workers, including those with a job offer)
- Tier 3: Low-skilled workers (not applicable, as this tier has been abolished)
- Tier 4: Students
- Tier 5: Temporary workers (youth mobility, charity workers, and religious workers)
Key changes:
- The system has abolished the previous system of tier 1 (entrepreneurs) and tier 3 (low-skilled workers).
- The system has introduced a new "graduate route" for international students who have completed a degree in the UK.
- The system has increased the minimum salary threshold for Tier 2 visas from £30,000 to £35,000.
- The system has introduced a new "intra-company transfer" route for workers transferring to the UK from an overseas branch of their employer.
Impact:
- The new system is expected to reduce the number of low-skilled workers entering the UK.
- The system is expected to attract more highly skilled workers, particularly in areas such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- The system is expected to benefit the UK economy by attracting skilled workers who can contribute to economic growth and innovation.
Challenges:
- The system has been criticized for being too complex and bureaucratic.
- The system has been criticized for not doing enough to address the shortage of low-skilled workers in certain sectors, such as healthcare and social care.
- The system has been criticized for not providing a clear pathway to settlement for low-skilled workers who have been in the UK for a long time.
Overall, the new British immigration policy is designed to attract skilled workers while reducing the number of low-skilled workers entering the country. However, the policy has been criticized for being too complex and not doing enough to address the shortage of low-skilled workers in certain sectors.