The UK to take back control of immigration from 2020 and onwards, says Priti Patel, Home Secretary. According to her, there will be no more routes for cheap and low skilled labor. With an interview with BBC, the Home Secretary said that the government wanted to encourage people with the right skills to be in the UK.
The new immigration policy may well bring down the numbers of immigrants as currently, 70% of immigrants are low-skilled workers who will no longer find a route in the future.
The new immigration system alongside its many new programs, allows immigrants to secure only 70 points from 130 to apply for a work visa. The points-based system will help the government to have more control over immigration. A job offer from a UK employer, a lower salary threshold, knowledge of English, and appropriate skills will help new immigrants to get an easy work visa.
Since the UK is no more willing to have low-skilled workers, it is said that the 3.2 million EU citizens who have applied to stay in the UK could help meet labour demands for the coming future years (for low-skilled jobs).
The new immigration policy is to be in effect from 1st January 2021 according to the UK government. The new single global immigration system will eradicate the difference between EU citizens and non-EU citizens that were in place for decades. The UK eventually will be able to get quality workers from across the globe not on the basis of citizenship but skills and talent.
UK’s new immigration policy can be highlighted as follows:
- Job offer required from recognized UK employer
- Low level of salary threshold (previously £30,000 but now will be £25,600).
- The ones who do not fulfill the salary threshold can also apply with a minimum salary threshold of £20,000 but they will have to show that their skills and job offer are from the shortage occupation list. Applicants will also be able to apply with an income threshold of £22,000 if they have a relevant Ph.D. in a STEM subject.
- Expansion of skills threshold. Previously only graduates were able to apply but now the ones having a qualification equivalent to A-Levels will be able to enjoy the ease of applying for a work visa.
- Those who cannot fulfill the requirements (especially the salary threshold) of 70 points for applying for a work visa, may still be able to enter the UK if they have a relevant Ph.D. in a STEM subject.
- The new policy will also aim to get quality migrants through global talent visas and post-study work visas (both routes are for highly qualified immigrants).
- A points-based system will remain intact for international students too. Having an approved education provider, English knowledge, and financial means will be key to get it done.
- Farmworker/seasonal worker visas announced in 2019 had only a quota of 2500 a year. It will be expanded to 10,000 to fulfill the needs of increasing farm labor.
- EU citizens and other non-visa nationals will be able to stay in the UK until 6 months without a visa.
- The EU citizens those were resident till 31 December 2019, will still be able to apply for EU settlement scheme till June 2021.
UK government is calling this new policy a type of Australian points-based system which many people deny. There is a mixed opinion of people and many are criticizing the income threshold that is still high especially for those who are in high demand in the UK, the health sector workers who have way below income threshold than the newly introduced. The UK government also wants to start the new immigration policy from Autumn 2020 so that eligible people can apply for visas early before January 2021. Further details on this will be released late this year.
Points based chart for the new UK work visa
