From 1 January 2021, candidates who want to immigrate to the UK for education and work can submit their application under the newly implemented points-based immigration system. The immigration rules changes are in effect from 9 am 1 December 2020. The statement of changes in immigration rules HC813 was announced by the UKBA on 22 October 2020.
The free movement has ceased, and the United Kingdom has introduced a points-based system. It is part of a larger, multi-year program led by the Home Office to transform the border and immigration system. These changes will further improve the UK’s sponsorship system and, in the long run, further improve the UK’s sponsorship system, including the introduction of electronic travel authorities. With the advancement of travel, UK has taken a step-by-step approach to ensure easy delivery of this new system and provide a reasonable amount of time for everyone to adapt.
The new immigration system aims to create a higher wage, higher skills, higher productive economy. Now the EU residents will be treated on the same track as those from other parts of the world
How the point-based system works for “Skilled Work Visa”?
An international worker who wants to immigrate to the UK will require 70 points. The skilled workers will obtain 40 points if they have a job offer from an authorized employer. If they understand English skills at the required level CEFR B1) they will earn 10 points. The candidate may earn the remaining 20 points if they are due to be paid a minimum of £25,600 (salary according to ongoing rates) a year. The candidate may also get extra points for having higher education even if it does not pay as much money such as:
- Relevant Ph.D. 10 Points
- Ph.D. in Science, technology, maths, and engineering: 20 Points
- A job offer in which the UK has a shortage of 20 Points
- Job in education and health sector: 20 Points (even if the salary is less than £25,600 and the candidates must be paid a minimum of £20,480 annually)
Points Table for Skilled Work Visa
| job offer | 20 |
| job at correct skill level | 20 |
| English speaking | 10 |
| Related Ph.D. in a STEM subject | 20 |
| 70 |
Visas for Health and Care jobs
The health and care workers such as Doctors, Nurses, and other healthcare professionals will be entertained with a speedy–track entry scheme. Although most of these workers will not be covered by the program. The potential health and care workers will pay low fees and be supported via the application procedure. Successful candidates will be exempt from the immigration health surcharge. Candidates through this track will still have to fulfill the related skill level and a salary threshold.
The UK is considering recruiting more and more health and care staff from abroad. Recently, the rules have been changed to make it convenient for the enrollment of health and care staff. Certain health and care related occupations have been included in the shortage occupation list. This will help international workers to apply for the skilled immigration visa of the UK with more ease because a job from a shortage occupation list gives 20 extra points to the visa candidates. Read here all details.
TIER 4 Student Visa
There is no limit on the number of foreign students who can move to the UK to study. Under the new student visa application system, you will need to apply for 6 months prior to beginning a course if you are applying from outside the UK.
Introduction to Study in the UK
The UK offers you a world-class education system with UK qualifications that can make a real difference in your career. For studying in the UK, you must:
- Have received an offer letter on a course by an authorized student sponsor
- Have enough financial funds to support you and your study expenses the amount depends on your selected course
- Have enough command on your English speaking, reading, writing, and understanding
- Get consent from your parents if you are 16 or 17 years old – you will need proof when you apply
If you are 16 or 17 and want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a child student visa instead. Read here all details.
New Graduate Route Work Visa for Students
From 1 July 2021, international students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree will be able to take advantage of two years of work experience in the UK after graduation through the new graduate route. Students completing the Ph.D. will be able to stay for three years.
Key benefits of the route for international students
- Three is no need for a sponsor
- International students will not require a job offer to apply
- There is no minimum salary requirements nor caps on numbers
- On this path, graduates will be able to work flexibly
- Read here all details
EU Settlement Scheme
EU residents living in the UK prior to the end of 2020 may apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. To apply for this status the last date is 30 June 2021.
Who can apply for the EU settlement scheme? Following people can apply for the scheme:
- the nationals of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland (the EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.)
- the family members of EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen (the citizens of Ireland are allowed to apply to)
in some cases, you can also apply if:
- you’re the family member of a British citizen who also has EU, EEA, or Swiss citizenship and who lived in the UK as an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen before getting British citizenship
- you’re the child of an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen who used to live and work in the UK or the child’s primary carer
- you used to have an EU, EEA, or Swiss family member living in the UK (but you’ve separated, they’ve died or the family relationship has broken down)
- you’re the family member of a British citizen and you lived outside the UK in an EEA country together
- you’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen
- you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland
Visas for Tech, Science, and Entrepreneurship Professionals
The UK is going to launch a new unsponsored points-based visa system for professionals working in fields like finance, science, research, and technology. On March 3, UK’s chief financial minister Rishi Sunak said during declaring budget, “I’m announcing ambitious visa reform aimed at highly skilled migrants, stressing plans to make post-Brexit-Britain “internationally competitive.” Read here for further details.
Newly Announced Rules for Asylum Seekers
The UK introduces tougher rules for asylum seekers.
The Home Secretary explained her new plans as follows:
- Grant resettled refugee indefinite leave to remain
- Better integrate refugees who are resettled
- Introduce new maximum life sentences for people smugglers.
- Empower Border Force to do more to stop and seize small boats and search containers for hidden migrants.
- Stop illegal arrivals gaining immediate entry into the asylum system if they have traveled through a safe country – like France.
- Speed up the removal of failed asylum seekers and dangerous foreign criminals.
- Increase the maximum sentence for illegally entering the UK, making it 5 years instead of six months
- Read all details here.
UK Frontier Worker Permit for EU Citizens
The UK imposes new regulations on “Frontier Workers”. A work permit named “Frontier Work Permit for EU Citizens” has been recently introduced. The new work permit will be valid for 5 years and it is free of cost to apply for it. If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, employed or self-employed in the UK, but not primarily resident of the UK, you are a Frontier Worker (also known as a cross-border traveler). Read all details here.
The reason behind changing the UK immigration system
The United Kingdom (UK) withdrew from the European Union at the end of 2020. The policy statement outlines how the government will live up to its commitment to the British people and regain control of its borders. At that time when UK was an EU member, people from EU nations had the ultimate advantage to work in the UK. Taking control of immigration was the basic subject of the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum according to the UK government, the immigration system has long failed to meet the needs of the British people, distorted by European freedoms. Failing to provide benefits throughout the UK, skilled migrants from around the world who want to come to the UK and contribute to their economy and society fail.
What are RQF levels of qualifications?
It stands for the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and all qualifications regulated by Ofqual (in England) are on this framework. Most qualifications have a difficulty level. The higher the level, the more difficult the qualification is. You may also check your qualification level here by the official portal of the UK government.
Here is the brief description of the UK qualifcations and their levels:
| Levels | Details |
| Level 1 | GCSE (grades D-G or 3-1) |
| Level 2 | GCSE (grades A-C or 9-4) |
| Level 3 | A level |
| Level 4 | Year 1 of a 3 year Bachelor’s degree, Higher National Certificate (HNC) |
| Level 5 | Year 2 of a 3 year Bachelor’s degree, Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation degree |
| Level 6 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Level 7 Level 8 | Postgraduate, Master’s degree Ph.D |
There are 9 levels of qualifications in England, Wales and Northeren Ireland:
There are 9 qualification levels.
Entry level
Each entry level qualification is available at three sub-levels – 1, 2 and 3. Entry level 3 is the most difficult.
Entry level qualifications are:
- entry level award
- entry level certificate (ELC)
- entry level diploma
- entry level English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
- entry level essential skills
- entry level functional skills
- Skills for Life
Level 1
Level 1 qualifications are:
- first certificate
- GCSE – grades 3, 2, 1 or grades D, E, F, G
- level 1 award
- level 1 certificate
- level 1 diploma
- level 1 ESOL
- level 1 essential skills
- level 1 functional skills
- level 1 national vocational qualification (NVQ)
- music grades 1, 2 and 3
Level 2
Level 2 qualifications are:
- CSE – grade 1
- GCSE – grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or grades A*, A, B, C
- intermediate apprenticeship
- level 2 award
- level 2 certificate
- level 2 diploma
- level 2 ESOL
- level 2 essential skills
- level 2 functional skills
- level 2 national certificate
- level 2 national diploma
- level 2 NVQ
- music grades 4 and 5
- O level – grade A, B or C
Level 3
Level 3 qualifications are:
- A level
- access to higher education diploma
- advanced apprenticeship
- applied general
- AS level
- international Baccalaureate diploma
- level 3 award
- level 3 certificate
- level 3 diploma
- level 3 ESOL
- level 3 national certificate
- level 3 national diploma
- level 3 NVQ
- music grades 6, 7 and 8
- tech level
Level 4
Level 4 qualifications are:
- certificate of higher education (CertHE)
- higher apprenticeship
- higher national certificate (HNC)
- level 4 award
- level 4 certificate
- level 4 diploma
- level 4 NVQ
Level 5
Level 5 qualifications are:
- diploma of higher education (DipHE)
- foundation degree
- higher national diploma (HND)
- level 5 award
- level 5 certificate
- level 5 diploma
- level 5 NVQ
Level 6
Level 6 qualifications are:
- degree apprenticeship
- degree with honours – for example bachelor of the arts (BA) hons, bachelor of science (BSc) hons
- graduate certificate
- graduate diploma
- level 6 award
- level 6 certificate
- level 6 diploma
- level 6 NVQ
- ordinary degree without honours
Level 7
Level 7 qualifications are:
- integrated master’s degree, for example master of engineering (MEng)
- level 7 award
- level 7 certificate
- level 7 diploma
- level 7 NVQ
- master’s degree, for example master of arts (MA), master of science (MSc)
- postgraduate certificate
- postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
- postgraduate diploma
Level 8
Level 8 qualifications are:
- doctorate, for example, doctor of philosophy (Ph.D. or DPhil)
- level 8 award
- level 8 certificate
- level 8 diploma