UK - POINTS BASED IMMIGRATION

United Kingdom :

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is an island country that sits north- west of mainland Europe. It is made up of main land Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and the northern part of the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland ). It has numerous smaller islands. The UK is low lying in the east. It has mountains in the north of England, in Scotland, in Northern Ireland and in Wales.

Key Facts :

• Region: Europe
• Population: 66 million (2018)
• Area: 242,500 square kilometers
• Capital: London
• Joined Commonwealth: 1926, on founding the British Commonwealth of Nations
• Commonwealth Youth Index: 2 out of 49 Countries

Introduction:

On 31 December 2020,at 11.00 PM, freedom of movement between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) Will end. This document sets out further details on how their new immigration system will operate. At the heart of it will be the Points - Based System. This set out how would they fulfill their commitment to the British public to take back control of our borders by ending free movement and introducing a single, global immigration system. The PointsBased System will cater for the most highly skilled workers, skilled workers, students and a range of other specialist work routes including routes for global leaders in their field and innovators.

The Points-Based System will be a fair system, because we will treat people from every part of the world equally. It will also reflect the careful consideration being given to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review produced by Wendy Williams.

Benefits of the VISA:

• The new system will treat EU and non-EU citizens equally
• The points-based system will provide simple, effective and flexible arrangements for UK employers to recruit skilled workers from around the world through a number of different immigration routes.
• Get 5 years VISA with multiple entry and Rights to work.
• You can sponsor your Dependant Spouse and children.
• Dependant can work and study full time.
• An employer will not need to be a Home Office licensed visa sponsor to employ a migrant under the Global Talent route.
• Priority will be given to skills, such as innovators, academics and scientists. Indian workers, especially those in STEM fields.
• Their yearly survey showed that the average salary in the UK for men and women combined was £29,009, which includes those in both full-time and part work. For those in full-time work, the average UK salary is £35,423 and £12,083 for those in part-time, but the minimum salary fixed by the department is £25,600 which is low compared to the average salary.
• Easy licensing process for Doctors and Medical profession.

Routes available for Skilled Worker System:

• Skilled worker Route
• Global talent Route
• Graduate Route
• Intra-company Transfer

Skilled worker Route:

Under the new skilled worker system, anyone coming to the UK to work will need to demonstrate that:

• They have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor.
• The job offer is at the required skill level – RQF 3 or above (A Level and equivalent)
• They speak English to the required standard

Global talent Route:

• From January 2021, the current Global Talent route will open to EU citizens on the same basis as non-EU citizens. This means the most highly skilled, who can achieve the required level of points, will be able to enter the UK without a job offer if they are endorsed by a recognised UK body, as approved by the Home Office.
• An employer will not need to be a Home Office licensed visa sponsor to employ a migrant under the Global Talent route.
• This route is designed to attract recognised global leaders and promising individuals in science, humanities, engineering, the arts and digital technology.

Graduate Route:

The Graduate Visa will be available to international students who have completed a degree in the UK from summer 2021. This will enable international students to remain in the UK and work at any skill level for two years after they have completed their studies. It will be an unsponsored route.

Intra-company Transfer:

The Intra-company Transfer (ICT) route allows multinational organisations to facilitate temporary moves into the UK for key business personnel through their subsidiary branches, subject to ICT sponsorship requirements being met. The route will require applicants to be in roles skilled to RQF 6 (graduate level equivalent), and subject to a different minimum salary threshold from the main skilled worker route.

How will points be awarded :

Characteristics	Mandatory/Tradeable	Points
Offer of job by approved sponsor	Mandatory	20
Job at appropriate skill level	Mandatory	20
Speaks English at required level	Mandatory	10
Salary of £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher)	Tradeable	0
Salary of £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher)	Tradeable	10
Salary of £25,600 or above or at least the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher)	Tradeable	20
Job in a shortage occupation as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee	Tradeable	20
Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job	Tradeable	10
Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job	Tradeable	20

Application fees:

	Applying from overseas	Applying in-country
Skilled Worker	Up to 3 years: £610	Up to 3 years: £704
	Over 3 years: £1,220	Over 3 years: £1,408
	Shortage occupation up to 3 years: £464	Shortage occupation up to 3 years: £464
	Shortage occupation over 3 years: £928	Shortage occupation over 3 years: £928
Global Talent	£608	£608
Dependants	£Fess will be same
Intra-Company Transfer	Up to 3 years: £610	Up to 3 years: £704
	Over 3 years: £1,220	Over 3 years: £1,408

Identify whether you meet the required Skill level :

The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code is used to assess the correct skill level and appropriate salary level for specific job roles. All jobs have a corresponding Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. Each SOC code has a designated skill level. This determines whether the job meets the requirements of the skilled worker route.

The occupations in the SOC are classified at four levels of aggregation to suit the needs of various data users: major group, minor group, broad occupation, and detailed occupation. Each lower level of detail identifies a more specific group of occupations. The 23 major groups, listed below, are divided into 98 minor groups, 459 broad occupations, and 867 detailed occupations.

Some of SOC major groups:

SOC Code	Occupation
11-0000	-Management Occupations
13-0000	Business and Financial Operations Occupationss
15-0000	Computer and Mathematical Occupations
17-0000	Architecture and Engineering Occupations
19-0000	Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
21-0000	Community and Social Service Occupations
23-0000	Legal Occupations
25-0000	Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
27-0000	Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
29-0000	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
31-0000	Healthcare Support Occupations
33-0000	Protective Service Occupations
35-0000	Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
37-0000	Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
39-0000	Personal Care and Service Occupations
41-0000	Sales and Related Occupations
43-0000	Office and Administrative Support

Other Pathways:

• Start -up and Innovator
• Health and care Visa
• Creative Route
• Sporting Routes
• JYouth Mobility Scheme

English language requirements:

• Migrants must demonstrate they have the ability required for the route and the role they are coming to the UK for.
• The level of English language ability required is set as appropriate for each relevant route based on the Common European Framework of Reference for languages. For example, students at degree level must demonstrate their ability at level B2 (A-Level or equivalent) and skilled workers B1 (ASLevel or equivalent).

Types of VISA:

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa

Tier 1 (Investor) Visa

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa

Skilled foreign workers with a job offer in a shortage area

Tier 2 (General) Visa

Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Visa

Tier 2 (Sportsperson) Visa

Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) Visa

Youth mobility and temporary foreign workers

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Visa

Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) Visa

Immigration Skills Charge:

• The Immigration Skills Charge will be levied on UK employers of skilled workers on the same basis as now Employers who sponsor non-EU migrant workers under Tier 2 (General) and (Intra Company Transfer) will be required, as now, to pay the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), unless a specific exemption applies.
• Employers must pay £1,000 per skilled worker for the first 12 months, with an additional £500 charge for each subsequent six-month period.
• Under the Points-Based System we will apply the ISC to sponsoring employers in respect of both EU and non-EU migrant workers.
• Discounted rates of £364 per sponsored worker per year will apply as they do now to charities and Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Biometric fee will include in the application fee.

Processing Time:

You should expect up to 6 months of processing time for permanent residency applications made in the UK. Some applications may exceed the time limits, but most applications are decided within 6 months.

A processing fee is applicable, and as of the time of writing, the cost is £2389 for an individual application by post

Calculated your eligibility points? Now enquire with us to confirm your points to get precised information on your process and kick-start your immigration dream with us.