Immigration and Work – Policy Changes Bite

For businesspeople from outside the EU who do not have a commercial sponsor, coming to work in the UK is becoming more difficult as the Government’s policy to cut net immigration bites.



The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has reformed its guidance on Tier 1 and Tier 2 under the ‘points-based’ system of immigration and is limiting the number of Tier 2 immigrants to a total of fewer than 2,000 per month.



The permanent right to remain under Tier 2 is also being made more difficult to achieve.



The exception lies for immigrants who qualify as entrepreneurs or investors, for whom the hurdles to permanent settlement have been somewhat lowered. To qualify, however, an entrepreneur must prove that they have been responsible for job creation and an investor must show an ability to invest £1 million. In addition, 1,000 places are being made available under Tier 1 for people of exceptional talent.



Further information can be found on the UKBA’s website.