The United Kingdom has announced that a new skilled worker visa will be introduced for foreign workers looking to immigrate to the UK.
This new skilled visa will replace the existing General Category Tier 2 visa and will have no annual cap on entrants.
Moreover, overseas workers can apply for immigration to the UK with this visa without having to wait over a resident labour market test, a decision which will be welcomed by both employers and applicants alike.
To be eligible, applicants must score 70 points in the UK’s points system.
50 of the required 70 points can be covered by:
- Having a job offer (and sponsorship) from a licensed sponsor in the UK;
- Meeting the RQF3 skill threshold; and
- Having a good grasp on the English language.
The remaining 20 points will depend on factors such as salary, the occupation being a shortage occupation, and whether the applicant holds a PhD.
A detailed breakdown is given below:
- 20 points – for a salary of £25,600 or the going rate for the role in the UK;
- 10 points – for a wage of £23,040 or 90% of the going rate for the position in the UK;
- 20 points – for a shortage occupation;
- 10 points – for the applicant holding a relevant PhD; and
- 10 points – for the applicant holding a relevant PhD in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subject.
The government has also announced that the current costs of sponsorship will remain unchanged, except for the immigration health surcharge, which is expected to be increased.