Summary of the Immigration Rules changes from 6 April 2015. Most changes affect the Points-Based System migrants and visitors.

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -

Here is our summary of what is changing on 6 April 2015, we picked what we think are the most important changes:


1)     Tier 2: new salary thresholds, the main Tier 2 (General) £20,500 threshold is up to £20,800.

2)     Tier 1 (Entrepreneur): a business plan will be compulsory for initial applications, at the moment it is advisable but not compulsory. The Applicant will have to explain and evidence the source of funds (normally, £200,000) if the Applicant/Sponsor has not held the money for the full 90 days before the date of application. More on the Entrepreneur changes can be found in the forthcoming separate post later.

3)     Tier 1 (Investor): a new requirement to open a UK-regulated investment account before making an initial application. Also, there will be no requirement to top-up the invested funds if an investment is sold at a loss.

4)     English language requirement - all applicable categories: a new list of the approved English tests will be used and it is a much shorter one! It means more tests will be taken off the list. Interestingly, a very common ESOL Skills for Life test will no longer be on the list but a new test, called IELTS Life Skills, will appear.

5)     Tier 1 (General): extensions will no longer be allowed. ILR applications can still be made until 5 April 2018. Those who can’t qualify for an ILR by then, could switch to a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa but only if they had already started running a business before 6 April 2015. Having said that, nothing is stopping them from ‘switching’ to an Entrepreneur visa outside the UK. Switching won’t be the right word here as it is used for changing a status inside the UK (but not a Rules term anyway), however, neither does it mean a Tier 1 (General) migrant has to break his/her residency for more than it is required to wait for an Entrepreneur Entry Clearance in his/her country. And a final note on this point: Tier 1 General and Tier 1 Entrepreneur can’t be combined when counting 5 years for an ILR.

6)     Visitor visas: there will be only 4 remaining sub-categories. Visitor (standard) and includes the previous General, Family, Business and most others; Visitor for marriage or civil partnerships (now called Marriage Visitor); visitor for permitted paid engagements and transit visitor. Student Visitor visas will be rebranded as short term study routes alongside other non-PBS study provisions.

For an individual advice or to make an application please contact us: info@1st4immigration.com or visit www.1st4immigration.com  

If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our immigration Training and CPD website: www.1st4immigration.com/training 
 

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