🇬🇧 Immigration News Roundup

 

Despite everything that's going on, the immigration work very much continues, it just keeps changing! Here is our latest news roundup.   #1 Remember Brexit? The new Points-Based System is being introduced with most new categories (including work visas) starting 1 December 2020. It will be much easier than now to sponsor foreign workers from all over the world. The same visa rules will apply to Europeans and non-Europeans, meaning the UK can benefit from the skilled workers with any passport.  UK employers will still need a licence (as now under Tier 2, the visa, not lockdown!), and workers a job offer, however, the scope will be broader with the whole process faster.    #2 What about the current Points-Based System? If, like us, you are having a sense of deja-vu, that’s because a Points-Based System existed in the UK for more than 10 years. It will be replaced by the new one, new points and new rules. If you have a visa under the current PBS (such as Tier 2), you will need to extend under the new rules from 1 December 2020. While usually we see people rushing to apply before the new (usually harder) rules, this time it's the opposite, we the new system is so far looking undoubtedly easier.     #3 EU/EEA citizens: no change until end of this year. Those who come to live in the UK by 31 December 2020 will continue to benefit from pre-Brexit rules on free movement, eventually qualifying for British Citizenship.    #4 Hong Kong visas, or rather a visa that gives a path to settlement in the UK for Hong Kong residents who have a BNO passport. Officially launching in January 2021, we can start working with you now, so you would be well-prepared when the time comes.    #5 Return of a much-anticipated post-study work visa for students at UK universities graduating from summer 2021.    PS Last but not least - the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). It has gone up from £400 per year (per person) to £624 for most visa categories.     PPS And on a more positive note, our own exciting news is an addition of our property management business, MTV Properties. If you are a London landlord looking for tenants or for management, our fees will pleasantly surprise you! The company is duly accredited by the PRS and Money Shield.    In the next few weeks we will be sending detailed newsletters on some of the above matters.    We are here to help if you wish to talk to an Immigration Lawyer or to start the process of preparing your visa application. The best start is to book a consultation on our website here. As always, a consultation fee counts towards our full service!      1st 4Immigration team  OISC ref F200800152 Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HN www.1st4immigration.com  Property Management in London from our sister company, MTV Properties, www.mtv-properties.com