UK Visas and British Citizenship

  If you happened to be on a Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa in the UK, we have great news for you! The new Points-Based Immigration System, in force from 1 December 2020, allows switching from a Tier 2 ICT to the new Skilled Worker visa . We can truly call it ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for ICT migrants, desperately trying to switch to a visa that offers settlement in the UK.  The old, strict Tier 2 General visa under the old pre-Brexit Points-Based System is replaced with a new Skilled Worker visa under the new, post-Brexit, Points-Based Immigration System. (It does require focus to keep up!). There are many positive changes for both migrant workers and UK employers but the ICT change deserves a separation mention. For years, the ICT category was easier and quicker for UK businesses but very unfavourable for the migrants - it didn’t lead to settlement. And if you wanted to switch to the main Tier 2 General visa, that does lead to settlement, you had to leave th...

  #1 More jobs (occupations) can be sponsored for a UK work visa.  Old rule: only degree-level jobs were allowed for a Tier 2 General visa. New rule: jobs at A level (RQF Level 3) are allowed for sponsorship under the new Skilled Worker visa.   #2 Switching from another visa category (without leaving the UK) has been made easier!  For example, you can now switch from a Tier 5 YMS visa to a Skilled Worker visa while in the UK, without interrupting your work. You can also switch from a family visa such as from a Partner visa to a work visa if your relationship has broken down and your employer wishes to sponsor you. Switching from a Student visa remains as before.   #3 To continue on the above, this deserved a separate point - switching from Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) is allowed from December 2020!  This is fantastic news for all those long-suffering Tier 2 ICT migrants, desperate to switch to a visa that leads to settlement in the UK. The ICT catego...