UK Immigration rules changed in September this year. As a result, many UK Immigration Rules have been relaxed to attract the right people. The complete Statement of Changes pursuant to section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971, issued by the government, contains 186 pages. Below we summarize the most significant changes that affect business visitors, international travellers and UK visa applicants.
Job creation requirement for Tier 1 Visa now waived
The Home Office incorporated emergency measures into the Immigration Rules permanently in response to the COVID pandemic. These measures include waiving the job creation requirement for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa holders. The concession also applies to Skilled Workers and Sportspersons who began working before they received a visa.
The International Sportsperson route is open.
A new International Sportsperson Visa route opened from 11 October 2021 for athletes coming to the UK for 12 months or less, including yoga instructors.
Applicants must meet the points requirement, including an endorsement from the UK governing body of the applicant’s relevant sport. Besides, if they are applying for longer than 12 months stay, the applicant will have to meet an essential English language requirement to level A1 standard.
The new international visa combines the prior T2 Sportsperson and T5 Sporting or Creative Worker visas into a new route under the points-based immigration system.
Global talent UK visa route has relaxed rules
The Home Office designed the Global Talent route for people with exceptional talent or promise to work and live in the UK. Several tweaks and changes were added to Appendix Global Talent to make it easier for applicants to become fully endorsed.
The evidence of exceptional promise in digital technology can be accompanied by just one example rather than two. Also, evidence of exceptional talent/promise in arts and culture can now include media coverage of the applicant’s work “as a named member of a group”, collectively not just individually. The government also relaxed fast-track endorsement rules.
The list of awards and prestigious prizes that qualify an applicant for an exemption to the endorsement requirement has now two times more entries.
EUSS family permits
EUSS family permit rules now allow non-EU family members of the EU citizens with pre-settled or settled status to join their family members and apply to the EUSS during the stay in the UK as a visitor.
ID cards are now banned for entry to the UK.
EEA nationals often used their ID national ID smart cards on the UK Border for entry and identification. From 1 October 2021, UK Visas and Immigration will ban entry into the UK using such identification cards in most cases. Individuals will have to use their passports to enter the UK instead. Exceptions apply to existing residents with the UK settled status.
ORACLE CAPITAL GROUP provide immigration support in obtaining a visa, extending an existing visa and obtaining a British residency permit with the prospect of becoming a British citizen.
