New Immigration System Announcement

This morning the Home Secretary, Priti Patel has announced the new Points Based System and said

Today is a historic moment for the whole country.
We're ending free movement, taking back control of our borders and delivering on the people 's priorities by introducing a new UK points-based immigration system, which will bring overall migration numbers down.
We will attract the brightest and the best from around the globe, boosting the economy and our communities, and unleash this country 's full potential.
The points threshold will be carefully set to attract the talent the UK needs.?

From 1st January 2021, EU and non-EU citizens will be treated equally.

Free movement will be replaced with a United Kingdom's Points Based System to cater for the most highly skilled, skilled worker, students and a range of other specialist worker routes, including global leader and innovators.

The cap on the number of people who can come in to the United Kingdom under the skilled worker route will be removed.

The Resident Labour Market test will be removed.

All applications both EU and non-EU citizens will have to prove the following and score a minimum of 70 points to qualify to apply for entry under the Points Based System:-

• • they have a job offer from an approved Sponsor: 20 points
• • the job on offer is at the required skilled level: 20 points
• • they can speak English: 10 points
• • Salary per annum is in excess of £25,600 or above: 20 points
• • Education qualification: PhD in subject relevant to the job: 10 points
• • Education qualification in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: 20 points

The UK Immigration Skills Surcharge will remain to be placed on employers and the UK Immigration Health Surcharge shall continue to apply. Skilled Workers shall continue to be able to bring their dependents with them.

Students, Other Specialist Occupations and Temporary Workers

The Home Secretary confirms that Students will be covered by the Points Based System. Applicants will be required to evidence that the have an offer from an approved educational institution, speak English and are able to support themselves during their study while they are in the United Kingdom.

Under the current UK Immigration Rules, there are immigration routes for specialist occupations, including Innovators, Ministers of Religion, Sportspeople and to support the Arts.

The Home Secretary states that the Government 's existing approach for January 2021 will be to open existing routes that already apply to non-EU citizens, to EU citizens which include the current the Tier 5 Temporary Worker's route.