What other changes will be introduced in 2021?
Global talent scheme
The global talent scheme will be opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. It will allow highly skilled scientists and researchers to come to the UK without a job offer.
Student visa routes will be opened up to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. Individuals will be able to apply for a visa to study in the UK if they”
• have been offered a place on a course
• can speak, read, write and understand English
• have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course
A new graduate immigration route will be available to international students who have completed a degree in the UK from summer 2021. They will be able to work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to 2 years. This is effectively the welcome re-introduction of the post study worker scheme abolished by the UK government in 2012.
Other visa routes
Short-term work visas in specific sectors (the current ‘Tier 5’) and investor, business development and talent visas (the current ‘Tier 1’) will be opened up to EU citizens.
Visiting the UK
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and other non-visa nationals will not require a visa to enter the UK when visiting the UK for up to 6 months. All migrants looking to enter the UK for other reasons (such as work or study) will need to apply for a visa in advance.
EU citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020
EU or Swiss citizen living in the UK before 31 December 2020, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.
Crossing the UK border
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States of America, Singapore and South Korea – with a biometric chip in their passports – will continue to be able to use e-Passport gates to pass through the border on arrival.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens will also be able to use e-Passport gates (this will be kept under review).
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens will continue to be able to cross the UK border using a valid passport.
Conclusion
It is safe to say that these new proposed changes seem to provide positive and promising changes in theory- the effect of the changes are yet to be seen. Employers will be bound by the PBS system in order to employ talent from abroad, this is a change they need to familiarise themselves with sooner rather than later; it is better to be prepared in advanced rather than scrambling around at the last minute.
We consider that the big gap in the new visa system is the workers loosely defined as “unskilled” like care workers and people in the hospitality industry.
Sonum Behar
sbehar@redfernlegal.com
