On 18 March 2010 the UK Border Agency (UKBA) announced changes to Tier 1 (General), Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) of the points-based system (PBS). These changes came into effect on 6 April 2010.
These changes will give employers food for thought, particularly when transferring employees from overseas branches to the UK.
TIER 1 (GENERAL)
Migrants must still be able to score 75 points for their age, qualifications, previous earnings and UK experience, and a further 20 points for their English language ability and maintenance ability. However, the points have been recalibrated (see table on p31).
The most notable change to the points spread under Tier 1 (General) is that the minimum academic qualification needed to score points is now a bachelor’s degree, rather than a master’s degree. Since 1 April 2009, migrants who have not held a master’s degree have been prevented from applying under Tier 1 (General).
In addition, migrants who are earning a minimum of £150,000 may be eligible under Tier 1 (General) without the need for any academic qualification.
Migrants will also be able to score points for a higher age threshold – up to 39 years old. Previously, migrants were unable to score points for age if they were 32 years old or over.
Applicants will initially be granted leave under Tier 1 (General) for two years, rather than the current three years. After two years, Tier 1 (General) migrants will be able to apply to extend their leave for a further three years, taking them up to the five years required for indefinite leave to remain (or, as it will be known then, probationary citizenship).
TIER 2 (GENERAL) AND TIER 2 (INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFER)
The points have also been recalibrated under Tier 2. Migrants must still be able to score 50 points for their sponsorship, qualifications and prospective earnings, and a further 20 points for their English language ability and maintenance ability (see table on p32).
Guidance issued by the UKBA on 6 April 2010 provided clarification on when a change of employment application is required for a Tier 2 migrant whose job within a company is changing. The UKBA has confirmed that a change of employment application will not be required if the migrant’s new role remains within the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code that their original certificate of sponsorship was issued under. Exceptions to this will be if the migrant’s salary is reduced to below the salary stated on their original certificate of sponsorship, other than acceptable reductions (eg company-wide reductions or reductions due to maternity or adoption leave). Additionally, if the migrant changes from a job that is on the shortage occupation list to a job that is not on the shortage occupation list, a new certificate of sponsorship may be required.
Importantly, the UKBA is introducing three new subcategories to Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer):
- Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Established Staff;
- Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Graduate Trainees; and
- Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Skills Transfers.
Established Staff
This replaces the previous Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) category for current employees of multinational companies with company-specific knowledge who are being transferred from abroad to the UK. Under the Established Staff category the following changes will apply:
- migrants must now have worked abroad for at least 12 months, rather than the previous six months; and
- this route will not now lead to settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain or permanent residency).
This change to the rules regarding settlement is believed to be particularly short-sighted. Migrants will be less inclined to invest in the UK if they will not be eligible to apply to remain permanently. For example, a long-term effect may be on the UK’s housing market.
As a result of this change to the rule for settlement for Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) migrants, it is important that employers make it clear to employees transferring from abroad that, if it becomes their intention to settle in the UK permanently, they must change their immigration category from Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) as soon as possible. Given the relaxing of the requirements for Tier 1 (General), it may be a better option if they were to come to the UK as a Tier 1 migrant. This has benefits for both the employee and the employer, as Tier 1 does not require resident labour market testing or sponsor reporting duties.
Graduate trainees
The Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Graduate Trainee sub-category allows multinational companies to transfer graduate recruits to the UK branch for training and career development. The recruits must be sent as part of a structured graduate training programme, with clearly defined progression towards a managerial or specialist role. The applicant must have been employed by the company overseas for at least three months before coming to the UK and it is only open to migrants who are working in specific graduate occupations.
The Graduate Trainee sub-category is for migrants who are coming to the UK for training and career development only, and will therefore be issued with a visa for a maximum of 12 months, with no option to extend. At this stage, the UKBA is limiting this sub-category to a maximum of five places per employer per year. The UKBA is expected to review this five-per-year limit once the sub-category has been tested.
Skills transfer
The Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Skills Transfer sub-category will enable migrants who have been recently recruited overseas by a multinational company to transfer temporarily to the UK to acquire or impart skills and knowledge relevant to their new role. Unlike, the Established Staff and Graduate Trainee sub-categories, no previous company experience is needed and it is only open to migrants who are working in specific graduate occupations.
A visa will be issued for a maximum of six months with no option to extend.
While this sub-category appears to go some way to bridging the gap between the old training and work experience work permit and the current Tier 2 system, the UKBA has emphasised that, although the migrant is transferring temporarily to the UK, their role is still based abroad. If it were not for the need for skills transfer, the role in the UK would not exist.
In addition, the restriction to graduate occupations means that the possibility of a period spent in the UK for skills transfer is still not available to a new recruit hired at a senior level.
Comment
With these changes it can be predicted that there will be a trend towards more employer-sanctioned applications under Tier 1 and less applications under Tier 2. It is unknown whether this was the intention of the UKBA when they implemented these changes, but as always with the constantly shifting PBS, employers are encouraged not to become too comfortable with the easing of requirements under Tier 1.