The UKVI announced the new changes to immigration rules will take effect on December 1, 2020. The main points of the changes announced are as below:
Refusal Ground
The criminality thresholds by replacing the current thresholds with a single sentence based threshold of 12 months, applying to offences committed in the UK or overseas. The new refusal and cancellation grounds is introduced on customs breaches, rough sleeping and being involved in a sham marriage.
English Language
For the majority of routes, the English language requirement is amended to:
- allow applicants to only prove the required level of English once
- introduce Malta as a “majority speaking English language country”
- allow people with a degree from Ireland to rely on that as proof of English language
- allow applicants to rely on GCSE / A Level or Scottish Highers in English while at school in the UK to prove English language. This last change will, initially, only apply to applications for students, skilled workers, start-up and innovator migrants
Financial Requirement
The minimum income level or financial evidence level for a spouse remains the same. However, quite a few of the financial requirements have been changed. Positive changes in financial evidence include:
- Student visa, Skilled Workers, Intra-Company Workers, Tier 2 Ministers of Religion, Tier 2 Sportsperson, Tier 5 Temporary Workers, Start-up and Innovator applicants will not meet the maintenance requirement if they have stayed in the UK for more than 12 months.
- Electronic bank statements can be submitted on bank documents without having to stamp each page.
- As long as the funds are readily available, the applicant can rely on a wider range of financial evidence (not just cash or cash savings).
Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa
For this route, there is no need to have a cooling off period. The length of time that applicants can stay on this visa has also increased from five years to six years. The standard for high-income earners has been lowered to over annual £73,900 pounds per year instead of £120,000 pounds.
Global Talent Visa
Changes are made to
- the criteria for consideration of senior appointments
- the definition of the types of academic and research roles that qualify, which is being expanded.
Visitor visa
Visitors, who so far could only study for up to 30 days, will be allowed to study for up to six months. This also means that applicants who previously had to apply for a short-term student visa to study for a period of between 30 days and 6 months can now apply for a visit visa. There is still a short-term study route for those who want to study for a period of between 6 and 11 months. In addition, visitors who want to study recreational courses are still limited to 30 days.
Volunteering no longer need to be “incidental to the main reason for the visit”, although it should be limited to 30 days. Academic visitors will have more liberty to apply to extend their permission to stay in the UK for up to 12 months.