The British High Commission has released details of the latest in the rolling programme of revisions to the United Kingdom Immigration Rules. These changes consolidate the existing complicated set of immigration rules into just five schemes to apply under, called ‘tiers’. Two of the five tiers, covering skilled and temporary workers, will come into effect tomorrow (27 November 2008). Subsequently, the tier affecting students will be introduced in early 2009.

His Excellency John Saville the British High Commissioner said: “The UK is a great place to work – we want it to stay open and attractive to skilled people. The new system will allow us to attract those who have the skills we need, while being adaptable to the needs of the labour market and the country as a whole; and also supporting a system of border security which is among the most secure in the world.”

Under Tier 2, from this month, would-be migrants will need a job offer before they apply for a visa. Before they employ a foreign worker, British-based companies will have to prove they cannot fill skilled posts with a UK resident worker and that the job vacancy has been advertised in the UK. The only exception will be if the job is on the shortage occupation list.

Meanwhile, Tier 5 of the points system covers those travelling to the UK for temporary or unpaid work, including certain sports people, entertainers and charity workers. To ensure entertainers continue to contribute to British cultural life, those coming to the UK for certain major arts festivals – such as the Edinburgh Fringe – will be assessed outside of the points system under a new entertainer visitor visa.

Tier 4 for students will be introduced in Spring 2009 and the British High Commission will be issuing detailed guidance and working with stakeholders after the new year, to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

The rollout of ID cards for all foreign nationals is, however, only applicable at this stage, to applications lodged via the Home Office in the United Kingdom and will affect only a relatively small number of students from Brunei.

Notes for Editors

1. In March 2006 the Government published a Command Paper setting out the new PBS, ‘A points-based system: Making Migration work for Britain’. The new system consolidates the many complex routes into just five tiers. It is designed to facilitate entry to the UK of all those wanting to come to work, train and study. A Statement of Intent for Tier 1 of the PBS was published in December 2007.
   
2. Tier 2 is the second of five tiers of the PBS due to be rolled out over the next 12 months. It will be introduced on 27 November 2008, along with Tier 5, for temporary workers such as musicians, actors and sportsmen. Tier 1, for highly skilled migrants, was introduced in February this year and Tier 4, which covers students, will follow in 2009.
   
3. Tier 3, which covers low skilled routes, will only be used if specific shortages are identified that cannot be filled from the UK’s domestic or European labour force.  Tier 3 is suspended.
   

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