Now, You Need To Earn At Least 35,000 Pounds To Settle In UK

01 Mar 2012

The UK government has just announced a further tightening of immigration rules for skilled workers. Under the new rules, skilled workers under the Tier 2 visa will no longer be able to settle in the UK based on the amount of time they have spent there.

UK's immigration minister, Damian Green, announced on Wednesday that a new minimum pay threshold will apply for those workers who plan to settle down in the UK as permanent residents.

While exceptionally talented people, investors and entrepreneurs will continue to have the option to stay in the UK, skilled temporary workers who want to apply for settlement will have to earn at least £35,000, or the going rate for their job, whichever is higher.

Migrants doing jobs which are in shortage and scientists and researchers in PhD-level roles will be exempt from the £35,000 salary threshold. Temporary leave to stay in the UK will be capped at 6 years to reinforce the temporary nature of Tier 2 of the points based system.

Tier 2 migrants will now be allowed to extend their temporary permission to stay in the UK up to maximum of 6 years, after which they will need to wait for 12 months before they may apply to re-enter the UK again under Tier 2.

A change has also been announced in the rules for overseas domestic workers in private households. They will only be allowed entry into the UK when they accompany a visitor and for a limited period of 6 months' stay, with no right to change employer.

"Settlement in the UK is a privilege. We are sweeping aside the idea that everyone who comes here to work can settle, and instead reserving this important right only for the brightest and the best. Our reforms of the immigration system will ensure we are more selective, not only about those who are allowed to come here, but also those who are allowed to stay permanently," immigration minister, Damian Green, said.

Source: 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/nri/visa-and-immigration/now-you-need-to-earn-at-least-35000-to-settle-in-uk/articleshow/12085406.cms