New changes to Immigration Rules

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New route for highly skilled migrants

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UKBA warns Universities and Colleges on Student Tier

The deadline is fast-approaching for universities, colleges and schools who want to sponsor international students when the student tier of Britain’s tough new points system goes live, the UK Border Agency warned yesterday.

The points based system was created to manage the number of people coming here to work and study in the best interests of the UK. The introduction of the student tier – Tier 4 – will complete the rollout of the points system.

If education institutions want to bring in international students when Tier 4 starts at the end of March they must apply by 2 February. So far more than 800 universities, colleges and schools have signed up.

Institutions who do not apply before the deadline will not be able to sponsor students from the go-live date in March.

“Weeding out system abusers”

Under the new rules schools, colleges and universities must pledge to take responsibility for any students they bring here from outside Europe and have a licence to do so. The new system will be rolled out over the next 12 months.

This strict new approach will weed out bogus colleges who abuse the system and ensure that international students wanting to take advantage of Britain’s world-class universities, colleges and schools play by the rules – preventing bogus students from failing to show up or overstaying.

International students under Tier 4

International students who want to come here under Tier 4 will have to be sponsored by a UK Border Agency-licensed education institution, prove that they have the means to support themselves and their families, and supply their fingerprints.

The tough new student route means Britain can continue to recruit good students from outside Europe while cracking down on those who seek to abuse the system.

Statement from Border and Immigration Minister

Phil Woolas said, ‘Everyone who comes here must play by the rules and that includes foreign students wanting to take advantage of our world-class universities and colleges. The new student tier of the points system will ensure we will know exactly who is coming here to study and crack down on bogus colleges.

‘That is why I am delighted that more than 800 colleges and universities have registered so far. I now urge other educational institutions to sign up so they are ready when the system goes live at the end of March.’

Working closely with the education sector

The Agency has worked closely with the education sector to ensure legitimate schools, colleges and universities do not fall foul of the new regime and are ready for the introduction of the new rules.

The new points system is just one part of the biggest shake up to immigration and border security in a generation, along with fingerprint visas for anyone wanting to come to the UK and compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals.

If schools, colleges and universities apply to the UK Border Agency to be a licensed sponsor by 2 February their application will be processed by the time the system goes live at the end of March. Educational institutions will still be able to apply after this date, but they will not be processed in time for the go-live date.

Tier 4 is one of five tiers of the points based system and will be rolled out over the next 12 months. It will be introduced in March 2009. Tier 1, for highly skilled migrants, was introduced in February last year and Tier 2 (for skilled migrants) and Tier 5 (for temporary workers and youth mobility) came on-line in November last year.

Tier 3, which covers low skilled routes, is suspended and will only be used if specific shortages are identified that cannot be filled from the UK’s domestic or European labour force.
Schools, colleges and universities have been able to sign up to the sponsorship register since July 2008.

Footballers win exemption from English tests

By Jack Doyle, Press Association

Foreign footballers have been given a special exemption from rules requiring them to learn English which apply to other workers from overseas, it was revealed today.

Players from outside the EU will have one year’s grace before they are required to pass language tests.

They will be allowed to enter the country under Tier 5 of the points-based immigration system which is for temporary workers and those on cultural exchanges.

But after a year in Britain they will transfer to Tier 2 and face the language test.

It could require them to learn more language than the traditional footballer cliches required to pass muster in television interviews such as “game of two halves”, “goal at each end” and “take each game as it comes”.

The rules will affect those signed during the January transfer window – including potential Brazilian star Kaka who has been linked with a move to Manchester City.

The exemption was made following a request from the Football Association.

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said it was important the UK was “open and attractive” for top sportsmen and women.

“Elite foreign sportspeople – including footballers playing at the highest level – make an important cultural contribution to the UK and we want to ensure the UK stays open and attractive to them,” he said.

“That is why footballers who come to the UK as a temporary worker are now allowed to switch into the skilled worker category of the points system without leaving the country.

“They will of course still need to meet the criteria of Tier 2 and have a grasp of English to ensure they integrate into British life.” – The Independent