UK Immigration Lawyers Summarise the Immigration Rule Changes in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 733
There is never a dull day if you are a UK Immigration Solicitor. There are always changes to the immigration rules being announced. The latest immigration news is the publication of the Statement of Change to the Immigration Rules HC 733.
Below, our Immigration Lawyers in London highlight the key immigration changes and what they will mean for UK business owners with sponsor licences and individual visa applicants.
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Statement of Change to the Immigration Rules HC 733
The Statement makes some important changes for visa applicants and sponsor licence holders. The areas of change are to:
- Skilled Worker Visa applicants and sponsoring employers
- Health and Care Worker Visa
- ETA Scheme
- Visitor Visa
- EU Settlement Scheme
- Global Talent Visa
Changes for skilled workers in Statement of Change to the Immigration Rules HC 733
The Statement of Change to the Immigration Rules HC 733 makes changes to workers on the Skilled Worker Visa. Despite general fears about the impact of inflation, the Statement increases:
- The minimum salary threshold. The new figures are based on the latest figures from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings or ASHE data
- The minimum salary threshold jumps from £23,200 per year to £25,000 per year. This increase applies to those in health care and education. This increase equates to a salary of £12.82 per hour, an increase from £11.90 per hour
- Applicants who say they qualify as a new entrant for a salary reduction based on training towards a recognised professional qualification must be training for a UK qualification
There will be further changes to salaries for Skilled Worker Visas as the government is publishing an Immigration White Paper. These changes will affect the minimum salary threshold to ensure it remains above the National Living Wage.
Changes for care workers in the Statement of Change to the Immigration Rules HC 733
The government hasn’t reintroduced the Resident Labour Market Test for care workers in the Statement of Changes but there are similarities if you are a sponsor licence holder and are recruiting for senior care workers, care workers or home carers through sponsorship on the Health and Care Worker Visa route.
The government says the changes are to reduce the exploitation of overseas care workers who have had their Health and Care Worker Visas curtailed as their sponsoring employer has lost their licence or because their employer isn't giving them sufficient work hours.
The key point is that if a healthcare sector employer in England is recruiting senior care workers, care workers or home carers on Health and Care Worker Visas they must first check to see if there are any potential recruits from those already in the UK on the Health and Care Worker Visa but without sponsorship before they recruit carers from overseas or agree to employ a worker switching from a different type of visa into the Health and Care Worker Visa route.
For more information on how these immigration rules changes may impact your nursing home or care home read our blog:
UK Immigration Lawyers Report on New Rules for Care Worker Recruitment From Overseas
Our UK Immigration Lawyers provide bespoke Immigration Law Training and Sponsor Licence Management Services. We can provide the specialist immigration legal advice that your care home or nursing home needs to ensure your HR staff comply with the latest changes in the immigration rules.
These changes come into force on 9 April 2025. This doesn’t give healthcare sector sponsors in England long to review their recruitment procedures and make changes to their policies on recruitment record keeping. This is essential given the increase in compliance visits to care and nursing homes and the consequent rise in sponsor licence suspensions and revocations in the sector.
Changes to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme
The ETA Scheme will eventually require travellers exempt from applying for a visa to obtain an ETA before arrival in the UK. The latest changes to the scheme are:
- Persons with British National (Overseas) status will not need an ETA
- Visitors to the UK from Trinidad and Tobago will not need an ETA because of changes to the UK Visitor Visa for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
Changes to the Visitor Visa route
With effect from 12 March 2025, nationals of Trinidad and Tobago require a Visitor Visa to visit the UK (rather than an ETA). This change comes about because of an increase in asylum applications from UK visitors arriving from Trinidad and Tobago. The rationale is that a Visitor Visa application is necessary to increase scrutiny of the reasons for travel to the UK.
There is a transition period for those with a valid ETA visiting from Trinidad and Tobago who are either already in the UK or who had confirmed bookings made on or before 12 March 2025. The transition rules allow UK entry without a Visitor Visa until 23 April 2025.
EU Settlement Scheme changes
The main changes to the EU Settlement Scheme are:
- All non-EEA nationals can use an expired UK Biometric Residence Card (BRC) as proof of identity
- EU Settlement Scheme applicants with an outstanding administrative review application won't be removed from the UK
- Applications under the EU Settlement Scheme can be refused on suitability grounds if the applicant's conduct meets the criteria
Global Talent Visa changes
The Global Talent Visa (for the talented and those who show promise to be a leader in their field) is changing so:
- There are new rules on evidence needed to secure endorsement for a Global Talent Visa
- There is an update to the list of prizes that enable Global Talent Visa applicants to secure a visa without endorsement
Several other immigration rule changes
The immigration rule changes in Statement of Change to the Immigration Rules HC 733 don’t end with the changes listed above. There are also changes to other visas such as the Youth Mobility Scheme (annual quota update), the Child Student Visa and the Ukraine Schemes.
OTS Solicitors keeping you and your business up to date with immigration rule changes
At OTS Solicitors our Legal 500 recommended Immigration Lawyers are proactive and will keep your business up to date with immigration law changes. If you are an individual visa applicant, we have teams specialising in Work Visa, Family Visa and Visitor Visa applications and we will ensure that you get the support and guidance you need on the latest developments in immigration law.
Speak to our UK Immigration Lawyers in London and Online for expert immigration legal advice.
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