Immigration cap poses risk to UK economy

The popular Tier 1 (General) category no longer exists. There is a new Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)category; however, hardly anyone meets the requirements for this visa category. Moreover, Tier 2 skilled immigration for applicants with a job offer from a UK employer was capped at approximately 21,000 visas per year and, for many people, made a lot more difficult. The government’s report suggested that non-EU Tier 1 and Tier 2 migrants, at present levels have a small positive impact on GDP per head and contribute positively to net public finances and play an important part in the provision of education, health and social services.

The report stated that cutbacks to immigration would not be evenly spread and could have a severe impact on certain sectors. \”It would be remiss not to point out that there is widespread concern among employers regarding the impact that limits on migration could have,\” the report stated. UK Businesses and industry groups are concerned about the recent immigration restrictions.  Neil Carberry, employment affairs director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), told The Independent that the \”ability to base highly skilled foreign staff in the UK helps to attract investment that also supports British jobs.\”

\”With numbers in the employer-sponsored work permit system already relatively low, there is little evidence that this part of the system should be the government\’s key priority on controlling migration,\” he added. \”We should want to attract these people to come and retaining a route to settlement is a key part of that, although businesses don\’t object to having a more formal points test for the right to settle.\”

Commonwealth Contractors

At
Commonwealth Contractors we partner with OISC Registered Private
Immigration Firms and Tier 2 Licensed Healthcare and IT Consultancies
who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor an individual on a Tier 2
Visa (formerly UK Work Permit). If you are a highly skilled
International professional and you would like to work in the UK
Commonwealth Contractors can help. Our OISC Registered Partners
specialise in Tier 1 General (formerly Highly Skilled Migrant Programme)
visa applications and can assist those highly skilled individuals that
either wish to apply or extend a Tier 1 General Visa.

For more
Information call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit
your Details and we will get right back to you. Please see other areas
of the Commonwealth Contractors site for interesting articles on tax,
immigration and contracting.