MAC Publishes Immigration Cap Report

In response to the findings the Immigration Minister, Damian Green, said that “We thank the Migration Advisory Committee for their report, which we have analysed in great detail, and we will be announcing the details of our policy shortly. Bringing down net migration to sustainable levels will not be easy. We will not be able to achieve it by focusing on just one area of the system or on one route into Britain. By introducing an annual limit, we will reduce the number of people who come to the UK to work from outside the EU. But this is just one of the ways we intend to reduce the level of net migration back down to the tens of thousands each year. We can reduce net migration without damaging our economy. Britain will remain open for business, and we have already announced that managers and specialists will continue to be able to come to the UK through an exempted intra-company transfer route.”

In order for the Government to achieve the required cuts the overall number of Student and Family related visas will need to be slashed by around 80%, combined with the 13% to 25% cut in skilled and highly skilled migrant numbers.

Possible Changes to Tier 1 General

Along with reduced application numbers Tier 1 General may also be revamped to ensure that visa holders undertake highly skilled work. A recent study undertaken by the UK Border Agency found that around 33% of Tier 1 visa holders (formerly the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme) are currently working in low-skilled jobs such as shop assistants and supermarket cashiers.

The Coalition Government’s Immigration Minister, Damian Green, said that ‘While it is important that low-skilled jobs are filled, there are hundreds of thousands of British people who could be doing them instead of a migrant. Those coming into the UK under the highly skilled migrant route should only be able to do highly skilled jobs – it should not be used as a means to enter the low-skilled jobs market. Investors and entrepreneurs aside, this report questions the value of this route into the UK, and the findings will play a key part in discussions on how the annual limit will be shaped.\’

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing a Tier 1 Visa Application / Extension and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a doctor on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit). Commonwealth Contractors also provides updates on UK Immigration News.

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your Details and we will get back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.