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The Home Secretary has laid before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules.  To summarise:

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

From 1st October 2021, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens will need a passport to demonstrate nationality and identity at the UK border, rather than use a national identity card.  Please click here for our article which has more details on this.

Afghanistan nationals

  • Current and former Afghan locally employed staff (LES) and their family members who are outside Afghanistan can relocate to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and the ex-gratia scheme. This scheme was previously only available to those in Afghanistan.
  • LES who are approved for relocation to the UK will now be granted indefinite leave to enter the UK, replacing the five years’ limited leave they are currently granted.
  • LES already in the UK will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain before their limited leave expires.

International Sportsperson visa

  • This will combine and replace the Tier 2 and Tier 5 categories for professional sporting workers with streamlined visa arrangements.
  • A new dedicated Temporary Worker – Creative Worker visa category which will be tailored to creative workers will be launched soon.

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

  • EEA and Swiss citizens and their families who are resident in the UK will be able to obtain the UK immigration status they need if they have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). This means that the applicant who exceeded the permitted absence from the UK and broken their period of continuous residence, will continue to qualify for status under the EUSS.
  • A joining family member can now apply to the EUSS whilst in the UK as a visitor.
  • Applications made after the 30 June 2021 by those resident in the UK who is exempt from immigration control can, if they wish, apply to the EUSS whilst they remain exempt or they can apply once they have ceased to be exempt.

Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS)

  • This will now include new arrangements with Iceland and India, delivering our international commitments made via a Memorandum of Understanding with Iceland and mobility agreements with India. Both schemes are expected to launch on 1 January 2022.
  • Citizens and nationals or the rightful holder of a passport issued by a territory, without Deemed Sponsorship Status may apply for this route from any post that accepts such applications worldwide.

British National (Overseas) BNO citizens

Partner and, if applicable, children under 18 of a British National (Overseas) (BNO) status holder may now join the BNO status holder following a grant on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route.

Contact us if you require any further information or advice.

Tony

Tony is our UK Immigration Partner. With a diverse knowledge in a range of industry sectors including I.T, Legal Services, Engineering, Insurance as well as the Oil & Gas sectors, he has a wealth of experience in all aspects of immigration including corporate, education and high net worth and private individuals within his portfolio.