1. All those applying to stay longer than 6 months will be required to get a Biometrics Residence Permit
2. The Post Office will be able to take biometrics in 100 locations across the country
3. Employers will be able to check employees Biometrics Residence Permits details online.

• only those studying at Higher Education Institutions, or publicly funded Further Education colleges, will be allowed to work; Study Abroad programmes will continue to be able to offer work placements
• nationals of ‘low risk’ counties will not be required to submit evidence of how they obtained a place on the course, nor of their Maintenance; however, they must have the evidence available if requested to produce it
• only dependants of students on post-graduate courses (Masters and above) will be eligible for Student Dependant visas.

One change that is worth noting is that, as of July 2011, students studying below National Qualifications Framework level 7 or equivalent (Masters Degree level or equivalent) will not be able to bring dependants with them while they study in the UK.

If you need further information please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contacts page or enquiry form!

• Tier 1 (General) no longer exists
• There is a quota of 1000 visas instead for those with ‘exceptional talent’ who have been recognised in their field of science, engineering or the arts
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) now allows for a lower level of investment in business for those who have obtained funds from specific sources, and a quicker route to settlement (permanent residency) for the creation of 10 or more jobs or a turnover of £5 million, in their initial 3 years
• Tier 1 (Investor) now allows for a quicker route to settlement (permanent residency) for higher investment
• A quota on Tier 2 (General) is now in place, of 20,700 pa
• Tier 2  jobs will now have to be at graduate level, and the requirement for level of English-speaking is intermediate
• Applicants for settlement (ILR/permanent residency) will need to be clear of any unspent criminal convictions
• Those applying for settlement from Tier 1, Tier 2 or their precursor routes must now pass the Life in the UK test, versus the ESOL with citizenship test.

In addition, Tier 4 student visas are to be changed in multiple ways in stages over the coming year, including:

• The requirement for all sponsors to gain Highly Trusted Sponsor status and meet new accreditation criteria
• English requirements to be introduced for all courses and requirements tightened
• Low-risk nationals will not be required to routinely show more than just their CAS and their passport.

Feel free to contact us for more details on any particular change that concerns you.

• All educational establishments that are licensed to admit overseas students (sponsors) must be accredited by Ofsted or equivalent by end of 2012
• In addition, all sponsors must become Highly Trusted Sponsors (a higher form of license with the UK Border Agency) by April 2012
• An interim limit on numbers sponsored will be in place for those who do not meet the above criteria during the transition period
• To get a student visa for a course below degree level students will need to provide an English language test certificate
• There will be a streamlined process for ‘low risk’ students going to Highly Trusted Sponsors, requiring only the Certificate of Acceptance for Studies and their passport/ID document
• Work permissions will be limited for non-university/FE college students
• Only post-graduate students on courses of 12 months + will be eligible to bring dependants
• Students will be limited to a maximum of 3 years for NQF levels 3-5 (below degree level), and 5 years for levels 6-7 (Honours degree and above) with some exeptions for PhDs
• The Tier 1: Post-Study Work route into working after studying at degree level will be closed from April 2012
• Degree and PGCE/PCDE students will be able to switch into Tier 2 in the UK without having to meet the Residential Labour Market Test, and without a quota
• There will be provision for student entrepreneurs with great ideas to be able to stay in the UK to develop their business proposition.

In order to do so, ordinarily they must demonstrate that there is no-one present in the UK labour market currently who is able to fill the position, hence the need to employ someone from outside the UK (the ‘Resident Labour Market Test’).  However, for certain occupations, as workers are in short supply within the UK, this ‘Resident Labour Market Test’ is waived.

There is a government committee who regularly review which occupations should be on this ‘Shortage Occupation List’ (the Migration Advisory Committee).

The current list (at time of writing) includes specific occupations for:

• Production managers, and mining and engineering managers
• Biological scientists and biochemists
• Physicists, geologists and meteorologists
• Engineers: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical
• Engineers in electricity transmission and distribution
• Planning and quality control engineers
• Medical practitioners
• Pharmacists/pharmacologists
• Dental practitioners
• Veterinarians
• Teachers (secondary school maths or science; special needs)
• Social workers
• Science and engineering technicians
• Nurses
• Medical radiographers
• Medical and dental technicians
• Speech and language therapists
• Dancers and choreographers
• Musicians (orchestral)
• Photographers and audio visual equipment operators (computer animation)
• Agricultural and fishing trades
• Welding trades
• Metal working production and maintenance fitters
• Line repairers and cable joiners
• Butchers, meat cutters
• Chefs, cooks
• Care assistants and home carers (skilled senior care workers).

USA:  In the USA applications remain within country, and are decided by officers in either The British Consulate in New York or Los Angeles.  The British Embassy in Washington DC does not handle visa applications (but it does handle all British passport applications for both the USA and Canada).  The address of where to send your visa application is given to you once you have completed your online application form.

Canada: Update: as of the beginning of September 2011 all applications made in Canada will be assessed at the British Consulate in New York.   You will submit your fingerprints at a Visa Application Centre first.  If submitting fingerprints in Toronto, the Visa Application Centre can forward your documents to New York for you.  If submitting fingerprints in any other Canadian Visa Application Centre, you will need to mail your documents to New York yourself, and the address will be given on completion of your online application.

New Zealand: Here applications are collected in-country but actually then mailed to a regional hub where the application will be considered.  The application is then mailed back to Wellington for return to the applicant.  As the applicant you do not need to worry about this – simply mail your application to the address given once you complete your online form (a PO Box in Wellington).

Australia:  Update: in Australia all decisions are now made at a regional hub.  Again, the address will be given to you on completion of your online form.

In all cases you must attend your biometrics appointment (fingerprinting) prior to mailing off your application.

If you are from an English-speaking country, are aged over 65, studied a degree taught in English, or have a disability/exceptional compassionate circumstances preventing you from taking the test, you will be exempt.  If not, you will need to pass a speaking and listening English test to A1 standard of the Common European Framework.  This is a basic level of English, requiring about 40-50 hours of tuition for beginners, and covers basic conversation and simple, everyday expressions.

For those who have been in their relationship for 4 years or more, or have lived with their partner in the UK on a Settlement visa for 2 yrs already, there is also a requirement for you to pass the Knowledge of Life test before you are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residency).  This requires studying a book and enrolling at a test centre. You will be granted a certificate confirming that you have passed which you will present to the UK Border Agency with your visa application for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

As always, any questions just shoot us an e-mail!

Applicants applying within the UK can continue to apply until 5th April 2011 – there is no quota for those applying from within the UK.