Upcoming reforms in UK Tier 2 visas

Aspiring skilled immigrants wanting to come and work in the UK will have a new Shortage occupation list in effect from 14th November 2011 onwards.

Changes in the skilled occupation list for UK Tier 2 visa category--Recommendations made by the MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) are aimed to reduce the eligible occupations to 190,000 from the current 230,000. According to the MAC, aim of such recommendations is to employ resident workers for filling the vacant job positions in the UK.

All the occupations removed from the skilled occupation list for the UK Tier 2 visa category have resident UK workers for filling the vacant job positions.

And the redesigned UK skilled occupation list will enable the nation get required immigrant workers in short supply.

According to UK immigration minister Damian Green, the new changes to the UK Tier 2 skilled immigrant visa category will make sure to provide a ready access of native UK workers and in case, the resident workers are not available, the businesses can have access to skilled immigrants.

Aim is to attract the best and the brightest immigrants from non-EU nations possessing requisite skill-sets.

Occupations axed from the UK Tier 2 Shortage occupation list—

• Speech and language therapists; •

Orthoptists;

• Secondary education biology teachers;

• Rank and file orchestral musicians;

• Veterinary surgeons;

• Pharmacists.

It may be worth mentioned that the occupation of ‘Rank and file orchestral musicians’ will not get axed from the shortage occupation list until consultations are undertaken with the concerned industry.

New occupations to be added to shortage occupation list for UK Tier 2 visa category—

• High integrity pipe welders;

• Geochemists;

• Actuaries;

• Environmental scientists.

The new redesigned UK Tier 2 visa category shortage occupation list will be effective from 14th November 2011.

For applicants inside the annual UK visa limit, the redesigned list will be applicable to all applicants for UK Tier 2 visas including the applications made by sponsors of Tier 2 for restricted certificates of sponsorship done on or after this date, i.e. 14th November 2011.

For applications not covered by the annual UK visa limit, the redesigned list will be applicable to all unrestricted certificates of sponsorship given to immigrants on or after the date, i.e. 14th November 2011.