UNITED KINGDOM: Indefinite Leave to Remain Changes

May 4, 2020 | Global

There have been changes in the Immigration Health Surcharge fee and in the minimum Tier 2 salary for Indefinite Leave to Remain applications.

Immigration Health Surcharge fee increase: The latest budget includes an increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for overseas nationals to use the National Health Service. It was only 2 years ago that the IHS fee doubled to £400 per year of the visa, and now it is set to increase to £624 per year of the visa. The government had announced its intention to increase the IHS fee in November last year. The new fees will apply to non-European Union (EU) citizens starting in October 2020 and to EU citizens starting in January 2021.

As has previously been the case, those with student or Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visas will pay a lower charge of £470 per year of the visa. There is a small concession under the new IHS fee arrangements in a lower charge for children under 18 of £470.

Minimum Tier 2 salary for ILR applications: In a number of rule changes announced recently, the Home Office has confirmed a freeze on the increase in minimum salary requirements where sponsored Tier 2 (General) workers are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The current minimum is either £35,800 or the minimum expected amount for the type of job, whichever is higher. That amount was due to increase to £36,200 on April 6, 2020, but the new announcement confirms the government will be following the advice of the Migration Advisory Committee which, in its report of January 28, 2020, recommended a freeze on this threshold while the policy for ILR applications is considered.

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UNITED KINGDOM: Brexit Update

It’s happened: The United Kingdom (UK) officially left the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020. Now what? What does this mean for people moving to and from the UK? Nothing for now. We are in a transition period until at least December 31, 2020. During the transition period, EU law continues to apply to the UK, which means that EU citizens can live and work in the UK in exactly the same way as before. The same applies to other European Economic Area (EEA) nationals (nationals of Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) and Swiss nationals. British citizens also keep their free movement rights in EEA states and Switzerland during the transition period. The British government insists that the transition period will not be extended. If there is to be an extension, this must be agreed upon before July 1, 2020. What will happen to EU citizens already living in the UK? EU citizens who move to the UK before the end of the transition period will be able to stay as long as they apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. The deadline for applying is June 30, 2021. Irish citizens do not have to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. […]