115: Government publishes Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules

On 15 June 2018 the Government published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules which came into effect on 6 July 2018.

The changes include an exemption for doctors and nurses from the Tier 2 (General) limit, in response to health sector shortages and the fact that the limit has been oversubscribed in every month since December 2017.

The restriction on Tier 2 migrants holding more than 10% of shares in their sponsor will be expanded to include indirect as well as direct share ownership, such as via another corporate entity. In addition, Tier 2 migrants applying for settlement who have been absent from work due to maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave will be required to provide evidence of the adoption or birth.

In relation to the Tier 1 (Investor) category for high net worth individuals making an investment of at least £2 million in the UK, financial institutions will now have to confirm that the funds have only been invested in qualifying investments and that no loan has been secured against them.