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New rules for sponsors under the points-based system
31 March 2009
Changes to the Government's Immigration Rules have come into force today, raising the bar for skilled and highly skilled migrants to come and work in the United Kingdom. The changes have also extended the United Kingdom's points-based system for migrants, which now covers students as well as workers from outside the European Union.
The major change for employers is a strengthening of the resident labour market test, which ensures that skilled jobs are advertised within the United Kingdom before they can be offered to migrant workers. An employer cannot now sponsor a migrant to do a job under tier 2 (General) unless the job has been:
- advertised to settled workers in Jobcentre plus; and
- advertised using one other method permitted by the relevant code of practice.
Today has also seen changes to tier 1 of the points-based system, raising the academic and financial requirements for highly skilled migrants who want to come and work in the United Kingdom.
The UK Border Agency has revised its guidance for sponsors under the points-based system in line with the changes, which is aimed at education providers sponsoring students as well as employers sponsoring workers. We have also produced a summary of the revisions to the guidance to help you see what has changed.