UK Home Office don release wetin dem dey call Immigration White Paper to reduce migration and strengthen di country’s borders.
For di document wey dem release on 12 May, di new rules go make employers invest more for local training and reduce reliance on foreign workers. Dem talk say dis go help restore order to di immigration system wey see net migration sharply increase between 2019 and 2023.
Key Policy Changes to Shift Away from International Recruitment
Di government wan change di trend wey dey encourage international recruitment instead of developing local skills. To support dis, dem go set up di Labour Market Evidence Group. Dis group go dey use data to check wetin dey really happen for labour market, make dem no dey depend only on migration.
Skilled Workers
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Di skill level for Skilled Workers visa go return to RQF Level 6, meaning Graduate level and above.
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Di minimum salary threshold go increase.
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Di Immigration Salary List, wey dey give discount on salary requirements, go be scrapped.
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Dem go open more space for high-talent routes like research interns, Global Talent visa for science and design experts, and dem go review di Innovator Founder visa and High Potential Individual route.
Employers
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Access to di points-based immigration system go reduce to only key roles wey dey experience serious labour shortages.
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Dis restriction no go be permanent, dem go review am based on advice from di Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
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Employers wey dey recruit from outside go need to show commitment to boost local recruitment.
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Financial penalties and sanctions go dey for sponsors wey abuse di immigration system.
Adult Social Care
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Overseas recruitment for social care visas go stop. No new applications again.
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But current workers go fit renew dia visas and switch routes till 2028.
Students
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Graduates go now get only 18 months to stay after dia studies finish.
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UK dey consider levy for international students, to fund domestic skills training.
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Sponsoring institutions go face tighter rules before dem fit admit international students.
Family Routes
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Di government go introduce law to clarify say na only Parliament and government fit decide who get right to remain for UK.
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Dis go address cases where people dey use Article 8 (Right to Family Life) to block deportation, even when deportation dey in public interest.
Illegal Working and Foreign Offenders
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Migrants go get digital IDs through eVisa to replace Biometric Residence Permits.
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Dem go increase enforcement checks, especially for sectors like gig economy, using eVisa, biometric tech, and more officers.
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Faster deportation measures go be announced later dis year.
Other Family Provisions
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Family members of British citizens still fit settle after five years.
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Protection still dey for victims of domestic abuse.
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Parents of British or settled children wey die go fit remain permanently for UK.
UK Home Office on English Language Requirements
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English level for Skilled Workers and others go rise from B1 to B2 (Independent User Level under CEFR).
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Adult dependants of workers and students must get at least A1 level and show progress over time.
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Visa extensions go require proof of progress to A2, and B2 go be needed for settlement.
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Some settlement routes now require B2 instead of B1.
Starmer Outline Di Tough New Immigration System
Prime Minister Keir Starmer don announce plans to tighten di immigration system, aiming to cut migration numbers significantly.
E include:
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English tests for all visa applicants and dia adult dependants.
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Longer routes to settlement.
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Cutting recruitment of overseas care workers.
Dis new rules aim to cut legal migration wey dey make up majority of UK’s overall migration. Dem no address small boat crossings or illegal entries directly.
Net Migration Numbers Hit 728,000
Net migration (di difference between people entering and leaving di country) hit 728,000 for di year to June 2024. Starmer talk say di plan na to break from di past and ensure say migration become privilege, not automatic right.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper tell BBC say time don reach to stop overseas care worker recruitment. Dem estimate say dis move alone fit cut up to 50,000 low-skilled migrants next year.
Di White Paper, wey go be presented on 12 May, go outline all di changes to UK visa and recruitment laws.
Starmer conclude say dis plan na to “finally take back control of our borders” and ensure di UK compete for di best global talent, while stopping di country from depending on cheap foreign labour.
E add say:
“Make no mistake, dis plan mean say migration go fall, dat na promise.”
“If more steps dey needed to relieve pressure on housing and public services, we go do am. Dis no be accident, na choice. Net migration don almost reach size of Birmingham – dat no be control, dat na pure kasala.”
Source – BBC
