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What Do Universities Think About The New Points-Based Immigration System?

on Thursday, 24 September 2020.

Following publication of the government's 'further details statement' on the UK's post-Brexit immigration system, we have been keen to find out from universities how they think the forthcoming changes to the immigration system will affect them.

Our engagement with the sector included a webinar looking at what the government has proposed. A summary of the changes can also be found in our recent blog.

During the webinar we polled delegates on the current immigration issues facing universities and how they expect the changes to the immigration system to affect their future activities. Whilst we cannot pretend that the results are in any way academically rigorous, we still think that they provide a useful insight into how the sector views the impending changes.

Many commentators have suggested that the response of many businesses to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has proved that many jobs can be done from anywhere and that international mobility will never recover to levels seen pre-pandemic. However, 80% of our respondents felt that their strategies on hiring migrants from overseas will return to normal once the pandemic is over.

On the new Skilled Worker category that will be replacing Tier 2 (General):

  • 89% of respondents advised that they had no current vacancies that do not qualify under the current Tier 2 rules and which they are waiting to fill when Tier 2 is replaced by the Skilled Worker category.

  • 82% of respondents were of the view that they will not be using the new Skilled Worker category to sponsor workers to fill roles at skill levels below RQF level 6.

  • Primarily as a result of free movement ending for EEA nationals from 1 January 2021, 36% of respondents anticipate a modest increase in their activities as a sponsor of Skilled Workers, with an increase in sponsorship of up to 10% when compared with current levels. 38% of respondents to our survey believe that sponsorship activity will increase by between 10 and 50%.

Coronavirus HE blogs

When considering the changes to the Student rules and which of those changes, if any, will make a significant difference to either the university or their sponsored students, the removal of time limits for postgraduate studies was identified as the most important change. However, the same proportion of respondents (35%) were unable to identify any significant positive changes to the rules.

On the EU Settlement Scheme, most respondents (66%) were confident that EEA national employees at their universities have been provided with sufficient information to apply under the Scheme before the 30 June 2021 deadline.

New Student Immigration Rules Published

Coincidentally, while hosting our webinar the government published changes to the Immigration Rules which will close the existing Tier 4 categories and replace them with the Student and Child Student immigration routes. The new Rules will come into force on 5 October 2020, so any entry clearance or leave to remain applications submitted after that date will be assessed on the basis of the new rules.


For further information about immigration issues facing Higher Education Institutions please contact Tom Brett Young of our immigration team on 07393 148352, or fill out the form below.

 

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