The Government is consulting on further measures to reduce net immigration. These include re-branding Tier 2 (the skilled worker route) as temporary to end the assumption that settlement will automatically be available for Tier 2 migrants. The British Chamber of Commerce has warned that such changes ‘would be incredibly disruptive to companies of all sizes, and deter some skilled workers from coming to the UK in the first place’. ‘Employment-related settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers: A Consultation’ is open until September 2011.
Under the proposed scheme, the Government states that, after a maximum of five years, most Tier 2 migrants and their dependants will be expected to leave the United Kingdom. Certain categories of Tier 2 migrant, for example those earning over £150,000 or in occupations of a specific economic or social value to the UK, will retain an automatic route to settlement. A new category would also be created which exceptional Tier 2 migrants may switch into after three years in the UK and apply for settlement.
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