This next blog looks at the Home Office updates from April 2017 and what this means for employers and people wanting to work in the UK. The main aspect being the proposed Immigration Skills Charge. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/governments-new-immigration-skills-charge-to-incentivise-training-of-british-workers)
Government’s new Immigration Skills Charge to incentivise ...
www.gov.uk
Press release. Government’s new Immigration Skills Charge to incentivise training of British workers
Why?
The reason the Government is proposing this to incentivise the training of British workers and upskill them.
Situation before
Previously to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to a Non-EU National in order for them to apply for a Tier 2 General it costs a company £199 as a one off fee.
April 2017 onwards
From April 2017 onwards it will cost an employer £1,000 per year when assigning a COS and a reduced rate of £364 for small or charitable organizations.
However, there are some notable exemptions:
- workers who were sponsored within the Tier 2 immigration category before 6 April 2017 who apply within the UK to extend their Tier 2 stay with either the same or a different sponsor;
- a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee;
- a worker to do a specified PhD level occupation;
- a Tier 4 student visa holder in the UK switching to a Tier 2 (General) visa
The first of these exemptions will be welcome to employers who were uncertain about the cost of retaining currently sponsored staff.
The fee is to be paid in full when assigning the COS.
The reality
This is good news for employers and workers looking to extend the stay of workers already on a Tier 2 General or looking to move employer. Also, good for employers looking to employ highly skilled graduates from the Tier 4 student category. It has been made evidently clear that the UK still wants to encourage International students with Jo Johnson, the Universities and Science Minister saying:
‘’This important charge delivers valuable flexibilities that will help to address skills shortages while ensuring the UK remains a leading knowledge economy and popular destination for international students.’’
There is a definite need to nurture British talent and workers, however certain niche technologies especially within IT experience shortages in the UK. Keep an eye out here for more information, news and blogs and thank you for reading.
Take care everyone
Mason Alexander Team
www.mavisas.co.uk
To find out more information about Tier 2 sponsorship, options to contract and consult in the UK, please contact us.