New UK Immigration Rules Announced

[george]

New immigration rules announced

LONDON: -- Details of rules controlling the number of skilled migrants from outside the European Economic Area working in the UK are due to be revealed later.

Ministers say the rules would have cut skilled migrants last year from outside the EEA (the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) by 12%.

From the autumn such migrants will need to accrue the required number of points to enter Britain.

Points will be awarded according to qualifications and salary prospects.

Non-EEA applicants for jobs in the UK will have to have the correct number of points as well as a job offer from an employer.

Employers will also be required to show they cannot recruit skilled resident workers.

Entertainers

The Home Office says that in the 12 months to last September, 65,000 skilled workers from outside the EEA were allowed in, but that under the new rules there would have been almost 8,000 fewer.

Details will also be revealed later about how many points entertainers and sportsmen and women will need to come to the UK on short-term contracts.

The Home Office has said such workers attending one-off events, such as the Edinburgh International Festival, will not require points, but will need a visitors' visa.

The new immigration points system, which is based on education, previous salary and age, was announced two years ago.

The Home Office says the aim of the system, being phased in this year, is to ensure that only those with the skills most in need gain entry to the UK.

Staged introduction

The more skills a worker has, and the more those skills are in demand, the more points they will gain, increasing the likelihood of entry.

The first stage of the new points-based system, which applies to highly-skilled workers already in the country who want to extend their stay, came into force in February.

The second set of requirements, details of which will be announced today, will focus on skilled workers and filling gaps in the labour market. An independent committee will advise ministers on which skills the economy needs.

Other stages covering temporary workers, young people and students will be introduced later.

--BBC 2008-05-06

[vinny]

Tighter new rules for skilled foreign workers