The UK government has announced wide-ranging changes to the UK Immigration Rules in the Statement of Changes, including the launch of the new Global Business Mobility routes, High Potential Individual (HPI) route, the Scale-up route and the Homes for Ukraine Emergency visa.   These changes will be implemented between April 11, 2022 and August 22, 2022.

A summary of the revised VISA routes is given in this article below:

 

Global business mobility visa

This Global business mobility visa which came into force 11 April 2022 provides an individual with the option of five different routes in which they can apply to work in the UK under this scheme which amalgamate existing provisions. It is for applicants who are coming to the United Kingdom on temporary assignments so they will not lead to settlement.  Family members will be permitted to apply as dependents and there will be no limit on the number of applications. The 5 routes are:

i) Senior or specialist worker

This Senior or specialist worker visa replaces the Intra Company Transfer visa and requires the individual to have 12 months prior overseas employment (unless a higher earner).    The role must meet the required skill level and the minimum general salary threshold will increase from the current requirement of GBP 41,500 to GBP 42,200. Applicants must have worked for the overseas entity for at least 12 months, unless they are a high earner earning over GBP 73,900, in which case there is no such requirement.

ii)  Graduate trainee

The graduate visa replaces the Intra Company Transfer Graduate Trainee and is for workers on graduate training courses leading to a senior management or specialist position and who are required to do a work placement in the United Kingdom.   The minimum general salary threshold will be £23,100 per year.

iii) UK expansion worker

This is a new visa termed the UK expansion worker for organisations wishing to expand to the UK but are not yet trading in the UK. It replaces the overseas business route and can provide leave of up to one year which can be extended to two. It is aimed at Senior managers overseas or specialist employees with 12 months service.  Applicants will require sponsorship from a business in the United Kingdom that has a Sponsor Licence but has not yet started trading in the United Kingdom. It must also be a subsidiary of an overseas business expanding in the United Kingdom.  The salary must meet the market rate requirement or the general salary threshold of £42,400 per year (whichever is higher).

iv) Service supplier

The new service supplier visa route which provides self employed professionals or those employed by overseas service providers to work in the UK. It allows for a placement of up to six months. If employed by an overseas service provider, then that provider cannot have a presence already in the UK.  Amonsgt the visa rules is the requirement that the applicant must either be sponsored for a job in an occupation code listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations that is identified as eligible for the Global Business Mobility routes or must have a university degree or equivalent level technical qualification.

v) Secondment worker

The secondment worker visa applies to overseas workers who wish to become seconded to their UK employer as part of a high value contract or investment.  The applicant will need to be sponsored by a company in the United Kingdom which already has a Sponsor Licence;  must also have 12 months prior service with the overseas business and the contract between the UK company and the overseas business must be registered with the Home Office.

This will be a new route in the Immigration Rules, but similar arrangements are usually covered by the visitor visa provisions.  This category will enable individuals to come to the United Kingdom for up to five years with their family members, without the uncertainty of qualifying as a visitor.

High potential individual visa

From 30 May 2022, this route will become available to overseas university graduates from the top 50 global university institutions. This visa will provide leave for up to two, or three years for those with a PhD (applicants will be permitted to bring their family with them and will be able to work without a job offer requirement) however, it cannot lead to settlement in the UK afterwards, as some can. The individual must have a bachelors degree or above equivalent qualification gained within the past five years. English language is a requirement, and they can work in any role.

Scale up visa

From 22 August 2022, this new visa will become available to talented individuals recruited by a UK scale up, or sponsor and that this person has the required skills required to enable the scale up business to continue growing.

The visa is initially for a period of 2 years however a sponsor is only required for the first six months. Due to the nature of the visa and its purpose, it will require skill level RQF level 6 along with a minimum salary of either £33,000 or the going rate, whichever is the highest. This visa will allow the individual to apply for settlement at the end of 5 years, and to bring dependents with them.

Homes for Ukraine visa

This new emergency visa was brought in last month and runs alongside the Ukraine Family Scheme, which had already been in place. This new visa is for those fleeing Ukraine and who do not have any family connection within the UK.

It is a sponsored humanitarian route into the UK and allows for individuals, charities and other organisations to become sponsors. The visa would provide up to 3 years living and working in the UK.

Further Information

The UK government will release detailed guidance on the above and other rules imminently.

For further guidance on this topic or to be referred to an immigration specialist, please do also feel free to contact hello@HROptimisation.co.uk