Are you planning to settle in Manchester, UK, by grabbing a job opportunity? All you need to do is apply for a Skilled worker Visa to stay and work legally in this country. But, before you apply, you should have a clear idea of the Skilled Worker visa route and the latest changes made by the UK government this year, which came into effect on April 4th. In today’s blog, we will discuss those key changes. Let’s begin.
Key Changes Made to UK Skilled Worker Visa Route
The Skilled Worker visa is a long-term work permit to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years, as determined by the Certificate of Sponsorship. This visa remains valid until you work in the same job role with your sponsoring employer. To change companies or jobs, you need to re-apply for a new Skilled Worker Visa.
Now, when applying for a Skilled Worker visa in Manchester, you should know the significant changes recently announced by the UK government. The key updates start with the increased salary thresholds. Recently, the government has changed the minimum salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700 per annum for Skilled Workers, which is an increase of 48% from the previous amount. As a result, the occupation-specific salary thresholds are also increasing by 25% in terms of full-time earnings. The impact of these increased salary thresholds is found to be on the NHS and healthcare sector, where employers may have to make salary adjustments to meet these threshold criteria, impacting staff retention and recruitment.
However, if you have your Skilled Worker visa before April 4, 2024, or have applied for an extension or settlement before April 4, 2030, there’s no need to meet the criteria for new salary thresholds. You just need to pay an amount higher than £29,000 with a lower growth rate for the job role.
Besides this salary threshold update, there are a few more key changes made in this Skilled Worker visa route. For instance:
Shortage Occupation List
This category has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL), which includes 21 eligible occupations. As a result, 20% of salary discounts on the shortage occupation list have been eliminated; only the jobs on this new ISL remain.
If you are a care worker, especially a senior moving to the UK, you are not allowed to bring any dependents with you. No wonder it affects their plans to bring these care workers’ families here, leading to drastic effects on their retention and recruitment.
So, when you are recruited under a general Skilled Worker visa for any NHS role, these latest changes may affect you.
Transitional Arrangements
With the latest update, all Skilled Worker visa holders need to ensure that when applying for this transitional arrangement, they have extended permission to stay in the UK lawfully under this Skilled Worker visa route. According to this, you must apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) before April 4, 2030.
Supplementary Employment
Supplementary employment for Skilled Workers has been expanded under this route for any occupation. However, you are allowed to do these supplementary jobs outside the working hours of sponsored jobs (maximum 20 hours a week). On the other hand, employers may experience the latest compliance requirements during staff recruitment for any additional roles, while taking confirmation from the sponsor employer.
In Conclusion
So, are you ready to apply for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK? Our experienced visa lawyers at Intime Immigration Solicitors are here in Manchester to assist you throughout the process and ensure error-free application. Visit https://intimeimmigration.co.uk/skilled-worker-visa/ to learn more about the eligibility criteria or schedule a call for an assessment with our experts.
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