End of Tier 1 Visas?

I just saw this in the paper and wanted to being it to the attention of people here. 

No concrete plans of course, but who knows? 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/8090774/Just-one-in-four-highly-skilled-migrants-in-skilled-jobs.html

Yes, bookgirl, they are working up to something.  No, it's not the end of T1, it's more likely a precursor to T1's having to get approval before they accept employment or some such other type of control.

Thanks for pointing this out and including the link.  I'm informed the 'official' view is will be on UKBA's site momentarily.  It should include a link to the source study also...

Wow, a whole bunch of inaccuracies in that article...

Currently, due to changes recently made to the sponsorship rules, we are only able to hire 'highly skilled' researchers at the university where I work if they qualify for a Tier 1 visa.  Postdoctoral research positions just do not pay enough to qualify for sponsorship under the new rules.  If a Tier 1 visa is not an option, research in the UK will suffer more than it already is and universities will lose a ton of much-needed grant money.

I also like how the headline and subheading is:

Just one in four highly skilled migrants in skilled jobs

Only one in four of the foreign workers allowed to come to Britain as a “highly skilled migrant” is working in a skilled job, the Home Office has disclosed

followed closely by:

It is not even known what jobs almost half of the highly skilled migrants are doing.

So 25% are *definitely* in skilled jobs, and 25%-75% are *possibly* in skilled jobs, but they only mention the first part. Dishonest journalism at its finest.

They were also confusing the highly-skilled Tier 1 visa with the post-study Tier 1--which are two completely different visas!  Is it any surprise that recent students on a post-study work visa are earning less than £25K in this economy, or that they may have taken retail jobs while in the process of searching for a graduate job?

UKBA link here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2010/oct/79-highly-skilled-jobs

Whilst I see where they're getting at, it'll be a nightmare to police it. If you start requiring Tier 1 applicants to provide proof of a job/ business then it kills the flexibility that Tier 1 comes with. However it is not the intention of Tier 1 visas to pursue low skill jobs. Maybe in say six months or so of gaining entry in the UK on a Tier 1 (non-PSW) visa there should be a checkpoint to prove that the British society is indeed benefitting from the work that the highly skilled migrant is undertaking.

I feel that the number of people pursuing low skill jobs on their highly skilled migrant visas will very much be in minority, and any money spent on policing this minority will just translate in to higher fees for everyone else.

I can understand that they don't want people working retail sorts of jobs with this visa, but when it comes to 'highly skilled', there are many ways to define that, yet UKBA seems to emphasize salary as the main criteria.  Given the state of the economy and funding in this country, I don't really think salary can determine whether a job falls into the highly skilled category.  Not to mention that this visa DOES entitle you to accept ANY job in the UK; you may not qualify to renew that visa in three years if you accept a low-wage job, but until then, you do have a right to work a job of your choosing (and I'm sure the few who do are only doing this to make ends meet while they continue their job searches, which as a foreigner, can be an uphill battle in these times).  Do they seriously think someone would aim to give up a high-paying job in their home country just to move to the UK to enter the 'low-skilled' job market they refer to? The UK isn't THAT nice of a place to live!

Agreed lilybelle, it is infuriating how the emphasis is on salary when a lot of jobs in certain sectors will never pay very much even at the higher levels. I have a friend who works in the heritage industry, and while her employer is willing to sponsor her, they aren't able to pay her enough to allow her to qualify for Tier 1 or even Tier 2. It's pretty crap.

Agreed lilybelle, it is infuriating how the emphasis is on salary when a lot of jobs in certain sectors will never pay very much even at the higher levels. I have a friend who works in the heritage industry, and while her employer is willing to sponsor her, they aren't able to pay her enough to allow her to qualify for Tier 1 or even Tier 2. It's pretty crap.

And on the other end of the spectrum..my field is generally quite well paid, but I've worked with a lot of not-at-all-skilled people (by whatever metric you choose!) who still rake in the money. Go figure.

ETA: The not-at-all-skilled people has been across my experience in the industry, not specific to the UK.

Do they seriously think someone would aim to give up a high-paying job in their home country just to move to the UK to enter the 'low-skilled' job market they refer to? The UK isn't THAT nice of a place to live!

But the fact remains that people do it. I’m sorry but I’ve interviewed several people from the US and Canada in the UK on a Tier 1 visa this year for positions that I definitely would not consider highly-skilled at least not in the league of a doctor or engineer.

I was quite surprised the candidates qualified for the visa but they followed the rules and the visa was granted and thus they were able to look for and accept work here.

As a general point of discussion, what types of jobs/jobs levels would be appropriate for a Tier 1?

Given the state of the economy and funding in this country, I don't really think salary can determine whether a job falls into the highly skilled category.

In the spirit of well spirited debate, I think unfortunately that's the only benchmark that makes sense to police, if at all (from the govt's POV). I'm the first one to say though the impracticalities associated with implementing such a system, combined that with the unfairness that will come with it, makes it not worthwhile pursuing this line of thought. I honestly believe the number of Tier 1 (non-PSW) people on low skill jobs are very much in minority and for the govt to invest any money or resources to police this minority will be absolutely a waste of time for everyone in the bigger picture.

Not to mention that this visa DOES entitle you to accept ANY job in the UK

True that. And as has been noted most of those in minority will be pursuing low skill jobs as something to tide them over. It does not make sense to give up a highly skilled job in one's country for a low skill job in the UK.

On a more general note if you are Mr. Green, how do you ensure people coming in on highly skilled migrant visas in fact perform highly skilled labour? There isn't a definition of what consists a highly skilled job out there, and that doesn't help..

As an afterthought, another option could be to make you renew your T1 on a more frequent basis.. (would hope though that the fees wouldn't be sky-high in each of those renewals).. for them to keep ensuring you continue to meet current requirements in place (or the ones that were in place at the time of your initial application). Hmmmmm

Agreed lilybelle, it is infuriating how the emphasis is on salary when a lot of jobs in certain sectors will never pay very much even at the higher levels. I have a friend who works in the heritage industry, and while her employer is willing to sponsor her, they aren't able to pay her enough to allow her to qualify for Tier 1 or even Tier 2. It's pretty crap.

I'm in the same field and can second that the pay is just not there.  I'll be applying for PSW in December, and should I be so lucky to actually get a job in my field I know I'll still never make enough to qualify for a T1 General two years later.  Plus, as you probably know, salaries are generally lower in Scotland because the cost of living is lower, so that doesn't help.  It all around sucks.   

Entry/low level positions in my field seem to have an average starting salary of between £14,000-£17,000.  I can more than live off that, but I can't get a visa with it.    Hence getting my ducks in a row for switching to Unmarried Partner when the time comes or maybe consider a PhD since I'd qualify for home fees by then, making the possibility of getting funding a little easier.

In the spirit of well spirited debate, I think unfortunately that's the only benchmark that makes sense to police, if at all (from the govt's POV).

I think a job that requires you to have a Ph.D. is by definition highly-skilled, but because of the salary requirements, many post-doctoral research positions are now below the cutoff due to low rates of pay in academia. It's ridiculous because if anything that is an even easier way of judging the skill level of a job.

Sorry NOT, you don't qualify for home fees until you've been here at least three years as a non-student, and a lot of places won't give it to you until you have ILR.

In my experience in trying to find a job, I applied for so many positions that I was extremely qualified for, only to never hear anything back, or 'don't call us, we'll call you'.  I have strong qualifications in my field, but didn't have any UK work experience, so had to take a low-paying job just to get by.  Once I had that first job and was able to list a local reference, I was able to get another, better-paying job, but if I hadn't been allowed to take any employment that wasn't deemed 'high-skilled', I would have had to leave.