Timeline Question for New Point-Based Skilled Worker Visa

Greetings all!

Been lurking in this forum for a long while, but this is my first time posting. My work intends to offer me a position in the UK for this coming year under the point-based system (RQF 6, meets required salary, Tier-A Sponsor, etc), but my question - and one they were also going to look into - was whether or not we could apply under the new Points-Based system before the January 1st, 2021 date.

I ask this because I know I've seen on certain sites - such as https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-policy-statement/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-policy-statement [nofollow] for example - that mention they will start opening applications for this new system in 'Autumn 2020'.

Does anyone know if this is confirmed for the Skilled Workers route? If not, I assume we will just have to wait to start the process after January 1st.

Thank you for any information you can provide!

Best,
CB

Hi there,

I’ve just had a look on the UKVI website and there is no mention yet of when you will be able to apply under the new Skilled Worker visa system.

Looks like they will are going to be introducing the new system in stages over the next couple of months.

At the moment, it appears that only the new Student Visa system is currently in place... it replaced the Tier 4 student visa on October 5th 2020 (as announced in the ‘Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 707, 10 September 2020’).

So, it looks like you will need to wait to apply until they publish a statement of changes to the immigration rules for the new Skilled Worker visas and announce which date they will replace the current Tier 2 system. Once that date passes and they transition over to the new system, then you will be able to apply.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi there,

I’ve just had a look on the UKVI website and there is no mention yet of when you will be able to apply under the new Skilled Worker visa system.

Looks like they will are going to be introducing the new system in stages over the next couple of months.

At the moment, it appears that only the new Student Visa system is currently in place... it replaced the Tier 4 student visa on October 5th 2020 (as announced in the ‘Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 707, 10 September 2020’).

So, it looks like you will need to wait to apply until they publish a statement of changes to the immigration rules for the new Skilled Worker visas and announce which date they will replace the current Tier 2 system. Once that date passes and they transition over to the new system, then you will be able to apply.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you so much for the information! It is all very confusing with the changing rules and such, especially since we're trying to go what used to be the Tier 2 General path (we could go ICT, but my intention is to remain in the UK and the ICT has a cooling off period, though I heard this might be going away under the new system, as well).

I'll keep an eye on the government site, and my work is looking to contact an immigration lawyer they often use to make sure everything gets done right. I wish I could apply now before the IHS increases, but alas...

Thank you again for clearing that up!

Given what happened with the Tier 4 visas, I assume what they will do is get rid of the Tier 2 General and Tier 2 ICT visas, and replace them with the new Skilled Worker visas and Intra-Company Transfer visas.

Until they actually do that though, you won’t be able to apply under the new system... because your only option right now is to apply under the current Tier 2 General or Tier 2 ICT routes.

Not sure if you’ve seen it but there’s a detailed document outlining and explaining all the changes here, including changes to the ICT route and the cooling off period:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-further-details-statement/uk-points-based-immigration-system-further-details-statement


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Given what happened with the Tier 4 visas, I assume what they will do is get rid of the Tier 2 General and Tier 2 ICT visas, and replace them with the new Skilled Worker visas and Intra-Company Transfer visas.

Until they actually do that though, you won’t be able to apply under the new system... because your only option right now is to apply under the current Tier 2 General or Tier 2 ICT routes.

Not sure if you’ve seen it but there’s a detailed document outlining and explaining all the changes here, including changes to the ICT route and the cooling off period:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-further-details-statement/uk-points-based-immigration-system-further-details-statement [nofollow]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for the link! So that does prove that the ICT is planning to get rid of the cooling down - or at least the need to leave the country for 12 months before changing to another visa. This means that, if worst comes to worst, I can always do an ITC for a few years and maybe transfer to a Skilled Workers visa later down the line, though I'd obviously prefer starting with the Skilled Workers route so I can get ILR much sooner.

On most websites it says these rules go into place on January 1st. Do you know if that is a sure thing, or is it still dependent on certain things being published/passed through Parliament?

What is your current visa?  When does it expire?

What is your current visa?  When does it expire?

I don't currently have a visa. I am living in working in the US (though I did have a Tier 4 student visa from 2012-2016. Sadly, no longer relevant to the process, I don't believe).

My current work is planning to try and get me over there on the Skilled Workers route for eventual IRL.

Ah, I see now.  Are they waiting for Covid to pass?  Just trying to figure out why they haven’t put you on the Tier 2 ICT.

Ah, I see now.  Are they waiting for Covid to pass?  Just trying to figure out why they haven’t put you on the Tier 2 ICT.

We were wanting to do the Tier 2 (General)/Skilled Workers route so that I can get ILR eventually. You cannot get ILR on an ICT visa, so I am essentially going to be reapplying to my own position created in the UK division as an external applicant.

We'd try that now, but they want to avoid the RLMT (which the new rules get rid of) and my position JUST misses out on the Shortage Labour List (The SOC is there for it, but only for a specific position title that, whilst adjacent to mine, is not the same). Because of these things, we felt it best to wait to apply under the new rules so that I can get into the UK on the Skilled Workers visa, which they are planning to offer me a full 5 years for. After that, I can do ILR and not have to worry about the visa process anymore (hopefully).

Ah, I get it.