The UK government has published further guidance on the ‘new points-based immigration system for 2021’. The guidance re-iterates that all non-UK nationals arriving after 1 January 2021, will require sponsorship, if they want to work in the UK. The main category to sponsor migrant workers in the UK is known as Tier 2 or a General Work visa.
Whilst the publication of this guidance amongst the COVID-19 pandemic is unexpected and surprising, it serves to remind employers that they will need a sponsorship licence from 1 January 2021.
Employers have also been urged to apply for their sponsorship licence now, to avoid any delays in sponsoring migrant workers from 2021.
Some of the key changes to the General Work visa are expected to be effective from August 2020. This means that employers who obtain a sponsor licence now will be able to benefit from the relaxed sponsorship provisions from August. These include:
- Suspension of the Resident Labour Market Test
- Lowering of the minimum skills threshold from Regulated Qualification Frame (RQF) Level 6 to RQF Level 3.
- Reducing the minimum salary threshold to £25,600 from £30,000 for experienced workers, and a lower threshold for ‘new entrants’
In our further blogs, we will be exploring key aspects of sponsorship, and why it can be essential for most businesses to thrive in a post-Brexit world. The further blogs will also look at how to apply for a sponsor licence during the COVID-19 lockdown using the reduced documentary requirements set out by the Home Office.