UK Immigration Cap announced

This afternoon, the UK Home Secretary announced that the annual limit on non EU workers will be set at 21,700. This will apply from April 2011.

This figure represents a drop of 6,300 from the figure for 2009.

As we previously outlined, this will apply to Tier 1 (highly skilled workers) and Tier 2 (skilled workers).

However, the government has been forced into a climbdown on intra company transfers. The immigration cap excludes employees transferred by their companies from another country - in future they will be allowed to stay for up to five years if their salary exceeds £40,000.

Nothwithstanding this, the imposition of a cap is a very important development. Employees and employers need to plan ahead to make sure they apply in plenty of time.

The cap will probably see new rules issued around the Tier 1 and Tier 2 categories to keep the numbers within the limits.

For advice on moving to the UK, see our website;

http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/immigration-consultants-uk.htm