New details concerning the UK’s new points based immigration system have been released by the Home Secretary.
The system aims to encourage business to recruit workers from the UK while still allowing businesses to “attract the best and brightest from around the world”, according to Priti Patel.
The system will be put into effect on New Year’s Day following Britain’s exit from the European Union on the 31st December when the current European freedom of movement rules cease to be in effect.
The new announcements regarding the new points system included a fast-track health and care visa. People applying for this new visa would have to pay a reduced fee. It was confirmed that frontline workers would be exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. Social care workers however, would not be eligible to take advantage of the visa. Applicants should expect a reply from the Government within three weeks it has been said.
In a written statement Mrs Patel said: “At a time where an increased number of people across the UK are looking for work, the new points-based system will encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce, rather than simply relying on labour from abroad.
“But we are also making necessary changes, so it is simpler for employers to attract the best and brightest from around the world to come to the UK to complement the skills we already have.”
Boris Johnson also has expressed the need for a “humane and sensible” immigration system.
There were also announcements regarding the future of student visas with the government saying that the process is being refined. They have said however that there would be graduate route to be launched in the summer which would help “help retain the brightest and the best students to contribute to the UK post-study”.
Graduates would be able to stay for up to two years following the completion of their studies Mrs Patel said.
Labour said it would scrutinise the latest proposals “very carefully”, also expressing their opinion that the Government had “rushed through immigration legislation with very little detail in the middle of a global pandemic”.
