Reply from Home Office Regarding Proposed April 2009 Changes

[ChetanOjha]

Dear All,

Find below the reply from Home Office regarding the proposed April 2009 changes. One of my colleague has received the following email back from Home Office.

Hope this should give some peace of mind to all.

==============================================================================================

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your enquiry.

Proposed changes to the requirements for Points Based System Tier 1 (General) and Tier 2 were announced by the Home Secretary recently, and are expected to come into effect for applications made on or after 31st March 2009. Details of the announcement can be found on the UK Border Agency website at:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... oughertest

Applicants who currently have leave to remain under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, Writers, Artists, Composers or Self Employed Lawyers categories, and are applying to extend their leave to remain in the UK in Tier 1 (General) will not be affected by the changes announced by the Home Secretary.

Applicants who currently have leave to remain as a Tier 1 (General) migrant will not be affected by the change when they apply for further leave to remain.

Applications made to extend from the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme to Tier 1 (General) should generally be made within 28 days of the visa expiring.

Yours Faithfully,

Chris Jones
Immigration Group
UK Border Agency


==============================================================================================

[Anh1983]

Hi there,

Many thanks for your post. Do you know where WP holder would stand with regard to Tier 1? I currently hold WP but would like to switch to Tier 1. I dont have all my documents ready by end of May so do you know whether I can still apply to switch to Tier 1 then?

By the way I dont have a Master, only Postgraduate Diploma.

Thanks

[arts99]

The proposed changes will effect anyone who is going to apply if you are trying to get into the categories; so if you are a work permit holder and want to switch to Tier 1 then apply before 31st March if you can otherwise you will have to qualify according to the new changes.

[ChetanOjha]

Hi Anh1983,

On the face of it, email doesn't mention about the WP holders. So I would presume, the changes will affect WP holders.

Many thanks for your post. Do you know where WP holder would stand with regard to Tier 1? I currently hold WP but would like to switch to Tier 1. I dont have all my documents ready by end of May so do you know whether I can still apply to switch to Tier 1 then?
Thanks

[mjmani]

I currently hold WP but would like to switch to Tier 1. I dont have all my documents ready by end of May so do you know whether I can still apply to switch to Tier 1 then?

By the way I dont have a Master, only Postgraduate Diploma.

WP to Tier 1 switch is considered as a fresh Tier 1 application. Therefore, you need to have Master's degree and earning above 20k GBP.