UK Immigration News

10 December 2009

The latest Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules was laid before Parliament today.

The changes include the following:

• The Immigration Rules are being amended to provide that applications for leave to remain or settlement on the basis of long residence will no longer be considered at a UK Border Agency Public Enquiry Office;
• The Rules will also make provision, within the child visitor rules, to permit exchange visits by overseas students to state maintained and other schools;
• The Immigration Rules are being amended to make provision for the final phase of the roll-out of Tier 4, the student tier of the points-based system. The changes to the Rules will mean that from 22 February 2010, Tier 4 migrants will require an electronic confirmation of acceptance for studies in order to be able to score points for attributes in their applications to come to the UK; and
• The Rules will now provide for workers admitted under the previous rules for overseas government employees, to switch in-country into the Tier 5 category for temporary workers.

This Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules will be incorporated into a consolidated version of the Immigration Rules. You can find copies of all the Statements of Changes in Immigration Rules issued since May 2003.

The changes will come into effect on 1 January 2010, with the exception of the Tier 4 changes, which will come into force on 22 February 2010.