14 Sep New Statement of Changes – September 2021
On 11 September 2021, the Home Office published the Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules. The main changes are summarized below:
EEA citizens will need to provide their passport rather than their ID card to enter the UK
From 1 October 2021, EEA citizens will need to use their passport to demonstrate nationality and identity at the UK border rather than a national identity card, except for Ireland and in the following circumstances:
- A national of Switzerland with a valid entry clearance granted under Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland to the Immigration Rules;
- An EEA citizen with valid indefinite or limited leave to enter or remain granted under the EUSS (in Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules), or who has made a valid application under that Appendix (other than as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor, as defined in Annex 1 to that Appendix) which has not yet been finally determined;
- An EEA citizen with a valid entry clearance in the form of an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit;
- An EEA citizen with a frontier worker permit;
- An EEA citizen seeking to come to the UK as an S2 Healthcare Visitor.
Launching of the new International Sportsperson route
Currently there are two Sportsperson routes: Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting visa (T5) and Sportsperson visa (T2). The new International Sportsperson route will replace both but will continue to allow professional sportspeople who wish to come to the UK for 12 months or less. In addition, for those who wish to stay in the UK for more than 12 months, they will need to meet the English language requirement (Level A1 in speaking and listening).
Please note that a migrant is applying for this route must have a Governing Body Endorsement from an appropriate Sports Governing Body listed in Appendix Sports Governing Bodies. Migrants can also bring their partner and minor children to the UK, and the new International Sportsperson route can lead to settlement.
Changes to the criteria and evidential requirements of the Global Talent route
The endorsement requirements for arts and culture are being amended to:
- Clarify letters of recommendation required by the endorsing body must specifically be from well-established ‘arts and culture’ organisations;
- It will be easier for applicants who are members of groups to qualify.
The main evidential requirements for digital technology endorsements are being amended as follows:
- The number of evidence of exceptional promise in digital technology can be accompanied by one example rather than two.
The main endorsement criteria for science, engineering, humanities and medicine fields are being changed to:
- Extending the eligibility period for the fellowship fast track pathway from 12 months to 5 years;
- Extending the requirement to have academic representatives on interview panels to cover research and innovation representatives.
For those Prestigious Prizes holders who wish to apply for a Global Talent visa, they do not need to obtain an endorsement from one of the Global Talent endorsing bodies, and Prestigious Prizes has been expanded to cover a wider range of prizes.
Changes to EUSS family permits
From 6 October 2021, a joining family member of an EEA citizen who wished to apply for Pre-Settled or Settled status under the EUSS in the UK will not be allowed to submit their application as a visitor.
Changes to Youth Mobility Scheme
The Youth Mobility route allows a migrant between 18 and 30 from the list of countries to experience life in the UK for up to 2 years. However, this route does not lead to settlement and dependants are not permitted under this scheme.
Iceland is being added to the Youth Mobility Scheme country list as a country without Deemed Sponsorship Status with an allocation of 1000 places per year, whilst India is added to the list of countries where invitation to apply arrangement apply with an allocation of 3000 places per year.
For Indian applicants, they must meet the additional requirement in either YMS 4.B or YMS 4.5C:
YMS 4.5B. This additional requirement is met where the applicant:
(a) holds a qualification equal to or above RQF level 6; and
(b) provides evidence of that qualification in the form of written confirmation from the issuing institution that they successfully completed their studies and graduated with the required qualification.
YMS 4.5C. This additional requirement is met where the applicant:
(a) has a minimum of three years’ work experience in a professional role equivalent to an eligible occupation listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations; and
(b) provides evidence of that work experience in the form of either:
(i) formal payslips from the applicant’s employer showing the applicant’s job title and employer’s name; or
(ii) payslips accompanied by a letter from the applicant’s employer, on the employer’s headed paper and signed by a senior official, confirming the payslips are authentic.
Contact Our Immigration Team
For expert advice regarding any aspect of the UK visa application, please contact our immigration team on 0203 384 3075.
