The United Kingdom government has on Thursday, released a white paper over its post-Brexit immigration strategy and visas, and expected to benefit Indian professionals and students as it is focused on skills rather than that of country’s origin.
The UK future skill-based immigration system on Wednesday, tables in the House of Commons by UK home secretary Sajid Javid and removed caps on highly-skilled migrants from anywhere in the globe and also enhanced the post-study with work-offering for all international students.
The proposal is expected to be imposed from December 2021 after Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), which claims to level immigration of country with end of free migration.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said, “As we leave the European Union, free movement will end. This will be a system where it is workers’ skills that matter, not which country they come from.”
Javid said, “We are taking a skills-based approach to ensure we can attract the brightest and best migrants to the UK.”
Under the proposed news system, an annual cap of about 20,700 on skilled work visas will be removed, which is expected to benefit IT professionals and doctors from India, among the others. Also, there will be a visa route of 12 months for workers of any skilled level to allow hire any staff for business for a temporary period of time.
The UK home office said, “People arriving on this route will not be able to bring family members with them, won’t accrue rights to settle in the UK and will have a 12-month cooling off period once their visa expires.”
The proposed plan has been welcomed largely by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with a saying the plan recognizes a value offered by the skilled workers from countries like India.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Chair of CII’s UK India Business Forum Jim Bligh said, “Indian Industry has long called for a fair, transparent and skills-based immigration system, and today’s proposals go some way to achieving these goals.”
Jim Bligh further said, Tackling the UK’s skills gaps, particularly in digital and technology, must remain a key focus for government and it is welcome that this paper recognises the value that skilled workers from overseas can bring to helping improve the UK’s skills base.”
UK government expressed that plan aimed at giving time to people to find a permanent skilled work in UK and to temporarily work during the proposed period.
The white paper stated: “We will also allow for students studying at Bachelor’s level or above to be able to apply to switch into the skilled workers route up to three months before the end of their course in the UK, and from outside of the UK for two years after their graduation.”
Director of Universities UK International Vivienne Stern said, “Allowing graduates to stay on for longer to find work in the UK sends the message that international students are welcome here, and we value the skills they bring. These changes will have a real, positive impact on the students who come here to study and their opportunities after graduating.”
According to white paper, the UK government will hold a discussion on minimum salary requirement of about 30,000 pounds to skilled migrants, who are seeking five-year visas, and low-skilled migrants would be able to apply for a short-term visas for up to a year.
The white paper forms basis for the Immigration and Society Security Coordination (EU withdrawal) Bill and was published on Thursday, which will now end the free movement of EU nationals and will open doors for future UK immigration system and borders after Brexit.
The UK home office said, “The new system will be implemented in a phased approach from 2021, following an extensive 12-month programme of engagement with businesses, stakeholders and the public.”