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Immigration Solicitors

New Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (16 March 2022)

Date: 16/03/2022
Duncan Lewis, Immigration Solicitors, New Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

Key changes to the immigration rules have been unveiled by the Government in a bid to help businesses access highly skilled workers from around the world.

In the light of Tier 1 investor route closure, the revamp is designed to generate growth through the launch of new Global Business Mobility routes, which include both a high potential individual and scale–up routes.

These sponsored Global Business Mobility routes are expected to simplify the UK immigration offer for business by bringing together, reforming and expanding various existing routes.

They will provide access for:

  • Senior executives and specialists undertaking temporary assignments at a UK branch or subsidiary of the business they work for (replacing the intra-company transfer route);

  • Graduate trainees undertaking a placement in the UK as part of a structured training programme (replacing the intra-company graduate trainee route);

  • Teams of workers sent to establish a new branch or subsidiary of an overseas business (replacing the sole representative provisions in the representative of an overseas businesses route);

  • Service suppliers undertaking work covered by one of the UK’s commitments on trade in services (replacing the service supplier provisions in the Temporary Work International Agreement route); and

  • A brand-new provision for secondments to UK businesses in connection with high value contracts for goods or investment.

The parliamentary under Secretary of State for Safe and Legal Migration, Kevin Foster, said in a statement:

“We are launching two new immigration routes, the Scale-up and High Potential Individual routes. These routes will provide UK businesses access to a more flexible pool of highly skilled workers.

The Scale-up route recognises the benefits these high growth businesses offer to the UK and the need to ensure they are fully supported in maintaining this growth at a key time.”


In relation to the global talent visa, the list of prestigious prizes has been expanded which allow applicants to qualify without needing to apply for a separate endorsement decision.

The Government is also introducing a reformed private life route, which will bring changes to children and young people living in the UK, including bringing the concession on early settlement for children introduced in October 2021 into the rules. This will give an opportunity to children and adults to apply for settlement after 5 years qualifying period rather than 10. It will further extend the grant of immediate settlement for a child who has lived in the UK for 7 years.

The private life route will be reformed and will give flexibility to applicants to count time spent on other routes towards their settlement applications.

However, applicants must meet the suitability requirement and they will not qualify if they have received a sentence of 12 months or more for a criminal conviction or they have failed other requirements. In these circumstances, the applicant must complete a 10 year qualifying period and show at least 5 years’ compliance with the breach.

Changes are also being made in respect of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), which enables EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK by the end of the transition period, and their family members and the family members of certain British citizens returning with them from the EEA or Switzerland, to obtain the UK immigration status they need to continue living in the UK. Further changes are also being made in respect of the EUSS family permit, which enables relevant family members to travel to the UK.

And finally, the seasonal worker route is being expanded to include roles in ornamental horticulture to support our distinguished flower growers in the UK. A new minimum hourly pay requirement has been added to the route to require that all workers will be paid at least £10.10 per hour. This will be equal to the minimum hourly rate that those applying on the skilled worker route are required to meet to discourage poor conditions often seen in the sector.

There are further changes to Appendix FM, Appendix EU, Appendix Graduate, Appendix Skilled worker and T2 Minister of religion and further information can be found on the Government’s own website.


If you are affected by any of these changes or would like some clarity on the options open to you, please contact business immigration director Tamana Aziz via email at tamanaa@duncanlewis.com or telephone 020 3114 1130.

Tamana is a recommended lawyer in the 2022 edition of the Legal 500 directory and has wide-ranging immigration law experience, including business immigration under the Points Based System (PBS), advising high-net-worth and skilled individuals on extending Tier 2 (General) visas, spousal applications and applications for British citizenship.








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