UK Immigration Blog, Thoughts and Opinions

The most significant change is that the Tier 2 (ICT) category, as opposed to the Tier 2 General Migrant category, will no longer be a route to settlement in the UK. However, at the moment, it is still possible for ICT holders to switch from this subcategory into Tier 2 (General) while continuing to work for the same employer.

The points scoring table has also been amended, so that applicants will only get points for earnings above £20,000 instead of the previous £17,000 or more. Further, 15 points will be now awarded for a Masters' degree in place of 10 points. Migrants will still be able to qualify if their occupation were to fall in "shortage occupation”.

Finally, as of 6 April 2010, the ICT category is replaced by the "Established Staff" category whereby multinationals companies will need to show that their overseas employees have been employed for at least 12 months rather than 6 under the previous system. Further, companies will be able to transfer their international staff to the UK, albeit for shorter contracts of 12 and 6 months respectively, by using two new sub-categories (1) graduate trainees and (2) skills transfers.