On 6 September 2013, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) published a new Statement of Changes to bring forward some key amendments to the Immigration Rules. However, these significant changes have not been publicized and as a result, they have failed to be given proper scrutiny.<\/p>\n
Significantly, the UKBA intends to enforce a new genuineness test for Tier 1 and Tier 5 applications under the Points Based Scheme. This change intends to tackle abuse in particular by Tier 1 General applicants relying on earnings from self-employment.<\/p>\n
In addition, the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK test will be amended in line with the announcement made in April 2013.<\/p>\n
Greater flexibility has been introduced to the visitor visa category, which in our experience tends to attract a fair number of refusals mostly based on the applicant\u2019s intention. Thus, the permissible activities will be extended to include audits and corporate training provided by third parties. In addition, a visitor will be allowed to take courses incidental to his\/her visit being able to undertake up to 30 hours of recreation, English language or academic study provided that this is not the main purpose of their visit.<\/p>\n
However, there are few more changes hidden in the Rules. For starters, Tier 4 graduates who have completed their degrees in the UK will be allowed to undertake a 12 months internship under the Tier 5 Scheme\u2013 this change is meant to to fill-in the gap caused by the abolition Tier 1 Post Study Worker Scheme in April 2011.<\/p>\n
In addition Hong Kong will be added to the list of the Youth Mobility Scheme.<\/p>\n
Finally, the UKBA has decided to remove the prospective student category as of 1 October 2013. The Tier 4 student rules will also be amended to allow the UK\u00a0 Border Agency to interview an applicant to be assess their ability to\u00a0 communicate in English.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On 6 September 2013, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) published a new Statement of Changes to bring forward some key amendments to the Immigration Rules. However, these significant changes have not been publicized and as a result, they have failed to be given proper scrutiny….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-visa"],"yoast_head":"\n