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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Under changes to Immigration Rules, the annual quota for Tier 2 (General) visas will remain at 20,700, but the monthly quota distributions will change.
What does the change mean? The redistribution allows for higher quotas from April through September, with the aim of accommodating the peak graduate summer hiring season. Any unused slots will be eligible to carry over into the following month. However, projected hiring rates indicate that they are more likely to be used when they are allocated rather than carried over.
Background: Currently, the annual allocation of Tier 2 Restricted Certificates of Sponsorship is divided equally each month. When one month’s allocation is fully used, applications are carried over to the next month. Under the new rules, the following Tier 2 (General) allocations will apply:
BAL Analysis: The change in Tier 2 allocations will better accommodate the surge of applications in the summer, when employers onboard large numbers of new graduates, but it will also mean that the quota numbers are front-loaded and fewer will be available toward the end of the fiscal year. Given that allocation is prioritized according to salary, sectors that recruit higher earners will continue to be protected more than those that provide lower salaries.
Please note that further revisions to the Tier 2 routes are expected in upcoming Immigration Rule changes in response to recent recommendations by the Migration Advisory Committee. BAL will advise clients of these changes as soon as they are published.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please contact uk@bal.com.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
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