as the UK gives the rest of the world a bold two fingers...

[winterbadger]

I was so focused on Tier 4 (student) visa issues that I hadn't followed the late 2010 developments in Tier 1 (skilled migrant) visas.

In November it was announced that Tier 1 General visa (the replacement for the old Highly Skilled Migrant Program) is being closed. From now on, Tier 1 will ONLY be open to those with large amounts of money ("entrepreneurs" and "investors") and those "who have won international recognition in scientific and cultural fields, or who show sufficient exceptional promise to be awarded such recognition in the future". Additional restrictions are being place on the Tier 2 (work permit) route and on settlement.

Before, my only chance for settlement was getting a post-study work visa and then somehow changing to Tier 1, in the unlikely even I earned enough after two years. That possibility is now closed, which makes me feel better about my choice; there is now no possibility that I could stay longer.

The drawbridge is cranking up even faster...

ETA: Looks like they are laying the ground work to close off PSW visas too... My congratulations to those of my non-UK friends who have managed to gain residency--you may be the last of a dying breed.

Comments

[ariedana.livejournal.com]

Actually, that Tier 1 change was ruled unlawful by the High Court.

http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/uk-immigration/breaking-news-uk-immigration-immigration-cap-declared-unlawful-by-the-high-court/

They haven't made any changes yet and they could appeal the ruling, but it looks like the permanent cap in April might be dropped.

[winterbadger]

It may have been ruled unlawful, but UK Borders Agency ceased to accept applications from 23 December.

"It’s important to notice that the High Court has not ruled unlawful per se the nature of cap on Tier 1 and Tier 2 entry clearance applications, but rather the way in which the Home Office has rushed the policy with utter disregard for the proper parliamentary procedures."

So they implement the new rules with full panoply. There doesn't appear to me to be a shred of confidence in that columnist's analysis.

[reasdream.livejournal.com]

So... my plan to go get my PhD in Scotland should the US school not want me may be in danger? Well, bollocks to them. I'll just come study for three months at a time, the wankers.

[winterbadger]

Well, they will probably be very happy to have you for the period of your PhD studies. But they will not want you to plan on staying on for very long afterwards.

Until or unless Scotland manages to get devolved immigration authority, at which point I would expect things to change; they are constantly losing educated citizens to the rest of the UK. But with the current government, I wouldn't expect that to happen soon, short of a move to complete separation. *That* wasn't likely several years ago; with the new Tory government, it may become more likely...