UK’s New Immigration System

Why in News?

The United Kingdom’s (UK’s) has launched the new points-based immigration system which will become effective from January 1, 2021

What is this new immigration system?

• This points-based system intends to change the way migrants will come to the UK to visit, work, study, or join their family.
• It will end free movement between the UK and European Union (EU).
• This system will now treat EU citizens at par with non-EU citizens whoalready follow a points-based system to migrate to UK.

• [Before the Brexit, EU citizens had unrestricted rights to stay in the UK and work under the EUSettlement Scheme (EUSS).]
• The implementation of this system doesn’t change the status of those EU citizens already in the UK as per EUSS and those whose status under EUSS is settled.

How will this new immigration system work?

• Points will be assigned for specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions and visas will be awarded to those who have enough points.
• Both EU and non-EU citizens will need to demonstrate that they have a job offer from an approved sponsor which should be at the required level and that they speak English.
• As per the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommendations, salary thresholds have been established.
• The following characteristics are absolutely required to be eligible for visa i.e. not tradeable,
  1. Offer of job by approved sponsor,
  2. Job at appropriate skill level,
  3. Speaks English at required level.
• Further, a total of 70 points are required to be eligible to apply, with some tradeable characteristics of the system.

Who are the other people who can gain points?

• Students will also be able to gain points if they can demonstrate that they have an offer from an approved educational institution.
• They should speak English and are able to support themselves during their studies in there.
• Additionally, a small number of some of the most highly-skilled workers may be able to come to the UK without a job offer, but the details of how this work out haven’t been specified yet.
• MAC’s current list of shortage jobs included civil engineers, medical practitioners, classical ballet dancers and psychologists.
• Even so, there will be no routes for lower-skilled workers, since the government wants the country to not rely on cheap labour from Europe.

What is the need for such a system?

• The system will end the reliance on cheap, low-skilled labour coming into the country.
• It will reduce the overall levels of migration and a better experience for those coming into the UK, attracting high-skilled workers.
• The system will work in the interests of the whole of the UK and prioritises the skills a person has to offer, not where they come from.

Source: Indian Express