UNITED KINGDOM – Statement of Changes, July 2023

July 18, 2023


The Home Office published changes to the UK Immigration Rules (Statement of Changes) on July 2023 affecting students, skilled workers, and Ukrainian refugees.

Student Visa Holders

Effective 17 July 2023: International Students are no longer permitted to bring dependants to the UK, unless the Student is applying on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes.

In addition, international Students are no longer permitted to switch out of the student route into a sponsored work route before their studies have been completed.

These changes preserve the ability for dependants already present in the UK to extend their leave; and for Students that decide to undertake a postgraduate course which includes a research component and foreign students that enrol in a postgraduate course that begins before 01 January 2024 are also exempt from the suspension and can apply for their dependants to come to the UK.

Appendix Skilled Worker

Effective 17 July 2023:  To enable a student to switch into a Skilled Worker the following three conditions must be met on the date of the application:

  • The applicant must have completed the course of student for which the CAS letter was assigned; OR
  • the applicant must be studying a full-time course of study at degree level with a higher education provider which has a track record of compliance and the certificate of sponsorship start date must not be earlier than the course completion date; OR
  • the applicant must be studying a full-time course of study leading to the award of PhD with a higher education provider which has a track record of compliance and the certificate of sponsorship start date must not be earlier than 24 months after the start date of the course.

Effective 07 August 2023:

The following Standard Occupational Codes will be added to the Shortage Occupation List:

  • 5312 Bricklayers and masons
  • 5313 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters
  • 5315 Carpenters and joiners
  • 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified
  • 5321 Plasterers
  • 5119 Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified
  • 9119 Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified

The Shortage Occupation List offers lower salary requirements and lower UKVI visa application fees for individuals who qualify.

 

Effective 07 August 2023:

The main applicant, if they have dependant family members applying, must show that the relationship meets the relationship requirements as specified in Appendix Relationship with Partner.

 

Ukraine Extension Scheme:

The Ukraine Extension Scheme has been extended to 16 May 2024.  The deadline is intended to encourage individuals to apply for leave to ensure they remain lawful within the UK.

EUSS Scheme:

Effective September 2023:

Those with pre-settled status will automatically have their leave extended by the Home Office by two years, by way of digital status, before it expires if they have not yet obtained settled status.  Individuals should be notified directly and this will ensure that they will not lose their UK Immigration Status if they do not apply for settled status.

Furthermore, the Home Office intends to automatically switch those from pre-settled status to settled status once they are eligible without individuals having to make a settled status application.

If you have any compliance queries on the above or which are more nuanced please contact us directly on [email protected]  For general advice and information on immigration and business travel to the UK, please contact us.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.