The changes were made as part of the UK government’s efforts to reduce the rate of immigration into Britain.
Some press reports have noted that the new rules will make it more difficult for recent British immigrants to bring dependent relatives, such as elderly parents, to live with them, even if they have been granted citizenship.
In an explanation of the new rules on its website, the UK Border Agency notes that the changes include “non-substantive changes to all PBS tiers” – that is, the five categories of immigrants and would-be immigrants, based on their skill level, assets and reasons for seeking entry to the UK. (“Tier 1” includes entrepreneurs, investors and “exceptionally talented” individuals, for example, while “Tier 5” is for sponsored temporary workers and young people.)
The new rules also establish “a more robust and clear criminality framework against which immigration applications will be assessed”, and clarify the permissible time periods during which those in their continuous residence period, ahead of being allowed to settle in the UK, may be out of the country.
To view the UK Border Agency’s explanation of its new rules, click here.
