New UKBA Policies
There will be an “interim limit” on some immigration categories from 19 July 2010 until 11 April 2011. From 11 April 2011 there will be a “long-term” limit.
Tier 1 Interim Limit
Entry clearance Tier 1 General applications will be affected by the interim limit, but not in-country Tier 1 General applications (either applications to extend existing Tier 1 General leave or applications to switch into Tier 1 General from other categories). Tier 1 Post-Study Work, Tier 1 Entrepreneur and Tier 1 Investor applications will not be affected by the interim limit at all.
Under the interim limit period only a certain number of entry clearance Tier 1 General applications will be considered per month. Once the limit has been reached no more applications will be considered until the next month starts. Applications will be strictly queued on a date of application basis.
In addition, the required number of points for Tier 1 General will rise from 95 to 100 for entry clearance applications and for some in-country applications (ie unless the applicant holds leave as Tier 1 General, HSMP, Writer/Composer/Artist or Self-Employed Lawyer).
Tier 2 Interim Limit
Under the interim limit, the number of certificates of sponsorship that an employer can issue will be limited. Entry clearance/leave to remain applications made by employees who hold certificates of sponsorship will continue to be processed as normal. It appears that the limiting of certificates of sponsorship may be confined to limiting the issue of new certificates.
