Migration Advisory Committee reviews immigration to the UK for Highly Skilled Migrants

4 December 2009- The UK Govt requested that MAC consider whether the criteria for Tier 1 applications should be changed in 2010 in light of the current Economic situation. The report published states that the Tier 1 is operating well but also recommends the following changes:

• the salary multipliers for each country code needs to be changed
• migrant's with Bachelor degree's but no Master degree's should be allowed to come into the UK if their previous earnings are high enough
• professional qualifications should be considered as equal to masters (in say law or accounting).
• the pay threshold should be increased to 24,000 GBP
• Migrants with 150,000 GMP or over should not need the qualification requirements
• Applicants should receive points for their age if they are under 39
  
• the period of leave initially granted should be changed to two years and not three
• Post study work visa should be assessed and check if every field should be included in this category of Tier 1
  

Changes for Sponsors under the PBS

As spoken about in the past, it has now become official, the changes for becoming a sponsor have been divided into two categories:Tier 2 + 5 sponsors, and Tier 4 sponsors.

For a full list of all changes you can check out there site over here.

On the other hand the British Government realizes the possible constraints the new maintenance rules could have on students currently in the UK and as such has granted them an extension until February 2010.  All students wishing to renew their visa from within the UK will only need to show maintenance the day of their application, however they must still supply all relevant documentation.