New Changes In UK Immigration Rules July 2023
On 17 July 2023, the Home Office published new changes in UK immigration rules known as statement of changes regarding student visa and skilled worker visa and their dependants.
In this guide, we will highlight the major new changes in UK immigration rules:
Contents
Changes to Appendix Student (Student visas & Dependants)
The following changes will take effect at 1500 on 17 July 2023, Any other applications made before 17 July 2023, will be decided in accordance with the Immigration Rules in force on 16 July 2023.
The changes relating to the Student route, and consequential changes to work routes in this statement, will come into effect at 1500 on 17 July 2023, and therefore depart from the usual convention that changes to the Immigration Rules come into force no earlier than 21 days after their being laid in Parliament.
The Government considers this departure from that convention to be necessary and proportionate. The changes were announced in Parliament and widely reported on 23 May 2023 and there has therefore already been sufficient notice that the changes are taking place. Furthermore, the Government wishes to reduce the possibility of a large number of applications for dependants and switching being made in the 21 days usually available between Immigration Rules changes being laid and coming into force. The changes in relation to dependants will only apply to those students starting courses from 1 January 2024, so there will be no effect on those students making applications relating to courses starting in autumn 2023.
To bring a dependant for students starting their courses on or after 01 January 2024, the University needs to confirm the course is a PhD or other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree.
Changes to skilled worker visa (switching from student visa to skilled worker visa)
The following changes regarding skilled worker visa will take effect at 1500 on 17 July 2023, Any other applications made before 17 July 2023, will be decided in accordance with the Immigration Rules in force on 16 July 2023.
To switch from a student visa to a skilled worker visa, you must meet one of the following conditions A, B or C on the date of application:
Condition A: the applicant must have completed the course of student for which the CAS letter was assigned; OR
Condition B: 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
Condition C: the applicant must be studying a full-time course of study 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.
EUSS Route Closures
Route closures – to close the EUSS on 8 August 2023 to new applications under two routes not covered by the Agreements: family member of a qualifying British citizen (on their return to the UK having exercised free movement rights in the EEA or Switzerland, known as ‘Surinder Singh’ cases) and primary carer of a British citizen (known as ‘Zambrano’ cases).
The routes will remain open to those who are already on them (or with a pending application, administrative review or appeal) or who have pending access to them via a relevant EUSS family permit.
Deadline for Ukrainian applications
Under new changes in UK immigration rules, the Home Office has extended the deadline for the Ukraine Extension Scheme to 16 May 2024.
You can click here to read full changes of statement.
