DHAKA: On 6 September the UK government announced changes to the immigration rules that will benefit businesses, international students and skilled workers.

The changes to the business visitor route will allow employees to undertake corporate training in the UK where it is delivered by an external company.  Global organisations will be able to bring their own auditors to the UK on a business visitor visa, making it easier for them to complete international audits and business visitors will be able to do a short course of study while they are here.

The changes will also make the UK more attractive to international students by allowing them to take up corporate internships after completing their degree and making it easier for graduate entrepreneurs to take up skilled jobs.

Immigration Minister Mark Harper said, “The UK is open for business: we are building an immigration system that works in the national interest and supports growth.  Today’s changes will ensure that the UK continues to attract global talent to work for British businesses and study at the UK’s world-class universities.  Immigration reform is working; we have tightened immigration routes where abuse was rife, while still encouraging the brightest and the best to come to the UK.”

Commenting on the announcement, British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson said, “I welcome the flexibility that this will introduce for Bangladeshi businessmen and students.  Together with other changes and recent improvements to our visa service, it shows how we value visitors to the UK and appreciate the contribution they can make.”

Individuals on graduate entrepreneur visas will be able to switch to a skilled workers visa more easily under the new rules, ensuring that the best global talent is able to stay in the UK to work.  They will be able to switch visas for a job with a “new entrant” salary and the sponsor won’t have to complete a Resident Labour Market Test.

Colleges and UK tourism will benefit from changes to the general visit visa, which will enable tourists to complete courses, including leisure and English courses.  It will mean those coming to the UK primarily to visit family or for tourism won’t have to apply for a student visitor visa to take a short course, for instance in activities like sailing or horse riding.

Individuals on Graduate Entrepreneur visas will be able to switch to a skilled workers visa more easily under the new rules, ensuring that the best global talent is able to stay in the UK to work.  They will be able to switch visas for a job with a “new entrant” salary and the sponsor won’t have to complete a Resident Labour Market Test.
Minor changes have also been made to the Family Rules.  The changes will benefit UK citizens applying to bring their non EEA spouses and children to the UK as they will be given greater flexibility in how they meet and evidence the financial threshold.

The changes will include:
•    Allowing electronic bank statements to be submitted for all bank accounts, not just online bank accounts.
•    Investment-based cash savings held in a bank/savings account will be able to be used to meet the financial requirement, as well as savings in a deposit account.

•    Cash savings will be able to include the net proceeds from a property sale, within the 6 month period prior to application.  Savings must be evidenced and the property owned by the applicant and/or their partner.

BDST: 1808 HRS, SEP 10, 2013
AKA/RK