The UK Government is shaking things up with new immigration rules: now, migrants wanting to work in the UK will need A-level standard English skills. As part of a broader strategy to tighten migration controls, those applying for certain visas will need advanced abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The aim is to boost integration and ensure immigrants can contribute effectively to British life.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is backing this move, emphasising that learning the language is essential for playing a part in national life. However, not everyone agrees. Critics argue this change might not actually aid integration but instead foster misconceptions about migrants’ existing language skills.
Besides the language requirements, changes are coming for international students too. They’ll now have 18 months instead of two years to land a job in the UK post-graduation, and they’ll need to show more financial resources when applying. On a brighter note, the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa will expand, opening doors for more global grads, and the Global Talent Route will be extended.
On the business front, employing overseas talent will get pricier due to a hike in the immigration skills charge for employers. But the government hopes these changes will cut down annual arrivals by up to 100,000 and reduce reliance on foreign labour. What are your thoughts on these new rules? Let’s talk!