Changes to immigration rules explained

NHS Employers has updated its Tier 2 immigration route questions and answers page in advance of changes to immigration rules from April 2017.

The main changes that employers need to be aware of are:

• increased salary thresholds for Tier 2 applications to £30,000
• nursing, medical radiographers and paramedics are exempt from salary threshold increases until July 2019
• the introduction of the Immigration Skills Charge - this is £1,000 per year of the sponsorship and is to be paid upfront
• changes to criminal record checks for all Tier 2 applicants.

Immigration Removal Centres need to focus on detainees' mental health and wellbeing

People detained in Immigration Removal Centres in England face challenges to their mental health and need support for their wellbeing, according to a report published today by Centre for Mental Health.

Immigration Removal Centres in England: A mental health needs analysis was commissioned by NHS England. The Centre conducted interviews with staff and detainees and observations at ten IRCs which between them held 30,000 people in the year to March 2016.

Improving mental health services in immigration detention: action plan

This is a joint action plan between the Department of Health, NHS England and Home Office on improving mental health services in immigration detention.

It considers the provision of mental health services and wider welfare issues for vulnerable adults in immigration removal centres and residential short term holding facilities in England.

Tier 2 immigration route changes announced

The Home Office has confirmed the first stage of changes to the Tier 2 (general) immigration route.

The changes will take effect from 24 November 2016 and include:

• an increase to the minimum salary threshold from £20,800 to £25,000 (nurses, paramedics and medical radiographers are exempt from salary threshold increases until 2019)
• a requirement for employers to carry out a resident labour market test (RLMT) for nursing vacancies (although nursing will remain on the shortage occupation list, from 24 November the RLMT must have been carried out before a nurse is assigned a certificate of sponsorship).

Further changes to the Tier 2 (general) route are anticipated to take effect in April 2017, including a further increase to the minimum salary threshold from £25,000 to £30,000 and the introduction of an immigration skills charge of £1,000 per year for every person sponsored.

Upcoming changes to Tier 2 immigration

The first stage of changes the government is making to the Tier 2 points-based immigration route are due to take effect in Autumn 2016. The second stage of changes will take effect from April 2017.

The key stage one changes are:

• an increase in salary thresholds from £20,8000 to £25,000 for experienced workers
• the introduction of a new separate salary threshold group for new entrants into Tier 2
• nursing will remain on the shortage occupation list (SoL) but from the Autumn, a Resident Labour Market Test must be carried out when recruiting nurses from outside of the European Economic Area.

English language requirements for public sector workers published

The Immigration Act 2016 creates a duty for employers to ensure that all public sector staff working in customer-facing roles speak English to an appropriate standard. The government has published an early draft of the code of practice, ahead of the requirements coming into force in October 2016 to help employers meet their obligations.