The UK’s “historic” new strategy for visas and immigration, which is pitched as a points-based system established on skills rather than the country of origin, returned to the House of Commons on Monday.
The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2020, which was tabled in March but had its progress slowed down due to the coronavirus crisis, forms the basis for the UK’s post-Brexit plans once the European Union (EU) free movement rules come to a close at the end of the year.
“This historic piece of legislation gives the UK full control of our immigration system for the first time in decades and the power to determine who comes to this country,” said UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is leading the charge on the new strategy.
“Our new points-based system is firmer, fairer, and simpler. It will attract the people we need to drive our economy forward and lay the foundation for a high wage, high skill, high productivity economy,” the Indian-origin minister said.
Under the new system, to be enforced from January 1 next year, the magic number of points required to apply to work and stay in the UK will be 70. These will accrue in increments of 20 or 10 based on professional skills, English language proficiency, a job offer from an approved sponsor and salary levels between GBP 20,480 and GBP 25,600 or above.