The Home Office released its most recent “Statement of Changes” on 18 October 2022. Whilst there are no major, over-arching changes being introduced, as we have seen in previous versions of the statement, there are still a number of announcements that will be of interest and significance to those individuals it applies to.

Here is a summary of some of the announcements:

• A new deadline of 16 November 2023 has been announced for applications to the Ukrainian Extension Scheme. The Scheme enables those who have held permission to enter or stay in the U.K. after 1 January 2022 to extend their permission to stay by obtaining an additional 36-month permission. The scheme will also remain available to those granted the same permissions between the present date and 16 May 2023.
• Permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand will be able to qualify under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) – Service supplier route, this will enable them to provide services covered by the U.K.’s free trade agreement with those countries.
• Australian nationals and permanent residents will be able to remain in the U.K. for up to 12 months at a time.
• The Majority English Speaking Country list has been updated to include British Overseas Territories.
• Citizens of Colombia, Guyana and Peru will now be made non-visa nationals. They will no longer be required to obtain a visit visa before travelling to the U.K., an assessment will only be made on arrival at the point of entry.
• The police registration requirement as created by Section 3(1)(c)(iii) of the Immigration Act 1971 will cease to be in effect. The requirement creates a duplicity in the information being collected as the same information is collected by the Home Office at the visa application stage.
• The GBM: Seasonal Worker route is being expanded to include roles in the poultry production sector for the period between 18 October to 31 December each year. Specific salary requirements will be introduced for these roles, to ensure the roles would qualify for the Skilled Worker route.
• Midwifery students studying degree level equivalent courses overseas will be able to come to the U.K. as visitors and undertake electives at U.K. higher education institutions, provided the role is unpaid and involves no treatment of patients.
• Global Talent route: applicants will now be able to provide letters of support from organisations or individuals who have directly worked with them and can comment on their skills through first-hand experience rather than via reputation.
• Individuals in the U.K. as Standard Visitors and through the Permitted Paid Engagements routes will no longer be able to switch into the Creative Worker route as this is incompatible with the requirements of the Visitor route.

The information in this summary is not intended to act as legal advice. We recommend that individuals seek legal counsel if they intend to utilise this information.