New Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

Last night the Home Office published a new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules that are effective from today.

The most significant change is that those with leave as a Tier 4 (General) migrant will no longer be able to switch into the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route in-country, any application would have to be for entry clearance from outside of the UK.

The statement of changes to the Immigration Rules also removes all tests provided by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), and specific tests provided by Cambridge English and Trinity College London from the list of approved English tests.

The changes add a new 12 month ‘mathematics teacher exchange' route to the Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) scheme between England and China.

The new statement of changes also contains amendments to private and family life in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, that the public interest under Article 8 requires, controlling immigration to safeguard the UK’s economic well-being and in respect of preventing disorder or crime.