[Editor]

A series of changes to visa applications for the UK will come into effect next month for skilled workers, students and temporary workers. The Tier 1 (Post-study work) route will cease to exist and be replaced by the new Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur) route. There will also be new provisions for switching from Tier 1 [...]

Click to read the full news article: UK visa application changes kick in next month...
Please come back to discuss the story here in this thread.

 

[manny.j]

Very helpful information editor, thank you for sharing this

I believe it would be also helpful for many on this forum if a comment was made regarding changes in Family/ Spouse visa.

This how I understand is not changing from April 2012. According to the recently published immigration documents on the Home-Office website, the UK Govt is still considering what changes they would like to introduce in Family visa, information of which will be published by them sometime this year (no specific date provided by them).

 

[Joppa]

The immigration minister said last month that changes to family migration route are under consideration and will be announced 'in the next few months', so I'm looking towards publication sometime before the summer, for implementation possibly from October. But this can easily change.

 

[Joppa]

The immigration minister said last month that changes to family migration route are under consideration and will be announced 'in the next few months', so I'm looking towards publication sometime before the summer, for implementation possibly from October. But this can easily change.

For example, the abolition of Tier 1 Post-study work visa was announced nearly a year ago but only comes into effect from next month, so a longer lead-in time for family migration is entirely possible.

 

[newlight1]

The immigration minister said last month that changes to family migration route are under consideration and will be announced 'in the next few months', so I'm looking towards publication sometime before the summer, for implementation possibly from October. But this can easily change.

For example, the abolition of Tier 1 Post-study work visa was announced nearly a year ago but only comes into effect from next month, so a longer lead-in time for family migration is entirely possible.

Just pickign up your points here, what is a Lead-In time?

I know you said possibly Oct 2012 the new changes to the Spouse/Fiance Visa will come into effect. So if they announce changes to the Spouse/Fiance visa for instance this month April they may not come into effect for a year? Is there a legal time limit from the point that they announce the changes for them to be implemented?

Do you know anything about this proposed change to say a Couple must have known eachother for 1 year before applying for a fiance visa?

 

[Joppa]

Just pickign up your points here, what is a Lead-In time?

Time between announcement and implementation.

I know you said possibly Oct 2012 the new changes to the Spouse/Fiance Visa will come into effect. So if they announce changes to the Spouse/Fiance visa for instance this month April they may not come into effect for a year? Is there a legal time limit from the point that they announce the changes for them to be implemented?

As I said, my guess was pure speculation. They can do what they want. Announce tomorrow and implement from the day after, for example. There is no legal requirement about how much notice they have to give. Remember how some Budget changes were implemented from the midnight, barely 10 hours after announcement. Change in immigration rules doesn't need parliamentary debate or approval. The government only need to lay it on the table and it takes effect from whichever date they choose.

Do you know anything about this proposed change to say a Couple must have known eachother for 1 year before applying for a fiance visa?

You guess is as good as mine. We just have to wait and see.