Thread by @cldesira, Thread: The @ukhomeoffice published further details on the ‘UK’s [2021] Points-Based Immigration [...]

Thread: The @ukhomeoffice published further details on the ‘UK’s [2021] Points-Based Immigration System’ today ( https://bit.ly/32kiJxU ). There’s been a few excellent threads on this today, here’s my take:

It’s worth saying at the outset the document sets out the ‘economic’ migration system for 2021.

As such, it lacks compassion, rights, and policies for families.

It’s about jobs, economic worth, and security.

It’s silent on extortionate nationality fees for children, the complexities of EU Settlement Scheme, and those who have no immigration status.

It does not deal with the unfair and cruel detention practices or safe migration routes for asylum seekers. Nor does it deal with the rigid and inhumane rules for family reunification, including the inability to care for ones elderly relatives who are locked out of the UK.

So, as it’s all about the money let’s get down to it.

There’s not going to be wholesale changes, the current Points Based System will be improved, which is a sensible approach with only 6 months to go before ‘not our Brexit’ kicks in. https://giphy.com/gifs/8vXmp5ekKxRbGeWPQP

Nothing changes for Irish citizens.

Some weird phrasing here. All applicants for an immigration status will receive written confirmation, with EU citizens being provided the ‘additional’ service of a secure digital status.

We have further emphasis that EU citizens will NOT get a physical identifier.

We’re doubling down on the ‘right to work’ checks for employers. It’s rife with problems and errors, and many have experienced employment problems when employers are told the wrong info by the Home Office. A job loss and several weeks later, the person might get compensated.

It works so well, they will be replicating it for landlords. So there will be a separate system for right to rent checks to be undertaken by landlords. As @JCWI_UK pointed out, landlord checks are rife with discrimination mostly against BME individuals.

From 01/2021 EU citizens will not need to enrol biometrics, but will be required to provide facial images using a mobile self-enrolment app similar to the EU Exit: ID Document Check App. It won’t work for all, those people will need to attend a visa centre appointment.

For businesses, the Immigration Skill Charge levied on employers is here to stay. This is:

- £1,000 per employee, per year

- for small/charitable orgs it's £364 per employee, per year

This extends to ‘new’ EU/EEA/Swiss citizens from 01/2021.

The Immigration Health Surcharge is also here to stay. NHS and social care workers, and wider health workers, may be exempt from it or receive refunds.

Love this bit: ‘…first step towards reducing the burdens on employers…’ (after ending free movement and increasing the administrative, cost, and enforcement burden on employers) is...removing the limit on the number of skilled workers that can enter the UK.

This change is advertised as a cost cutting measure for employers, reducing employment practices for up to 4 weeks. You couldn’t make this stuff up.

Some rebranding. The Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Licence will be replaced (automatically for those already holding licences) with a new ‘Skilled Worker Licence’ and a ‘Intra-Company Transfer Licence’. Missed a trick leaving out ‘EU Exit’ from the title.

The Home Office continues to be big on integration. Not by learning from the Windrush Scandal; allowing families to reunify; abolishing the minimum income threshold, the hostile environment, or detention. But by requiring everyone speaks English. I guess that’s alright then.

Don’t worry about people who cannot access benefits due to immigration restrictions; children of families who are ripped apart; or exploitation. Integration is solely about speaking English to a required level.

This is something the Home Office told us privately months ago - they intend the shortfall in the job market caused by Brexit to be "plugged by families of migrants who largely don’t work" and by "up-skilling British citizens”.

It’s silent on whether switching from a work to a family visa will be possible from within the UK. It talks of allowing switching to ‘support employers in retaining the talented staff’ so my guess is it won’t be possible. So, you know, don’t fall in love, have children…

As we already knew, the employer must hold a HO sponsor licence to offer a job at RQF3 (A-level) level. To qualify a person needs 50 points from the general requirements, speak English, and then score an additional 20 points via the salary level, job type or by possessing a PhD.

Points means prizes.

So, if it’s not a job in shortage occupation or the worker does not have a PhD, then the minimum starting salary for the job must be £25,600.

In the weird and wonderful world of Home Office logic, the employer can offer lower salaries (a minimum of £20,480) to workers who have the highest qualifications (PhD level).

Baffling supply and demand economists, if the job is a shortage occupation (a specified job that attracts very few applicants in the UK) then they can offer the lower salary of £20,480.

Some tables for fun. This one shows how a person being offered a lower salary can still apply for a work visa because the job is in shortage occupation.

This one shows how a person offered a lower salary can ‘trade points’ if the hold, as you do, a PhD.

The table illustrate the hurdles that employers and employees will need to overcome in order to participate in the job market. This paper talks of simplifying the process, but it’s immensely complex and expensive. And now every UK employer will need to go through it.

It is no surprise that the risk of discriminatory employment practices will increase. Small employers, or those not minded to go through all this, might prioritise British citizens (or those who can easily evidence their immigration status) when offering jobs.

Accepting that health and education public service occupations are extremely underpaid, the minimum salary level for these jobs will be set at £20,480. They will not need to ‘trade points’ to take advantage of this lower salary threshold.

Doubling down on this point, the Home Office conceded that public service occupations provides the lowest economic contribution of all UK jobs(!).

Every time someone wants to make a career move or an employer wants to adapt a business, a new immigration application must be made and paid for. I guess this is part of the ‘flexible, understanding’ approach they were talking about.

The 'Government welcomes the vital contributions which doctors, nurses and other health professionals make to the NHS and wider care sector' by confirming that:

- Care workers, assistants
- Support workers
- Home carers

Are not included and cannot come to the UK to work.

With hints of the British Empire feel to this next bit. They want to ‘attract the very best and brightest talent from around the world’ via a Global Talent Route. Those who are endorsed by these bodies will have a flexible visa to give them more freedom to live their lives.

One for the ERG here - the Home Office wants to increase the number of International students coming to the UK. So much for Brexit ‘reducing migration to the 10,000s' by Brexiting.

Students will be able to come to the UK 6 months before their course commences. The student route will be tweaked to make it more flexible and easier, so we can get that level if inward migration back to the 100,000s in no time at all.

We next go Back to the Future with ‘Graduate Route’ in summer 2021. This will allow students to stay to work or look for work after they graduate. It’s reintroduction to the immigration system is a nod to the fact that the job market will be decimated by Covid-19 and Brexit.

The Visit route will remain unchanged, though the Home Office will consult on simplifications and improvements. It allows for some business activities but will not counteract the shortfall made by the loss of free movement despite what the Home Office says.

Many be locked out of the UK based on the activity they will want to undertake - short term employment, lower-paid employment, work experience, internships, those whose salaries are topped up by university or governments, funding recipients, Erasmus, will mostly not be possible.

The ominous Mad Max style ‘Border of the Future’ section ends the paper with talks of ‘protecting the public’, ‘improving security’, the passage of ‘legitimate travellers’, and ‘keeping away threats’, like there’s an army ready to invade.

It does talk of an Electronic Travel Authorisation by 2025. For anyone who’s travelled to the USA, this is a pre-authorisation online form required to be completed in order to refuse entry to reformed offenders.

The Home Office re-confirms EU citizens not protected by the Withdrawal Agreement will no longer be able to use National ID documents as travel documents ‘during 2021’. This might affect those who have a status under the EU. Settlement Scheme if also not protected under the WA.

So there we have it. If you desire an inflexible immigration system all about money, check boxes, and economic benefit, then this is the one for you.

If you desire a system that balances families, humanity, rights and what’s right, then we’ve got a fight on our hands.

END

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