UK MAKES IMMIGRATION CHANGES

The full statement weighs in at 111 pages. This is a best stab at a brief summary of what’s going on…

• The UK government has announced that migrants will now need to pass an English test at A-Level standard before being granted certain types of visas.
• The test will assess speaking, listening, reading, and writing and must be taken through an approved Home Office testing centre.
• This is a significant increase from the current B1/B2 requirement used for most visa routes such as Skilled Worker or Student visas.

Other related changes include:
• Post-study work visas will be cut from 2 years to 18 months (from January 2027).
• The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) for sponsoring employers will rise by 32%, possibly discouraging some companies from hiring overseas workers.
• The student visa financial threshold will increase, requiring proof of higher savings.
• The High Potential Individual route will expand to 8,000 slots a year but remain capped.

Nationals of Botswana will now need a visa to enter the UK.