Requirement of Masters Degree to be dropped from UK’s Tier 1 General Visa
by Guneet S - December 10, 2009
United Kingdom, December 10: Three cheers for aspirants of Tier 1 General Migrant Visa to UK. This is because the UK government has decided to drop the requirement of a Masters Degree from highly skilled workers applying for UK visa to seek jobs.
The decision, which is a big and a welcome relief for thousands of aspiring immigrants to UK, was taken after the restrictions imposed eight months ago on 1st April 2009 were found to be a hurdle in recruiting the best talent from around the world.
Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary of UK in April 2009 had recommended for making requirement of a Masters Degree compulsory from all seeking Tier 1 General Migrant Visa. This meant excluding of all candidates possessing a Bachelor’s degree from applying for such visa. However, this move resulted in exclusion of nearly thousands of migrants from the category of highly skilled workers.
The harsh measures were being considered as a hindrance for UK’s access to the brightest talent especially after the severe economic crisis in the country.
David Metcalf, Head of the Migration Advisory Committee, stated that as per the new move, all those possessing a bachelor’s degree will be eligible to seek employment in UK. “We’ve restored what Jacqui Smith took away last April, it was too blunt. The businesses I spoke to were all very, very concerned about this change,” Metcalf asserted.
Meanwhile, the Migration Advisory Committee has called for a raise in the level of earnings earned by the migrants before getting a nod for the Tier 1 visa.
So, now, the migrants holding a bachelor’s degree applying for such visa must show earnings of £75,000 before gaining entry to the UK. However, those possessing a Master’s degree will need to show earnings of £65,000. Migrants possessing a PhD will be required to show earnings of £50,000.
And a relief for those who don not possess even a bachelor’s degree because the new rules help you to gain entry to UK if you can show earnings of £150,000 or more since it was argued by several companies that many businesses do not attend any university.
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