The UK Border Agency has announced significant changes to the Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) criteria. These will take effect from 06 April 2011.
The requirements will include;
Criminal records check
The applicant must have no unspent criminal convictions at the time of application.
Minimum income requirement
All Tier 1 (General), Tier 2 (General) and Work Permit holders will need to meet a minimum income requirement;
This means that Tier 1 (General) migrants must meet the same salary criteria as when their last application was made. Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer) and Work Permit holders, must be paid the correct income in line with the specified code of practice.
English language requirement
Migrants on Tier 1, Tier 2 and the newly proposed categories can only pass the English language requirement by taking the Life in the UK Test. The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course will no longer apply.
Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) routes will be eligible for a quicker route to settlement (see Tier 1 news).
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