Tier 1 General closed to new entry-clearance applications

Policy effect

From December 23, 2010, Tier 1 General closed to new applications for entry clearance. Applications submitted before that date were decided under the rules in force on December 22. The category remained open to eligible applicants already in the UK applying for leave to remain.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Applications submitted before that date were decided under the rules in force on December 22.; The category remained open to eligible applicants already in the UK applying for leave to remain.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… ip to Sponsors under the Tier 2 Interim Limit as set out in the Addendum to the “Policy Guidance for Tier 2 and Tier 5 Sponsors”. 2. Delete paragraph 245B and substitute: “245B. Entry to the UK DELETED” 3. In paragraph 245C delete: “245C. Requirements for entry clearance or leave to remain To qualify for entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 1 (General) Migrant, an applicant must meet the requirements listed below. If the applicant meets these requirements, entry clearance or leave to remain will be granted. If the applicant does not meet these requirements, the application will be refu … sed. If the application would be refused only by reason of failing to meet the requirement in paragraph (aa) below, it will be reallocated to the next relevant grant allocation period for consideration. (aa) The grant allocation relating to the Tier 1 (General) Migrant route would not be exceeded by granting the application for entry clearance or leave to enter in the relevant grant allocation period. and substitute: “245C. Requirements for leave to remain To qualify for leave to remain as a Tier 1 (General) Migrant, an applicant must meet the requirements listed below. If the applicant meets … these requirements, leave to remain will be granted. If the applicant does not meet these requirements, the application will be refused.” 4. In paragraph 245C(b) delete “if applying for leave to remain, ”. 5. In paragraph 245C(c)(i) delete “is applying for leave to remain and ”. 6. Delete paragraph 245D(a) and substitute: “(a) DELETED” 3 7. In paragraph 245D(d), delete “Entry clearance and leave to remain” and substitute “Leave to remain”. 8. In Appendix A, paragraph 1, delete “entry clearance or”. 9. In Appendix A, paragraph 1(i), delete “is applying for leave to remain and ”. 10. In Appendix … ystem 7.2 Tier 1 of the Points-Based System caters for highly skilled workers, and was launched on 29 February 2008. Tier 1 consists of four categories: Tier 1 (General), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Post-Study Work). 7.3 These changes close the Tier 1 (General) category to all applicants for entry clearance. The Tier 1 (General) category will remain open to applicants who are already in the UK and are applying for leave to remain. 7.4 The reasons for making these changes are set out in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.12 above. Amendments to Tier 2 of the Points Based System 7.5 Ti … rch 2008 (HC 420), 9 June 2008 (HC 607), 10 July 2008 (HC 951), 15 July 2008 (HC 971), 4 November 2008 (HC 1113), 9 February 2009 (HC 227), 9 March 2009 (HC 314), April 2009 (HC 413), 9 September 2009 (Cm 7701), 23 September 2009 (Cm 7711), 10 December 2009 (HC 120), 10 February 2010 (HC 367), 28 June 2010 (HC 59), 15 July 2010 (HC 96), 22 July 2010 (HC 382), 19 August 2010 (Cm 7929) and 1 October 2010 (Cm 7944). The changes set out in paragraphs 2 to 15 of this Statement shall take effect on 23 December 2010. However, if an applicant has made an application for entry clearance before 23 Decem … een incorporated into a consolidated version of the Immigration Rules, which can be found under the ‘Policy and Law’ page at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk, where there are also copies of all the Statements of Changes in Immigration Rules issued since May 2003. 4.3 The closure of Tier 1 General to out of country applications will come into force on 23 December 2010. However, if an applicant has made an application for entry clearance before 23 December and the application has not been decided before that date, it will be decided in accordance with the Rules in force on 22 December 2010. 4.4 The s …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other United Kingdom changes operative in 2010

• 2010-01-13Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
• 2010-03-03Employment restricted for dependants of specified Tier 4 students
• 2010-03-03Minimum course duration introduced for Tier 4 family applications
• 2010-03-03Term-time work limit reduced for specified Tier 4 students
• 2010-04-06Asylum-interview record signature requirement removed
• 2010-04-06Consent safeguards added for sponsored workers under 18
• 2010-04-06Earlier qualifying grants recognised for specified Tier 1 English-language criteria
• 2010-04-06Higher duration limit for older Tier 4 Child students
• 2010-04-06ICT Graduate Trainee sub-category introduced
• 2010-04-06ICT Skills Transfer sub-category introduced
• 2010-04-06Lower partner-visa age threshold for serving HM Forces
• 2010-04-06Monaco added to the Youth Mobility Scheme
• 2010-04-06Sponsored researchers permitted to switch from qualifying work permits into Tier 5
• 2010-07-19Interim Limits on Tier 2 (General) Certificates of Sponsorship (HC 96)
• 2010-09-09Permission to Work for Asylum Applicants and Fresh Claimants (Cm 7929)
• 2010-11-29Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (Cm 7944) - English Language Requirement for Partners
• 2010-12-21Tier 2 General interim certificate allocation specified in the Immigration Rules