Changes to the Immigration Rules 17 July 2023

From today 17 July 2023 after 1500 hrs the students will not be allowed to bring their dependents to the UK and will also not be allowed to switch to skilled worker route unless they have completed their course they came to study. This has been done in order to stop abuse of the immigration route and to only get genuine students to come to the UK.

The students on PhD courses will be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route after 24 months of study.

Student dependents will not be allowed to apply as dependents from 1500 on 17 July 2023 from outside or inside the UK.

The streamlined Asylum process will be brought in for applications made on or after 28 June 2022 from 1500 on 17 July 2023 as well.

All other changes will come into force on or after 7 August 2023 that are –

1. EUSS Route – Applications submitted late under this route will need to provide a reason why they have submitted late and this reason will be analyzed first before consideration of the application.  People already on pre-settled status can be extended without a valid application.

From 8 August 2023 the EUSS Route will be closed for British citizens and family members who are applying under Surinder Singh route or Zambrano cases. The family members will need apply under Appendix FM of the immigration rules.

Dependent children over 18 years will be considered within EUSS child even if they are children of durable partners and have been granted pre-settled status.

2. Ukrainian nationals who were granted permission to enter or stay between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023 can apply for further 36 months permission to stay in the UK.

Ukrainian nationals who come without a visa can be considered for leave to remain outside the rules for 6 months and then need to make a further application to stay in the UK. If they arrived in another route after 18 March 2022 can also apply for further stay in the UK.

The deadline for Ukrainian extension scheme is being extended to 16 March 2024.

3. Students – The student dependents will not be allowed to apply unless the main applicant is on a postgraduate course designated as research programs. The dependents already in the UK will be allowed to extend their stay.

Students who have already got admissions for postgraduate courses beginning before 01 January 2024 can apply as dependents.

The change does not affect the dependents already in the UK or the children born in the UK.

4. New Asylum non differential treatment making Group 1 and Group 2 categories, Group 1 will be people with refugee status for 5 years and Group 2 will be people with 30 months leave leading to ILR in 10 years.

5. Skilled Worker Route – New occupations are being added to shortage occupations –

• 5312 Bricklayers and masons

• 5313 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters

• 5315 Carpenters and joiners

• 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified

• 5321 Plasterers – Including dry liners

• 5119 Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified

• 9119 Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere

6. Youth Mobility Scheme – New Zealand Nationals with a valid YMS can apply for 1 year extension to a total of 3 years leave.  

There are other minor amendments to Appendix FM and Appendix Adult Dependent Relative which is in concern to some drafting errors.