Changes to the Immigration Rules take effect and changes to the position of Croatian nationals following Croatia's accession to the European Union
The Home Office noted in a press release yesterday that a number of changes to the Immigration Rules took effect.
According to the Home Office, these changes centre around work, student and settlement rules and include:
• changes to the documents required for approved English language tests;
• updates to the lists of financial institutions in Bangladesh and Ghana from which documents can be verified
• adjustments to the resident labour market test exemption for supernumerary researchers in Tier 2 (General)
• no longer requiring a resident labour market test for religious worker (Tier 4) extension applications
• more legal courses to be exempt from the time-limit on study for Tier 4 student visa applicants.
There are also some minor updates and clarifications to the family immigration rules as well as changes meaning TB screening is now required in the following countries:
• China (settlement applications only);
• Ethiopia;
• Gambia;
• Hong Kong (settlement applications only);
• Indonesia;
• Macau (settlement applications only);
• Malawi;
• Morocco;
• Sierra Leone;
• Uganda;
• Vietnam; and
• Zambia
See the Statement of changes in Immigration Rules HC 244 for full details.
Also new from the Home Office is a statement regarding the position of Croatian nationals in the UK following Croatia's accession to the European Union.
The Home Office statement says:
Croatian nationals can enter and live in the UK without permission under our immigration rules. However, they will need permission to work in the UK unless they are exempt.
Students wanting to study in the UK do not need to be sponsored under Tier 4, but if they want or need to work, they must obtain an accession worker authorisation document unless they are exempt.
A Croatian national working without permission is committing a criminal offence under the Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013.
This could lead to a fine and/or imprisonment for both the Croatian national and their employer.
Further information for Croatian nationals along with application forms, guidance and exemptions can be found on our Croatia pages.
Employers who wish to legally employ a Croatian national can download the leaflet 'Employing a Croatian national in the UK.'