In 2011, an annual limit of 20,700 visa grants was introduced by the UK government to restrict the number of non-EU migrants working in the UK under Tier 2 visas. UK firms did not encounter problems in the first four years until 11 June 2015, where the cap was exceeded for the first time .

On 10 June 2015, the UK government announced that a new blueprint is being devised to reduce demand for migrant labour .

With an aim to further significantly reduce non-EEA economic migration to the UK, the Migration Advisory Committee will advise the government by the end of 2015 on:
– restricting work visas to genuine skills shortages and highly specialist experts
– setting a time limit on how long a sector can claim to have a skills shortage
– a new skills levy on Tier 2 visas to increase funding to UK apprenticeships
– Lifting the salary requirements to curb businesses from employing foreign workers to undercut wages

With more stringent Tier 2 immigration rules, many firms may not be able to obtain Tier 2 visas for lawyers they intend to employ. The restrictions have also caused great difficulties in employing trainee solicitors. As a result, the UK may risk international law firms moving their offices outside of the UK to a more competitive jurisdiction .

The England and Wales Law Society have raised the criticism that any new Tier 2 restrictions would have a direct adverse impact on international law firms. Not only would this jeopardize the legal sector and the UK economy, but it would also occasion collateral damage to other sectors.

(Sources:
http://www.workpermit.com/news/2011-04-06/uk/tier-2-visa-major-changes-from-6-april-2011.htm
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/news/press-releases/public-concerns-about-immigration-are-not-addressed-by-restricting-business-migration-for-professionals-warns-law-society/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-migration-advisory-committee
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/policy-campaigns/consultation-responses/documents/migration-advisory-committee-review-tier-2-law-society-response-september-2015/)

In light of the announcement of new contract proposals for NHS staff by the UK Health secretary – Jeremy Hunt, 3,468 UK doctors applied for permission from the General Medical Council (GMC) for certificates to practice abroad. Australia has always been a popular destination for UK doctors, mainly because of higher pay and better working conditions, e.g. the salary rates can be up to 50 per cent higher and working hours are more reasonable. As a result, an increasing number of UK doctors and nurses are emigrating to Australia under the skilled immigration visas.

(Sources:
http://www.workpermit.com/news/2015-11-25/australian-skilled-immigration-uk-doctors-leaving-for-australia)

In the wake of the terrorists’ attacks in Paris, the Hong Kong Immigration Department announced on 16 November 2015 that French visitors in Hong Kong affected by this incident can apply for an extension of stay if they wish to remain in Hong Kong. The Department also stated that special attention will be given to these applications and most would be approved on the same day. The department has also informed the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong of this arrangement.

A Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is currently reviewing proposals, as commissioned by the UK government, to further impose restrictions on the tier 2 immigration scheme for skilled workers. Britain’s tech entrepreneurs have expressed deep concerns about this change, saying that this tightening of policy will make it increasingly difficult to hire international talent to remain competitive in the global marketplace, thus suppressing company growth and making Britain’s digital economy suffer.

(Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2015-10-29/tier-2-immigration-crackdown-putting-britians-digital-economy-at-risk)

The Law Society of England and Wales (“the Law Society”) has expressed concern that tightening tier 2 policies will potentially prevent international law firms in London from recruiting highly skilled and experienced foreign lawyers from around the world. It has been substantiated by statistics from the Law Society that holders of tier 2 visa in London law firms, encompassing associates, trainee solicitors and partners, have generated revenues of more than £34 million in the year of 2015-2016. Commentators are not optimistic about the draconian tier 2 policies, criticizing that such policies will preclude highly qualified legal practitioners from working for UK based law firms and hence hampering the lucrative markets of the legal sector.

(Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2015-10-13/uk-based-international-law-firms-affected-by-tier-2-immigration-rules)

Official figures in the UK illustrated that from June 2013 to June 2014, 121,000 non-EU students entered the UK for studies but only 51,000 exited after completion ie. 70,000 have entered the country. A new regime was set to deprive non-EU college students of the right to work and the ability to apply for a visa extension when they complete the courses. Therefore, if students want to apply for a work visa to return to the country, they have to leave before they can do so. Whether this can create positive changes both to local people and foreign students can only be observed as time passes by.

[Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3158012/Foreign-college-students-banned-working-forced-leave-UK-course-ends.html]