The Prime Minister, , today set out details of how
Britain will take back control of its borders and reduce
immigration to sustainable levels through a new post-Brexit
system.
In the biggest shake-up in decades, high-skilled workers who want
to live and work in Britain will be given priority while low
skilled immigration will be curbed.
There will be a new single immigration system that treats EU
countries the same as non EU countries.
And the UK is looking at introducing a swift system of e-gate
visa checks for tourists and visitors coming to the country for
short stay business trips from all low risk
countries.
The Prime Minister said Post-Brexit Britain will be an outward
facing nation - but it is important the UK attracts the people
the country needs to compete on the global stage whilst ensuring
that immigration is reduced to sustainable levels.
She said: “Two years ago, the British public voted to leave the
European Union and take back control of our borders. When
we leave we will bring in a new immigration system that ends
freedom of movement once and for all. For the first time in
decades, it will be this country that controls and chooses who we
want to come here.
“It will be a skills based system where it is workers’ skills
that matter, not where they come from. It will be a system
that looks across the globe and attracts the people with the
skills we need.
“Crucially it will be fair to ordinary working people. For
too long people have felt they have been ignored on immigration
and that politicians have not taken their concerns seriously
enough.
“The new skills based system will make sure low skilled
immigration is brought down and set the UK on the path to reduce
immigration to sustainable levels, as we promised. At the same
time we are training up British people for the skilled jobs of
the future.”
The proposals follow a report from the Migration Advisory
Committee (MAC) that recommended high-skilled workers are given
priority over visa applications from low-skilled workers. The
report was based on an immigration policy that had a level
playing field for EU nationals and applicants from other
countries.
A White Paper detailing how the new system will work will be
published this autumn, ahead of an Immigration Bill next
year.
Under the shake up there will be routes for short-stay business
trips and tourists and for those who want to live and work for
longer in the UK.
Under plans being developed people arriving for a short stay
would see passports scanned at e-gates in airports, train
stations and ports, for so-called ‘fly-in, fly-out’ visitors.
Currently EU citizens get fast-tracked through e-gates while
tourists or businessmen from countries like Japan and Australia
have to queue for passport control.
All security and criminal records checks would be carried out in
advance of visits, cutting down red tape for travellers. These
in-country security checks would be a similar system of prior
authorisation to that operating in the United States.
For those wanting to live and work in the UK longer term, there
will be a new immigration system for applicants with the skills
that help meet Britain’s needs.
Applicants will need to meet a minimum salary threshold to ensure
they are not competing for jobs that could otherwise be recruited
in the UK.
Successful applicants for high skilled work would be able to
bring their immediate family but only if sponsored by their
future employers.
The new system will not include a cap on student visas, which are
a separate system to work visas and are granted on the basis of
academic ability, the ability to speak English and the ability of
students to support themselves financially.
The ability of people from trading partners to deliver services
and student exchange programmes will form part of future trade
agreements.
The Government has already announced rights for the existing
three million EU citizens already living and working in the UK
will be safeguarded – even in the event of no deal.
