From April 2016, non-European migrant workers will need to be earnings almost £10,000 over the average national income of £26,500 to qualify for settlement in the UK according to the Home Office. 

From the 6th of April, Tier 2 migrants who have been living in the UK for more than five years will have to prove that they are receiving the new £35,000 pay threshold in order to stay in the country and those who don’t qualify will be required to leave the UK after six years. The previous policy allowed skilled migrant workers who had entered the UK to apply for permanent residence after 5 years and for British Citizenship a year later. 

The UK Government had announced the changes in respect of salary increase for Tier 2 Migrants in 2012. These changes will be in force from April 2016.

(a) £35,000 if applying on or after 6 April 2016,

(b) £35,500 if applying on or after 6 April 2018,

(c) £35,800 if applying on or after 6 April 2019,

(d) £36,200 if applying on or after 6 April 2020,

You can apply for this visa under same day service. Please note that if you were granted Entry Clearance as a Tier 2 (ICT) Migrant or a work permit holder your first visa should have been granted before 05 April 2010 only then you will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, however if you believe that you have completed 5 years in the UK it may still be worth consulting a member of our team of immigration specialist.