Upcoming changes for Tier 2 (due Autumn 2019)

Changed to the cap on Tier 2 Restricted requests and research fieldwork overseas no longer counting towards the 180 absence days for ILR

31 May 2019

The Spring Statement included mention of the following positive changes to Tier 2, namely from ‘Autumn 2019’:

  •  ‘PhD level’ SOC codes (the Researcher and Lecturer codes used most frequently used within the collegiate University) will be removed from the Tier 2 cap on numbers. This should mean the end of the monthly round of SIT having to request and wait for Home Office permission before issuing a ‘Restricted’ Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for an overseas applicant; and
  •  Research fieldwork overseas will no longer count towards the 180 days (in each 12 month period of the 5 year qualifying period) limit on absences from the UK under the ‘continuous residence’ requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

    SIT will be lobbying for the most flexible interpretation of ‘research fieldwork’ and that this should apply for those in Lecturer and Professorial roles as well as Researchers.

SIT would expect these changes to be announced in the October changes.

Please direct any queries on ILR applications to  Tim Currie (on (2)89903 / tim.currie@admin.ox.ac.uk)

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