News
06/04/13 - UKBA policy changes
The UK Border Agency has introduced a number of significant changes to the immigration regulations with effect from 6 April 2013. In particular, there are substantial changes to the UK Border Agency’s Codes of Practice for skilled workers which will have implications for the recruitment and retention of all Tier 2 migrants.
These changes have implications for ALL recruitment exercises from 6 April 2013 where a migrant worker is to be appointed, and for the issue of ALL Certificates of Sponsorship from this date. A guidance document has been circulated to departments with further information and the Work Permits Desk website has been updated.
06/12/12 - Tier 2 Priority Postal Service
The UK Border Agency is piloting a Priority Postal Service which will consider in-country Tier 2 applications in a much shorter timeframe than the standard postal route. This service aims to provide a decision within ten working days of an application. A guidance document has been circulated to departments with further information and the Work Permits Desk website has been updated.07/07/12 - UKBA policy changes
The UK Border Agency recently released information concerning a number of policy changes to the Points-Based System. Most of these changes came into effect on 14 June 2012. A guidance document has been circulated to departments with further information and the Work Permits Desk website has been updated.29/03/12 - Easter Closure
The Work Permits Desk, like the rest of University Offices, will be closed for the Easter period from Thursday 5 April 2012 until Monday 9 April 2012 inclusive. It will re-open on Tuesday 10 April 2012.
21/03/12 - UKBA policy changes
The UK Border Agency released information on 15 March 2012 concerning a number of policy changes to Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 5, settlement and visitors. Most of these changes come into effect on 6 April 2012. A guidance document has been circulated to departments with further information and the Work Permits Desk website will be updated after 6 April 2012.
10/11/11 - Christmas closure and Dec/Jan application arrangements
The Work Permits Desk will be closed from Thursday 22nd December 2011 until Monday 2 January 2012 inclusive. It will re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2012.
Given that the Work Permits Desk will be closed on the usual deadline for submitting Tier 2 CoS applications for overseas applicants (the 29th of the month), departments and colleges are advised to submit any Tier 2 CoS applications for overseas applicants which they wish to be considered by the UK Border Agency in January 2012 to the Work Permits Desk by Wednesday 14 December 2011.
Departments and colleges are also advised that the Work Permits Desk expects to receive increased levels of leave to remain applications in January 2012 due to migrants wanting to retain their passports for travel over the Christmas period. As a result, there may be further delays in processing applications during January 2012.
01/10/2011 - Various updates to Tier 2 and Tier 5
The UK Border Agency has announced various updates to Tier 2 and Tier 5. The Work Permits Desk has circulated information to departments and colleges by email and the website has been updated accordingly.01/10/2011 - Cheque payments for Certificates of Sponsorship
From 1 October 2011 the UKBA will no longer accept cheque payments for Certificates of Sponsorship. As far as we are aware, it will still be possible to pay for leave to remain applications by cheque. This change will only affect colleges, as any Certificates of Sponsorship applications from university departments are currently paid for on the Work Permits Desk credit card and cross-charged to departments.
From 1 October 2011, the Work Permits Desk will pay for Certificate of Sponsorships for colleges on the Work Permits Desk credit card, as we do for departments. However, as it is not possible for the Work Permits Desk to cross-charge to colleges, colleges will need to supply a cheque made payable to the University of Oxford for the appropriate amount and send this to the Work Permits Desk with their Certificate of Sponsorship application.
22/07/2011 - Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) route to open on 9 August 2011
The UK Border Agency has announced that the new Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route will open on 9 August 2011.
The Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route is designed for ‘exceptionally talented’ individuals in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the performing arts. Those using this route must be internationally recognised at the highest level as world leaders in their particular field, or recognised as having already demonstrated exceptional promise and are likely to become world leaders in their field.
Further information on application requirements can be found on the UK Border Agency website.
05/04/2011 - Updates to the Work Permits Desk website
The Work Permits Desk website has been updated to reflect the UK Border Agency's changes to the immigration rules which take effect from Wednesday 6 April 2011. These changes mainly affect Tier 2 of the points-based system.
05/04/2011 - Closure of Tier 1 (General) to in-country applicants
Following the closure of the Tier 1 (General) route for overseas applicants, the UK Border Agency will also close this route to in-country applicants with effect from Wednesday 6 April 2011.