Country / Territory
Related offices
Related offices
Related offices
It only feels like yesterday that the Home Office decided to substantially change the UK immigration system on advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Fast forward a few months and it's time to think about how those changes will impact businesses in a practical way.
Impact of immigration changes on businesses
Autumn will see the first set of changes coming into force, namely the increase of salary for Tier 2 and the introduction of the Immigration Health Surcharge for Tier 2 Intra-Company Transferee visa holders; in April, we will also have the Immigration Skills Charge. What is the common denominator? New and increased costs.
Looking at the cost for an individual migrant entering for 5 years as an Intra-Company Transferee, the Government fees for this currently are £1,350.
In Autumn adding the IHS of £200 per year will increase the cost to £2,350. Fast forward to April 2017 with the Skills Charge levy of £1,000 per year and this cost jumps to £7,350.
All these rather eye-watering costs are before employers need to think about increasing pay factor in that the minimum salary will also increase from £24,800 to £30,000 in the autumn and the cost of sponsoring a migrant worker could increase even further. Roll on to Spring of 2017 and the April rule changes will mean that an Intra-Company Transferee will need to be paid at least £41,500. That’s an awful lot of money over five years.
Why the increase? The Government clearly wants to discourage companies from recruiting from outside of the European Economic Area. Practically, businesses will need to start rethinking budgets for recruitment sooner rather than later. Whilst the changes will be happening in Autumn and later in April, business needs to act now rather than react later once the changes have come into force. And of course, the Brexit result on 24 June could change things even more in the coming months.
Country / Territory
Related offices
Related offices
Related offices
Explore more at Fragomen
Article
Knowledge Management Director Ana Sofia Walsh and Senior Client Engagement Manager Soraya Driessen examine the European Commission’s EU Inc. proposal and its potential to reshape corporate structures across the EU, highlighting the resulting complexities and unresolved questions for immigration, work authorization and cross-border workforce mobility.
Fragomen on immigration
Partner K. Edward Raleigh analyzes how post‑midterm US business immigration will shift toward heightened enforcement, worker‑protection scrutiny and cross‑agency oversight, urging employers to align hiring practices, sponsorship decisions and documentation with consistent, defensible workforce strategies.
Media mentions
Awards
Fragomen is named “Law Firm of the Year” for Immigration Law by Best Law Firms™ - Australia and receives National and Regional Tier 1 rankings in Immigration Law.
Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses the broad application of a USCIS memo to adjustment of status applicants and notes that H- and L-visa holders may have a somewhat easier burden in demonstrating factors that support favorable discretion.
Article
Senior Manager Alice Spaull and Associate Stephanie Fitton examine the evolving UK immigration and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements for athletes, their support teams and associated guests attending the Commonwealth Games 2026, highlighting key compliance risks and the importance of early travel planning.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partner K. Edward Raleigh discusses a recent USCIS memo that appears to signal greater caution in how adjudicators assess adjustment of status cases rather than establishing a new legal standard.
Fragomen news
Video
Senior Manager Sumejja Handzo outlines Germany’s health insurance requirements for visas and residence permits, including coverage options, documentation considerations and key compliance requirements for foreign nationals relocating to Germany.
Media mentions
Partner Daniel Schwarz highlights how US visa appointment backlogs and limited availability for B visas are shaping international travel planning for the upcoming World Cup.
Article
Knowledge Management Manager Annabelle Duchêne explores how Europe’s prolonged reliance on Temporary Protection Status has created legal and workforce uncertainty and why clear, structured exit pathways are now essential for employers and displaced individuals alike.
Article
Knowledge Management Director Ana Sofia Walsh and Senior Client Engagement Manager Soraya Driessen examine the European Commission’s EU Inc. proposal and its potential to reshape corporate structures across the EU, highlighting the resulting complexities and unresolved questions for immigration, work authorization and cross-border workforce mobility.
Fragomen on immigration
Partner K. Edward Raleigh analyzes how post‑midterm US business immigration will shift toward heightened enforcement, worker‑protection scrutiny and cross‑agency oversight, urging employers to align hiring practices, sponsorship decisions and documentation with consistent, defensible workforce strategies.
Media mentions
Awards
Fragomen is named “Law Firm of the Year” for Immigration Law by Best Law Firms™ - Australia and receives National and Regional Tier 1 rankings in Immigration Law.
Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses the broad application of a USCIS memo to adjustment of status applicants and notes that H- and L-visa holders may have a somewhat easier burden in demonstrating factors that support favorable discretion.
Article
Senior Manager Alice Spaull and Associate Stephanie Fitton examine the evolving UK immigration and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements for athletes, their support teams and associated guests attending the Commonwealth Games 2026, highlighting key compliance risks and the importance of early travel planning.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partner K. Edward Raleigh discusses a recent USCIS memo that appears to signal greater caution in how adjudicators assess adjustment of status cases rather than establishing a new legal standard.
Fragomen news
Video
Senior Manager Sumejja Handzo outlines Germany’s health insurance requirements for visas and residence permits, including coverage options, documentation considerations and key compliance requirements for foreign nationals relocating to Germany.
Media mentions
Partner Daniel Schwarz highlights how US visa appointment backlogs and limited availability for B visas are shaping international travel planning for the upcoming World Cup.
Article
Knowledge Management Manager Annabelle Duchêne explores how Europe’s prolonged reliance on Temporary Protection Status has created legal and workforce uncertainty and why clear, structured exit pathways are now essential for employers and displaced individuals alike.
