United Kingdom: Call for Evidence in Review of Shortage Occupation List
February 27, 2023
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At a Glance
- The government of the United Kingdom’s independent advisor on immigration policy, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), today announced its “Call for Evidence” (CfE) in connection with its major review of the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), requesting that stakeholders put forth evidence to support claims for certain occupations to be included in a new SOL.
- The SOL is the official list of “skilled” occupations which are in short supply in the United Kingdom and whose shortage is assessed as reasonably addressed through the recruitment of workers from outside the United Kingdom.
- Stakeholders should contact their immigration professional for guidance on submitting evidence to the CfE by the deadline of May 26, 2023 for their concerns to be heard.
The situation
As part of its review of the United Kingdom’s current Shortage Occupation List (SOL), the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has now issued its “Call for Evidence” (CfE) by May 26, 2023.
Background
- Shortage Occupation List. The SOL is the official list of skilled occupations which cannot be found in an adequate number of local workers in the United Kingdom and whose shortage is regarded as reasonably addressed through the recruitment of workers from outside the United Kingdom. Occupations listed on the SOL benefit from reduced general salary requirements and slightly lower visa fees.
- Call for Evidence. The CfE allows businesses to put forward evidence to support claims for certain occupations to be included in the SOL and to voice concerns about conditions limiting access to foreign workers of all skill levels.
Impact
Employers and other stakeholders should contact their immigration professional for guidance on how to respond to the Call for Evidence. The UK government has published guidance for submitting evidence.
Looking ahead
The UK government has asked the MAC to complete its review of the SOL by June 2023, at the latest, in order to implement changes to the SOL a few months later. We will report on the latest developments.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
