Have your say: MAC call for evidence on Intra-Company Visa Route

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), commissioned by the government, has launched a call for evidence on the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) immigration route. The MAC is an independent non-departmental body which advises the government on migration issues.

Our immigration team is preparing a response and we would very much value the input of our clients and contacts. This is a valuable opportunity for all interested parties to help shape future immigration policy.

Background

The ICT route is designed for the transfer of existing employees from overseas offices to a linked entity in the UK. Employees require 12 months’ previous service to be eligible, unless they earn a salary of £73,900 or more. There is also a sub-category for graduate trainees. The route does not provide a path to permanent residence, but a key advantage of the route for some applicants is that there is no English language requirement.

The introduction of the new immigration system saw the removal of the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT), alongside an accompanying reduction in the overall skills and salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker route (previously Tier 2 General). Whereas the salary and skills thresholds remain significantly higher for ICTs, meaning that the usefulness and future purpose of the ICT visa category is now in question.

In addition to reviewing the ICT route the government is also looking to expand the options open to overseas companies wishing to set up branches or subsidiaries in the UK.

Have your say

To help inform our response to the MAC we would welcome your responses to key questions raised in the call for evidence. We would be delighted if you could fill out our short questionnaire (link below) by 1 June 2021. There will be an option to keep your responses anonymous should you so wish.

Questionnaire

Thank you in advance for your participation. If you have any questions, please contact Rose Carey or Kelvin Tanner.