Immigration update – July 

Changes to USA and New Zealand biometric centres 

On 15 July, there was a rollout of new visa application centres across both the USA and New Zealand which will replace some of the current submission points. The aim of these new centres is to improve the customer experience and to allow for full in-person services for both biometric collections and document uploads. 

The changes are as follows. 

United States 

There will be 10 free to use visa application centres in the following locations. 

• Atlanta 

• Boston 

• Chicago 

• Houston 

• Los Angeles 

• Miami 

• New York 

• San Francisco 

• Seattle 

• Washington DC 

There will be 28 ‘user pay’ visa application centres in the following locations which will replace the previous services at the USCIS centres which were operated by the US Department of Homeland Security. 

• Austin 

• Buffalo 

• Carlsbad 

• Charlotte 

• Cincinnati 

• Columbus 

• Dalass 

• Denver 

• Detroit 

• Hartford 

• Indianapolis 

• Jacksonville 

• Kansas City 

• Las Vegas 

• Milwaukee 

• Nashville 

• New Orleans 

• Philadelphia 

• Pheonix  

• Pittsburgh 

• Portland 

• Raleigh 

• Salt Lake City 

• San Diego 

• St Louis 

• St Paul 

• Syracuse 

• Tampa 

New Zealand 

There will be one free to use visa application centre in Auckland and two ‘user pay’ application centres in Christchurch and Wellington which will replace the centres operated by Immigration New Zealand. 

Appointments will continue to be on a first come first served basis and any queries or concerns should be reported directly to VFS Global. 

End of visa vignettes 

From 15 July 2025, the Home Office is no longer issuing physical visa vignettes in passports for main applicants in study and work visa routes. Instead, all visa permissions in these routes are being granted as a digital status only and applicants will need to register for their eVisa accounts and will have to prove their immigration status via online share codes. This is part of the Home Office move to a digital-first immigration system. 

Dependent family members will, for the time being, still receive a physical vignette, although it’s expected the Home Office will phase this out in due course – more details as to the timing of the second phase is still to be announced. 

Newly published Home Office Statement of Changes 

The Home Office published the latest Statement of Changes on July 1 2025, setting out key upcoming changes to the Immigration Rules following the recent White Paper proposals that were first published in May. 

The Statement of Changes has now provided clarification and confirmation of the following which took effect on 22 July. 

Social Care visas 

• The Care Worker visa route will be closed to new applicants from outside of the UK. This covers occupational codes 6135 and 6136. A grace period will apply to those already in the UK and sponsored under these codes, with extensions and visa switching being permitted until 22 July 2028. 

• Switching to the Care route is only permitted if the individual has already worked for the sponsoring care organisation for three months prior to the date of application.  

Skilled Worker visas 

• The Minium Eligible Skill Level for visa sponsorship – Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) will be increasing from level three to level six (degree level) for all future Skilled Worker visa applications, removing over 100 occupations from eligibility.  This change will apply to individuals applying to this route for the first time and will not impact individuals who already hold a Skilled Worker visa prior to this date with roles below RQF level six.  

• Individuals on sponsored visas for roles that are RQF levels three to five and are already working in the UK will be able to continue to work and extend theirs visas for the time being. 

• Employers wishing to sponsor jobs below RQF level six must ensure the role is listed on one of the following lists. 
  • Immigration Salary List (ISL) 
    Previously known as the Shortage Occupation List, the ISL has been slightly updated and the roles on this list benefit from a lower salary threshold. However, please note that the ISL will be phased out on 1 January 2027. 
  • Temporary Shortage List (TSL) 
    The Home Office is rolling this out as a new list that includes a broader range of occupations than initially expected, offering more flexibility for sponsors for roles below RQF level six. The list has been confirmed to include the following occupation codes: 
  • 1243: Logistics Managers 
  • 1258: Consultancy Services Directors 
  • 3120: CAD, Drawing, and Architectural Technicians 
  • 3131: IT Operations Technicians 
  • 3132: IT User Support Technicians 
  • 3573: IT Trainers 
  • 3133: Database and Web Content Technicians 
  • 3520: Legal Associate Professionals 
  • 3532: Insurance Underwriters 
  • 3533: Financial and Accounting Technicians 
  • 3544: Data Analysts 
  • 3549: Other Business Associate Professionals 
  • 3552: Business Sales Executives 
  • 3554: Advertising and Marketing Associates 
  • 3571: HR and Industrial Relations Officers 
  • 4121: Credit Controllers 
  • 4122: Bookkeepers, Payroll Managers, and Wages Clerks 
  • 4129: Other Financial Administrative Roles 
  • 4132: Pensions and Insurance Clerks and Assistants 

There will be an increase to salary thresholds as follows: 

New applicants and Skilled Worker visa holders granted visas under rules in place since 4^th April 2024 

• The standard general threshold will increase by 7.8% from £38,700 to £41,700 per annum. 

• The threshold for New Entrants and those sponsored under the Immigration Salary List will increase from £30,960 to £33,400 per annum.  

Existing Skilled Worker visa holders granted visas under rules in place since before 4 April 2024 

• The standard general threshold will increase from £29,000 to £31,300 per annum. 

• The threshold for new entrants and those sponsored under the Immigration Salary List will increase to £25,000 per annum. 

Global business mobility – Senior and Specialist Worker visa applications 

• The standard general threshold will increase from £48,500 to £52,500 per annum. 

Going rates  

• New going rates for the different occupational codes will be published and can be viewed on the current statement of changes on pages 13, 55 and 76 respectively via this LINK. 

Other changes 

• The ‘cooling-off period’ following revocation of a sponsor licence has been increased to 24 months where the sponsor or associated key persons are a persistent compliance offender.  

• The Home Office sponsor duties guidance has been updated to add neonatal care leave as a valid permissible reason for absence from work for sponsored visa holders – this is in line with the change to statutory leave entitlement that came into force in April 2025. 

Further information regarding when the 32% increase to the Immigration Skills Charge is due to take effect, when dependants will be required to satisfy the English language requirement and when and if the time to count towards settlement in the UK will increase from five to ten years is still yet to be confirmed. Parliament has agreed to debate an online petition resisting the increased residence requirement on 8 September 2025 so no changes in that respect are expected before this time. Parliament has now risen for the summer recess so no further substantial announcements are expected in the coming few weeks. 

If you have any questions or concerns about how these changes will affect your organisation, please get in touch and we would be happy to assist you.