LONDON - The United Kingdom (UK) has announced a tightening of immigration regulations, which could affect Jamaicans on temporary visas including students in non-degree programmes.

The changes, which take effect on October 1, are designed to restrict the circumstances under which migrants on temporary visas can switch into a category leading to settlement such as the work permit scheme, the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) or Innovator Scheme.

Home Secretary David Blunkett, who outlined the changes recently, explained that foreign nationals who were in the UK on temporary visas and who wished to remain in the UK to study could only switch to permanent employment if they were taking degree-level courses. This, the Home Office said, would prevent visitors from enrolling in low-level courses to extend their stay.

Only work permit holders; graduated students; working holidaymakers; postgraduate doctors or dentists or trainee general practitioners would be permitted to switch to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or Innovator status, the Home Office said.

"The announcement is part of an ongoing programme of work to safeguard the government's policy of selective admission. Those who do not meet our strict criteria cannot come to the UK, but we will admit those with the skills we need to boost our economy," Blunkett said.

At the same time, the UK will reduce from four to two years the maximum time individuals are allowed to remain in the UK to do successive short courses below the degree-granting level.

"Our proposals to prevent temporary migrants from switching into other immigration categories is necessary to ensure there is a clear distinction between temporary and permanent migration routes. These common-sense measures are preferable to a blanket ban on switching. The highly-skilled will be able to stay in the UK and further their careers, but temporary migrants will need to leave at the end of their stay. This will ensure that people get permission to work before they come here," he said.

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