I don't know if this will affect any members here. 16 February 2011 New details of the government's radical changes to the work visa route were unveiled by the Home Office today, as it laid out the criteria for its annual limit. This shake up is part of the government's new annual limit on non-EU workers, which will take effect on 6 April. At the end of last year the Home Office announced that 20,700 visas will be made available to skilled workers applying through Tier 2 of the points-based system, as well as 1,000 visas under a new exceptional talent route. Under the new system, employers will have to apply for a certificate of sponsorship from the UK Border Agency for a specific post if they wish to bring someone to the UK - this is a change from the current system which gives businesses an annual allocation. The government has also announced that employers filling a vacancy that attracts a salary of £150,000 or more will not be subject to the limit on the number of certificate of sponsorship that may be allocated. Source and full details:- http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/february/42-government-outlines-visa
