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The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recently issued its report on the UK immigration limits scheduled for implementation in April 2011. Prior to last year’s election, the Tory party made a pledge to reduce net migration from outside of Europe from its current levels (approx. 196,000) to “tens of thousands by the end of the parliament.” The first stage in achieving this aim was the introduction of interim limits until April 2011, on both Tier 1 visa applications from overseas and Tier 2 (General) visas.

The UK government announced today that it is imposing temporary limits on non-EU immigration, effective immediately, to avoid a rush on applications ahead of the permanent new rules due to take effect in April 2011.

The cap will apply only to highly skilled migrants and skilled workers in certain categories of job. It does not apply to workers from EU countries, who make up a third of all foreign-born workers in the country.