Immigration practice JPS Immigration published an in-depth explainer on 11 June clarifying the English-language upgrade that quietly took effect on 8 January. Main applicants for the Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual routes must now demonstrate CEFR level B2 – roughly A-level standard – instead of the former B1 (GCSE). The article sets out acceptable evidence (SELT, degree taught in English or majority-English nationality), transitional protection for extensions, and warns that sponsors should audit candidate pipelines early because some graduates who would have passed at B1 may fall short at B2. Dependants are not yet affected, but the Home Office has signalled a possible review. Importantly, the piece reminds HR teams that the March 2026 Statement of Changes also introduced a future hike: B2 will apply to settlement (ILR) from 26 March 2027 for several work categories. Companies planning five-year assignments should therefore build English training into talent budgets. Although the rule has been live for five months, many applicants remain unaware – refusal rates for English grounds rose 18 % in Q1 according to internal UKVI feedback. The guide advises sponsors to update recruitment collateral and consider paying for SELT vouchers to speed onboarding. For global mobility managers, the message is clear: proficiency requirements are tightening and early screening is now mission-critical.
Source: JPS Immigration
