Why Non-EEA Migrants May Benefit From Brexit

With the chaos surrounding Brexit far from resolved, it is clear that Britain's relationship with the European Union is likely to never be the same again. The UK faces significant future problems due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding its exit from the European Union after more than four decades of membership. Just one of these potential problems, and one of the main reasons why the relationship between Britain and its EU partners may never be the same again, is the future of migration. EU citizens have had freedom of movement to come to the UK for a long time, and the curtailment of this is likely to be one of the uglier parts of the exit negotiations to fix. While this may be bad news for EU migrants looking to move to the UK, it may not be the worst news for migrants from other areas of the world who are looking to relocate to the UK. In this article, we are going to look at why the changes are good for non-EEA migrants and how you can leverage the changes going on in the UK to your advantage.

Freedom Of Movement

Of course, the largest change to the future of Britain's relationship with the EU that is likely to be of benefit to non-EEA migrants is the end of freedom of movement. As things stand this is a long way from happening, but it is not impossible. If this does indeed end up being the way that things pan out, non-EEA migrants rights will likely come to the fore. The reason that these rights are likely to be enhanced is that the UK has some issues that it must contend with. Economically, the UK is a powerhouse - this is wonderful, but it requires continual growth and innovation. The UK has an ageing population that means workers need to be replaced. This is normally not a problem for countries, but the UK, like many other western countries, has low birth rates. These low birth rates mean that the UK requires immigrant labour to sustain its current economic activity - let alone increase it.

The UK's reliance on immigrant labour is only likely to increase in the future as population ageing and low birth rates continue to be a problem. Naturally, it would have fallen on EEA citizens to make up the shortfall - as they have in recent years. Now that this immigrant labour source is likely to reduce, there will be a need to fill the gap that is left behind. In this instance, the natural replacement will be skilled labour from outside the EEA. This need for more labour will force the UK into creating better rights for non-EEA citizens, especially skilled ones, to encourage movement to the UK.

We are already starting to see the shoots of this change in the introduction of two new visa routes that are replacing two outgoing ones. The Tier 1 Entrepreneur and Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa routes have now been replaced by the Innovator and Start-Up visa routes. While this sounds like only a change in name, the changes to the nuts and bolts of these routes show that the British government understands the need to foster innovation from outside its traditional EEA base.

A Changed Business Environment

As well as the changes to the immigration system, there are likely to be huge changes in the way that business is done in the UK. If Britain does exit from the customs union and single market, there will be a huge gap available for countries that are looking to expand their dealings with the UK. For the UK's historic partners such as India, Australia and various other Commonwealth countries, the changes to the way that business is done in the UK will offer a huge opportunity for economic prosperity.

The changes to the business environment will certainly affect manufacturing in the UK. In recent times, the UK has relied heavily on Eastern Europe to produce products for the UK market. The end of Britain's membership of the single market and customs union would change that irrevocably. The change may actually create a fantastic domestic environment for a new manufacturing revolution in the UK. For non-EEA migrants, this presents a fantastic opportunity - especially if they come from a manufacturing background.

Whatever happens, there are clearly opportunities for entrepreneurial types in the UK after Brexit. If you need help to take advantage of this, get in touch today with our immigration solicitors and our team will be able to help guide you through the immigration system and assist you to make the most of your opportunity.

Potential For Huge Economic Movements

With uncertainty comes volatility. The UK has, for many years, been an economic powerhouse. While Brexit will clearly not end many of Britain's inherent economic benefits, it will certainly challenge them. The dropping value of the pound and the potential for a period of reduced economic activity offer significant options for those who like a bargain. Historically, the UK has bounced back stronger than ever from economic challenges, and there is no doubt that many in the UK believe that the country still has a bright future. This means that in the aftermath of Brexit, there will be opportunities to make investments and start businesses that may not have been possible before - or were certainly more expensive. Couple this with a new visa regime and the UK begins to look like a very welcoming prospect for those with an entrepreneurial spirit. Everyone loves a bargain, and in the aftermath of Brexit, there are likely to be lots of them for those who are brave.