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<p>The Government very much values the importance of religious and cultural expression
to our communities in the UK and we continue to welcome Ministers of Religion from
all faiths who wish to come to the UK in accordance with our Immigration Rules.</p><p>There
are two routes for Religious Workers in the current immigration system.</p><p>Tier
2 Ministers of Religion is for those playing a leading role as faith leaders in our
religious institutions. This category requires those coming to have a strong command
of the English language in order to ensure Ministers of Religion can lead their congregations
effectively and can interact with the wider communities they serve.</p><p>The second
route, Tier 5 Religious Workers, is for those undertaking non-pastoral roles supporting
the activities of these institutions. In line with our other temporary work categories,
Tier 5 Religious Workers are not required to demonstrate their English language skills
when applying for a visa.</p><p>We have taken steps to prevent our temporary work
categories being used as a means to live in the UK for longer periods. Tier 5 is designed
to facilitate short periods of knowledge sharing and cultural exchange and yet we
have identified evidence of migrants using our Tier 5 Religious Worker and Charity
Worker routes to facilitate near continuous residence in the UK.</p><p>We made changes
to the Immigration Rules in October 2018 to preclude the use of Tier 5 by minister
of Religion and to introduce a ‘cooling off period’, preventing Tier 5 Religious worker
and Tier 5 Charity Worker visa holders from returning to the UK, via these immigration
routes, for 12 months after their visa expires. This approach underpins the Government’s
intention that these are temporary routes.</p><p>Bona fide Ministers of Religion are
still welcome to come to the UK and that there remains a route for them in the immigration
system through Tier 2.</p><p><br>The Government wrote to faith leaders in December,
setting out the detail and explaining the rationale for the changes. Officials remain
in regular contact with stakeholders and we are embarking on an extensive programme
of engagement, in connection with the future immigration system.</p>
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