London — Debt collectors, mortgage administrators, and HR officers will continue to be eligible for UK skilled-worker visas despite sweeping reforms to immigration rules laid in Parliament on Tuesday. The changes, part of a broader effort to restrict work visas to graduate-level roles, raise salary thresholds and aim to reduce overall migration numbers.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the reforms as a “complete reset” designed to bring “proper control and order” by focusing on “higher skills, lower number and tighter controls.”

However, the newly introduced “temporary shortage list” — valid until the end of 2026 — includes several non-graduate occupations, allowing employers to continue recruiting internationally for roles such as IT help desk technicians, book-keepers, and sales staff. These positions will no longer allow migrants to bring dependents and will not benefit from visa fee discounts.

Some roles were included due to chronic shortages, while others were deemed critical to the UK’s industrial strategy, which highlights creative, tech, and infrastructure sectors.

Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, noted the urgency behind the reforms to avoid a last-minute hiring surge. From 2027, only sectors with clear UK workforce training plans may retain visa access.