Will Remote Work Outlast COVID-19?

In the last eight months, we’ve all become used to working from home, and remote work is likely to remain prevalent for many workers moving forward. The media keeps reporting that some firms have no plans to return to the office. Some companies are planning not to renew their leases and move to full-time remote working.

Today we will be discussing remote working for sponsored migrants. Some people, like me, have taken this opportunity to work remotely outside of the U.K. — but this sort of arrangement would be difficult for a Tier 2 visa holder. In fact, even long-term remote working from inside the U.K. can create a problem for Tier 2 visa holders.

If remote working is to become the norm, the Home Office will need to consider their approach to Tier 2 visas. At the moment, the Home Office have a temporary COVID-19 guidance allowing Tier 2 visa holders to work from home, but this is likely to be reviewed as lockdown eases.

In this podcast, Faegre Drinker’s Hodon Anastasi takes a close look at the intersection of immigration policy and remote work, including:

• How might working remotely on a permanent basis impact a Tier 2 visa holder’s status?
• What should businesses with Tier 2 sponsored employees keep in mind when contemplating expanding remote work?
• Can we expect the Home Office to amend its policies on remote work as the Skilled Worker visa replaces the Tier 2 General visa?

The Faegre Drinker Immigration Law Podcast is a podcast all about immigration and only about immigration. Each episode will tackle a timely topic in immigration law, with the aim of making these complicated and often misunderstood issues less daunting, more accessible, and maybe even a little fun. Tune in for future episodes on the latest news, developments and challenges in the world of immigration law — and thank you for listening!