Khan Calls for Pause on New UK Immigration Rules Amid TfL Uncertainty

(LONDON) London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for an immediate pause to the government’s new immigration rules after 200 to 300 Transport for London staff were told their legal status is at risk under changes rolled out this summer. The workers most affected are recent hires who joined as TfL graduates on the Graduate route with a clear expectation they could switch to the Skilled Worker visa once they met experience and role requirements.

“These are workers who took jobs with TfL on graduate visas, with every reason to believe they could transition to a Skilled Worker visa and continue to build their lives in London. They’ve spent thousands of pounds to be here, worked hard to gain qualifications, invested everything and now they’re being told they have no place here and to just look at a website for advice as their dreams of a future with TfL are shattered,” Khan said.

What changed and when

At the heart of the crisis are policy changes introduced on July 22, 2025, which:

• Raised the skills threshold for Skilled Worker sponsorship to RQF level 6 (degree-level qualifications).
• Removed 111 previously eligible occupations from the visa pathway.

For TfL graduates and other early-career hires across the capital, that sudden shift in eligibility risks breaking the bridge from a time‑limited Graduate visa to longer-term Skilled Worker status. Without sponsorship, many face the end of their lawful stay and the prospect of having to leave the UK, despite planning their education, finances, and careers around the old system.

Policy changes overview and government rationale

The reforms were set out after the government’s May 2025 white paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” which framed the measures as necessary to bring down net migration.

Key government points:

• Officials cite growth in migration from 224,000 in June 2019 to 906,000 in June 2024.
• The stated aim is for numbers to fall “further and faster over time to sustainable levels.”

The July package tightened Skilled Worker eligibility by:

1. Lifting the skills bar to roles assessed at RQF level 6, generally degree-level jobs.
2. Striking 111 occupations from the sponsorship list, removing routes many graduates previously used to switch status.
3. Reaffirming a stricter focus on roles seen as high-skilled, with less room for entry-level positions to qualify.

While the Home Office argues the rules make the system clearer and more targeted, the timing has upended plans for many recent graduates who arranged study, placement, and training around the earlier rules. Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the jump to RQF level 6 can cut off pathways in sectors where roles often start below degree level but rise quickly with experience—such as parts of transport, construction, and customer-facing public services.

Immediate impact on TfL and employers

For TfL, the impact is immediate and operational:

• Teams that expected to sponsor promising graduates are rechecking job descriptions, qualification levels, and occupation codes against the post‑July list.
• Some roles that were expected to qualify no longer do.
• Even where duties could arguably fit a level 6 description, legal teams warn sponsorship decisions under the new rules may carry higher risk.

Employers now face several difficult options:

• Reshape roles now to fit RQF level 6.
• Hold posts open while policies are reviewed.
• Watch trained staff exit at the end of their Graduate visas.

Impact on TfL graduates and London’s workforce

Khan’s intervention reflects broader concern about a “perfect storm” in London’s labour market: a combination of EU workers leaving, fewer new arrivals, and caps on non‑EU routes that could strain essential services.

Human effects include:

• Graduates expecting to qualify next year suddenly finding their occupation code is off the list.
• Junior engineers with degrees occupying roles classed below level 6 until promoted.
• People weighing whether to spend more on fresh qualifications or return home after investing in living and working in London.
• Families facing sudden school moves, lease issues, and financial disruption.

Khan’s office argues the government should “pause and review” to protect people who acted in good faith. Proponents of the reforms say the UK needs a tighter system to ease pressure on housing, services, and wages. Both points hold weight; the key issue is timing and transition.

Possible short-term solutions Khan suggests

A short, targeted pause could allow:

• Clear guidance for employers on mapping roles to RQF level 6 where duties warrant it.
• Transitional relief for graduates already in the pipeline, avoiding cliff‑edge outcomes.
• Data checks to ensure critical sectors like transport, healthcare, and education are not short‑staffed due to abrupt sponsorship gaps.

Practical steps for affected workers and employers

Employers and workers are asking for practical steps they can take now:

• TfL graduates should review job descriptions against the Skilled Worker occupation list and confirm whether the assigned code now requires level 6.
• HR teams should keep careful records of duties, training, and qualifications that demonstrate degree‑level work.
• Where roles have evolved, update job descriptions to better reflect actual skill levels.
• If a role genuinely cannot meet level 6 at entry, managers should consider structured progression plans so duties rise to the required level within the Graduate visa window.

For official guidance on requirements, applicants and employers can consult the government’s Skilled Worker pages on GOV.UK. While that site provides the baseline rules, many affected workers say it doesn’t answer the practical “what now?”—especially for those already in jobs that were eligible last year.

Broader political and economic context

Khan has long criticised what he calls a “hostile environment for migrants,” arguing it unfairly targets Londoners with every right to remain and makes day-to-day life harder, from renting to accessing services. He emphasises that migrants contribute strongly to the economy and culture, and that the current climate harms London’s reputation as “an open, innovative and liberal economy.” Business groups similarly warn that mid‑stream rule shifts drain confidence and complicate multi‑year project planning.

A stable graduate‑to‑Skilled Worker ladder:

• Helps fill skills gaps.
• Keeps public services running.
• Signals that London values talent.

Abrupt removals of 111 occupations and a jump to RQF level 6 without tailored transition rules risk losing workers who are already trained, vetted, and contributing. For commuters, the impact may be invisible initially, but over time staffing gaps can slow maintenance, delay upgrades, and stretch teams responsible for keeping the city moving.

The choice for ministers and the immediate need

Khan’s request sets up a clear choice for ministers:

• Double down on the new rules to hit migration targets now, or
• Pause to protect people already in the pipeline while still pursuing lower overall numbers later.

Either path carries costs. But for the 200 to 300 TfL graduates and colleagues now checking calendars and visa end dates, the need is immediate. A measured pause, even for a few months, could:

• Keep skilled staff on track.
• Give employers time to adjust roles to RQF level 6.
• Help the city retain talent it has already worked hard to recruit and train.

Key takeaway: A short, targeted pause could prevent abrupt losses of trained staff, provide clarity for employers and graduates, and allow time for sensible transitional arrangements while the government pursues its broader migration objectives.