This analysis covers the main changes to the immigration rules (the Rules) set out in HC 1078.

HC 1078 was issued on 16 March 2017, along with an Explanatory Memorandum (EM). Many of the changes are to Tier 2, as the Statement of Changes implements the second tranche of changes to Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) (ICT) which were first announced in Parliament by the previous Minister of Immigration, James Brokenshire MP, on 24 March 2016. This speech followed the government's consideration of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)'s reports on its full review of Tier 2. For details of the implementation of the first tranche of changes in November 2016, see Practice Note: Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 667—analysis [Archived]. Most of the changes to Tier 2 were anticipated from the Ministerial Statement, or from other prior announcements in relevant policy guidance. In a related development, the Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2017, SI 2017/420 will come into force on 6 April 2017. This implements another change announced