Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) aims to provide a route to the UK for individuals who have exceptional personal skills and experience which are required by the UK to compete in the global economy. It provides an opportunity for individuals to come here to seek work without a prior offer of employment or to take up self-employment opportunities here.
To qualify under this programme you will need to show that you have achieved a total of more than 75 points in the four categories listed below. You also have to demonstrate that you can continue your career in the UK.
There are two stages to your application if you are a new applicant under the HSMP. Initially you must make an application to the Home Office in the UK. The purpose of this stage in the process is to see if you meet the points criteria. If your application is successful you will receive an approval letter from Work Permits UK. Once you have this approval letter you can then go on to the second stage. The second stage of your application is to make an application for a visa (which is called Entry Clearance) to your nearest British Embassy or British High Commission. You must normally make an application under this programme from outside the UK unless you have limited permission to remain in the UK in a category which allows you to switch.
Further details in relation to both stages of the application process can be found below. If you think that you may qualify under the programme then please do not hesitate to contact us for further advice. We can assist you in preparing your application and advise you on the type of documentary evidence that you will need to submit with your application. As part of our service we will make detailed representations in support of your application in order to give it the greatest chance of succeeding.
1. Applications to Work Permits UK under the HSMP
The Points System
To qualify for permission to come to the United Kingdom under this section you must be able to show that you are able to achieve a total of 75 points or more from any of the categories listed below.
Age
- Points are scored on the basis of your age ranging from 0-20 e.g. if you are under 27 you get 20 points if you are over 32 you get 0 points;
Qualifications
- Points are scored on the basis of qualifications ranging from 30 points to 75 points for example a bachelors degree is 30 points and an MBA from the top 50 MBA schools is 75 points;
Previous Earnings
- Points can be scored for previous earnings, which are your gross earnings from 12 months of work out of a previous 15 months. The Home Office will consider your last 15 months of earnings before your studies commenced if you have been studying for the last year. The Home Office will also take into account part-time earnings. Points are scored depending on the level of income earned and the income band the country you worked in falls in too Points can be added for UK experience.
UK Connection
- Points can be scored if either your previous earnings were in the United Kingdom or you have studied and graduated at bachelors degree level or higher in full time further education in the United Kingdom or at a United Kingdom institution based over seas for at least one full academic year.
Information on the points requirements for applicants can be found at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
There is also a language skills section. The Applicant must have a Bachelor’s Degree that was taught in English and is an equivalent level to a UK Bachelor’s, or the International English Language testing system report form issued in the two years prior to the date of the application at Band 6 or above.
MBA Applicants
There is one category of applicant that is treated as a priority application and attracts additional points under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
It allows those applicants who graduated with an MBA after 2nd December 2004 from one of the top 50 institutions in the world (which are listed on the Work Permits UK website). These applicants will automatically attract the 75 points required for a Highly Skilled Migrant application.
Additional Requirements
In addition to scoring 75 points or more you must also satisfy the following requirements:
- An ability to continue to work in your chosen field in the UK.
This could be in the form of details of vacancies, which you might qualify for, job applications that you have already made, or details of a job offer that has already been made to you. You must also show that you can continue to work in your chosen field here. In other words your training and qualifications must be accepted in the UK. For example, doctors and lawyers may have to satisfy certain criteria laid down by their governing bodies in the UK before being allowed to practise here.
- That you have enough savings or potential income to support both yourself and your family whilst you are in the UK under the programme. You will not be entitled to claim any pubic benefits whilst you are here under the programme.
- That you are willing and able to make the UK your main home.
You will be required to make a declaration to this effect on the application form.
There is a fee of £400 payable for this type of application and you will need to complete an application form, which can be found on the Home Office website at: www.workingintheuk.gov.uk
2. Applications for an Entry Clearance Visa
If your application to Work Permits UK is successful you will then need to apply for Entry Clearance from the British Embassy or British High Commission, which is closest to you in your country of residence.
You will need to complete an application form (VAF1 – Non-Settlement) and a fee is also payable for this application. A copy of the Application form and details of current Entry Clearance fees can be found at the following website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk
In order to succeed in your visa application you will need to provide your original letter from Work Permits UK confirming your acceptance under the programme. You will also need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds to accommodate and support yourself and your family adequately without the need to claim public funds from the government to help support you or your family. In order to satisfy this requirement, you will need to provide details of your income for the past three months and details of any savings that you have to show that you will not need to claim Social Security benefits in order to support yourself whilst you are looking for work.
If your application is successful, you will initially be granted permission to remain in the UK for up to 24 months. You must make an application to extend your leave to remain around one month before this permission to remain expires. You will need to provide evidence of your employment and earnings during the 24 month period, and you will need to show that you still meet the 75 points requirement. Providing that you still qualify under the programme, your permission to remain will normally be extended for a further three years.
Once you have had permission to remain in the UK for five years you may be entitled to apply for settlement (called indefinite leave to remain) in the UK. We can also advise in relation to this of application if you would like us to.
Once you have lived in the UK for five years (three years if married to a British Citizen), and have had indefinite leave to remain for at least one year, you may qualify for British citizenship.