The range of UK immigration services available to people wishing to immigrate to Britain is broad and varied, encompassing economic based routes such as UK work permits, and the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or HSMP, as well as family immigration visas and visitor visas designed for those wishing to visit Britain for a short period. British visa applications under all of these routes offer the potential to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK (ILR) or permanent residency as it is often known.

HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANT PROGRAMME (HSMP)

A Highly Skilled Migrant Programme visa application for the UK, usually referred to as HSMP, is an option for immigration to the United Kingdom available to professional people, or to those who are interested in working in the UK without requiring a Work Permit.

The UK has introduced a number of new UK immigration categories in the last few years. The points based skilled immigration category the Highly Skilled Migrant Program, introduced in January 2002 with the latest changes on 01 July 2008, and has proved to be very successful.
The program is designed to allow individuals with exceptional personal skills and experience to come to the United Kingdom and seek employment.

This program is a new way of allowing individuals to migrate to the United Kingdom. It aims to provide an individual migration route for highly skilled persons who have the skills and experience required by the United Kingdom to compete in the global economy.

TIER 1 (GENERAL) VISA TO THE UK

The Tier 1 (General) Visa has become a popular choice amongst skilled workers and businesspersons due to its versatility. The Tier 1 (General) allows applicants to search for a job, attend interviews and take up employment or set up a business as a self-employed person.

TIER 1 (GENERAL) VISA BASIC REQUIREMENTS

In light of the changes that were brought in by the UK government on the 30th June 2008, Tier 1 (General) has been now replaced the Highly Skilled Migration programme (HSMP) globally. The Tier 1 will be the most popular and successful means of working in the UK for the skilled workers and businesspersons due to its versatility. The Tier 1 allows applicants to search for a job, attend interviews and take up employment or set up a business as a self-employed person.

Regardless of whether the application is made within the UK or abroad the requirements are similar. The basic requirement of this Visa is that you score a minimum of75 points for ‘Attributes’ AND 10 points each for English language and Maintenance in order to qualify for the Tier 1 (General).

Under this scheme the applicant is not reliant on an employer to provide a job offer or required to apply for a work permit before they enter the UK. This makes the Tier 1 (General) an attractive option for non-EEA nationals seeking to work in the UK and perhaps become a permanent resident. For those considering setting up a business there is no need to produce a detailed business plan showing the business will create two full time jobs for British settled persons, or show disposable funds of £200,000 to set up the business, as is required under some migration schemes.

TIER 1 (GENERAL) VISA ENTITLEMENTS

The benefit of the Tier 1 (General) Visa is that it offers the opportunity to obtain permanent residence in the UK after a 5-year period. In addition you may then be able to apply for British Nationality. In other words, it is the best visa, which a Non-European can have in the UK.

The Tier 1 (General) visa permits you to enter the UK for an initial period of up to three years. During this period you must either take up employment or set up your own business. This period can be extended up to a further two years, provided that you meet the relevant criteria, especially in terms of employment and ability to support yourself and any dependents.

Upon successfully holding five years leave under the Tier 1 (General) you may be entitled to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR entitles you to permanent residency in the UK as well as visa-free travel in and out of the UK. Once you have held ILR for a period of one year you may be able to apply for British nationality.

Your dependents are allowed to enter the UK with you and are permitted to work. Dependants may include your spouse, unmarried partner (with whom you have lived for at least two years) and children under the age of 18 years. Their leave may be extended in line with yours.

The Program operates on a points-based system and allows people with valuable professional skills to migrate to the United Kingdom in order to look for work or to become self-employed. Unlike a UK Work Permit the HSMP UK visa service requires neither an application from a British company nor a specific offer of employment to be in place. As a result, HSMP offers greater flexibility to the holder ensuring that they are not tied to an employer and are free to undertake employment as they choose.
In addition, HSMP differs from the Innovators scheme or other business categories in that applicants do not need to invest, create jobs or present a detailed business plan. After five years, UK HSMP visa holders can apply for British naturalization, or British Citizenship, for permanent residency in the United Kingdom.

Initially a visa for Britain through HSMP is granted for a period of two years. After the initial two years, migrants with desirable skills need to apply to stay longer and must show that they are economically active. If you are active through our limited company option (see below), you will earn more points than if you were employed directly. However, either situation is acceptable provided that you can demonstrate evidence of employment.

The points system requires applicants to obtain a minimum of 75 points based on the following criteria:

While age is not a precluding factor for HSMP immigration, people of certain ages receive more or less points according to the following scale:

Points are awarded in this area of the British HSMP based on the level of qualifications achieved. A British equivalent degree is the minimum qualification required for Highly Skilled Migrant Programme visas. The HSMP point calculator awards additional priority points to Doctors who are allowed to work as General Practitioners in the United Kingdom.

In summary points are awarded as follows

(A British qualification in any of the above categories will gain an additional five points). (An MBA from a participating university received after December 2nd 2004 will automatically reach the 75 point quota).

Work Experience Points in this area are calculated on the number of year's experience gained by a candidate making an HSMP application in their chosen field. Additional points can also be awarded if the applicant has held a senior or specialist role for a number of years. Past Earnings between 5 and 45 Points are awarded for earnings made over the past 12 months. Where the earnings took place is also taken into account, and working in the UK can add an additional 5 points when your eligibility to pursue UK immigration on this basis is considered. The following additional requirements are also essential to qualify for HSMP.

Our Self employed option allows a person to earn more money per year. As UK HSMP consultants, we set up and manage a Limited company for you allowing you to earn several thousands of pounds more take-home pay. We do this by saving you from large tax bills while working in the country. HSMP applications with the option of working as a freelancer or contractor will not only allow for greater earnings but will also receive more points towards an HSMP extension visa. This means that when your initial two year visa is due for renewal you will be awarded extra points for working through our company solution. This will strengthen your case and save you thousands of pounds in the process. Please note that if you currently have a tax solution in place or wish to work under PAYE this will not prevent us from assisting you.

Spouse/Unmarried Partner Successful UK visa applications of this kind allow the spouse/unmarried partner of an HSMP holder to apply for a Dependency Visa In these circumstances, spouse immigration requires that the dependant in question must cohabit with you. Unmarried partners making applications for UK visas as dependants must be able to demonstrate that their relationship existed for at least two years prior to the application for HSMP.