Highly skilled migrant programme update
The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme marked its first birthday on 28 January 2003. It allows skilled people from overseas to work in the UK without needing to obtain a work permit. The programme has been revised on applications made from 28 January onwards and guidelines have now been made on making Extension Applications (see below ). The Home Office has also stated that time spent as a Highly Skilled Migrant may now be combined with time spent in other immigration categories leading to settlement - such as a work permit holder - to count towards the four years needed to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.
Revised programme
The main changes are to the point scoring system for assessing applicants. They still require 75 points or more from the four categories of educational qualifications, work experience, income earned in the past year and in their chosen field. However, the changes are:
- Points for work experience increase from a range of 15 to 25 points, to 25 to 50 points - the highest score for those with 10 years' graduate work experience, including five years at a senior or specialist level
- While the points for income earned remain the same, there are now five categories of countries instead of four. A much lower level of income is required to score points from working in countries in categories B to E
- Significant achievement in the applicant's chosen field will now only be awarded 15 instead of 25 points, and exceptional achievement 25 instead of 50 points
- Switching the emphasis from achievement to work experience should allow many more applications to succeed. It is often difficult for an individual to score in the achievement category in practice.
Successful HSMP applications lead to one year's Leave to Remain in the UK. To extend this by up to a further three years, the applicant needs to supply evidence of his economic activity for the first 12 months. This should include details of employment or, if self-employed, evidence of progress, including a business plan and business bank account as a minimum. He must continue to meet the "mandatory criteria" required for application - an ability to continue his career in the UK, sufficient financial resources without reliance on public funds and an intention to make the UK his main home. Extension Applications will not be processed any earlier than one month before expiry of the current leave.
The future?
In the first eleven-and-a-half months of the programme, there were approximately 2,600 applications, with an approval rate of about 53 per cent - but 12,000 applications are expected in the second year. It will be easier for skilled migrants to obtain 75 points under the revised criteria.
