New Immigration System – Rules for Highly Skilled Workers

The Government has announced the rules that will apply to highly skilled foreign workers applying to come to the UK under the new Australian-style points based immigration system (PBS). Underpinning the new system will be a five-tier framework – see http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/managingmigration/apointsbasedsystem/howitworks.

The system is being introduced gradually with the new rules that apply to those in tier 1 – highly skilled workers – having commenced on 29 February 2008.

Any highly skilled foreign nationals currently working here who want to extend their stay will need to apply under the new system. In April 2008, the new system will begin to be rolled out overseas when anyone from India who wants to work in the UK as a highly skilled migrant will need to apply under the PBS. By summer 2008, the new highly skilled system will operate worldwide.

The aim of the PBS is to ensure that only those migrants whose skills are needed can come to the UK. For further information on the highly skilled migrant programme, see http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/hsmp/.