| Highly Skilled Migration Program (HSMP)
Introduction
The Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP) is best program for those who want to immigrate to UK permanently. This program was originally launched on 28th January 2002. This program is similar to Skilled Migration Program for Australia and Canada. However it is some what different from the Permanent Residence Program offered by Australia and Canada because in this program you become Permanent Residence only after completion of specified period as contrast to the Australia and Canada where you migrate as Permanent Residence from the beginning.
The program is designed to allow highly skilled people to migrate to the United Kingdom to look for work or self-employment opportunities.
A Highly Skilled Migrant Program 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.
One of the best features of The Highly Skilled Migrant Program is that unlike work permit you do not need to have a specific job offer from UK for making an Application under this scheme. 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.
This plan is also different from the Business Migration because you are not required to submit detailed business plan, you are not required to create jobs and you are also not required to invest in UK. However HSMP holders after coming to UK can work in UK or establish own business.
Main Features of New HSMP Scheme
- Qualifying score for the scheme was increased to 75 points.
- Point for Work Experience is removed however you can score 5 bonus points if you have UK work experience or full time studies in UK.
- Points for the Spouse/Partner skills were removed.
- More points are made available for the applicant’s age at the time of making an application.
- Points available for the Significant Achievement removed.
- Points available to Medical GPs removed
- Proficiency for the English language required was made absolute requirement. Your English level proficiency should be to the Level of 6 Band IELTS level.
- Further points were made available for the past earnings.
- Extension of HSMP application has been changed considerably. You must now meet the same criteria as new HSMP applications.
Under HSMP Scheme a visa is granted for UK for a period of two years initially. After completion of two years, migrants can apply to stay longer. However while making an application for extension of visa under this scheme you are required to show that you are economically active.
Eligibility Criteria
As explained above this is a point based system under which you are required to score 75 points to qualify under this scheme. The points are awarded based on the following criteria.
- Age
- Educational Qualifications
- Previous Earnings
- Work experience in Britain
Age
High consideration is given to the Highly Skilled young graduate to score maximum points in this category because there is a greater potential for young highly skilled individuals to be active in the labor market for longer period than their older counterparts. Following table will show the points allocated depending on age of the applicant.
| AGE |
POINTS |
27 years or under |
20 |
28 or 29 years |
10 |
30 or 31 years |
5 |
32 years or over |
0 |
Qualifications
Points are awarded in this area is based on the level of qualifications achieved. A British equivalent degree is the minimum qualification required for Highly Skilled Migrant Program visas. There are no extra points for a 4 year Bachelors degree rather than a three year degree, or for having more than one degree at any given level.
QUALIFICATION |
POINTS |
PhD |
50 |
Masters Degree (eg MA, MSc or MBA) |
35 |
A Bachelors Degree (eg BA, BSc) |
30 |
Vocational and Professional Qualifications - Based on Equivalency to above UK Qualifications |
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(An MBA from a participating university received after December 2nd 2004 will automatically reach the 75 point quota).
Earning power
You can claim points between 5 to 45 for your previous earnings obtained from your work over the past 12 months out of the 15 months immediately prior to your application. The earnings can be for any consecutive 12 months period out of the last 15 months. You can have gaps in the employment within this 12 months period; however the cumulative earnings total should need to meet the minimum earnings as per requirement. Under these criteria you can claim point if you are salaried or non salaried employment. While making an application you should state your start and end date of the period. If you claim for a period exceeding/outside the 12 months out of a 15-month period prior to the application date, you will be assessed on the basis of your earnings 12 months directly prior to the application date.
It is not necessary that earnings should be from the single employer only. The employment may be full time or part time. Your total earnings for several part time jobs over a period up to 12 months in the 15 prior to your application will be considered. p to 12 months in the 15 months prior to your application, and can consider your total earnings from several jobs over this period.
It should be noted that all income will not be considered. Unearned income such as dividends from investments (unless it is in a company in which you are active in day-to-day management), property rental income, and interest on savings or funds received through an inheritance are not used when calculating your income.
Following table will show the points allocation for the different earnings if you are applying from India.
EARNING PER ANNUM |
POINTS |
£3,000 |
5 |
£3,400 |
10 |
£3,800 |
15 |
£4,300 |
20 |
£4,900 |
25 |
£5,500 |
30 |
£6,000 |
35 |
£6,600 |
40 |
£7,500 |
45 |
UK Experience
You can claim five points if you have previous experience of living in the UK on either of the following ground.
- You have successfully scored points under the previous earnings category and your earnings were in the UK; or
- You have studied and graduated at Bachelors degree level or higher (as recognized by NARIC) in full-time higher education in the UK, or at a UK-based overseas educational institution, for at least one full academic year.
You can only score a total of five points in this category. You can not score five points for UK earnings and five points for UK qualifications.
Other Requirements
You are required to satisfy following conditions over and above scoring 75 points under this scheme.
- You must have a high level of ability in English. (equivalent to 6 Band Score in IELTS the IELTS qualifications obtained should not be less than two years old)
- You must be able to support them without recourse to public funding. (This can be proved on the basis of either savings or earning potential.
- You have neither been bankrupt nor considered to be a discharged bankrupt.
- You have never been convicted to a criminal offence.
- You must have an intention to make UK as your main home.
Your Points Score - You can estimate your points by adding together your points score for section 1 to 5 above. You need a minimum of 75 points to qualify
Qualifying Criteria |
Maximum Points |
Your Score |
Age |
20 |
|
Qualification |
50 |
|
UK Qualification or Work Experience |
5 |
|
Earning Power |
45 |
|
Total |
120 |
|
Processing Fees
Fees payable for processing HSMP Application may change at any time. At present processing fees payable for the application made outside UK under this scheme is 400 GBP. There is no fees payable for the application for review of decision under this scheme.
Application Process
The process of making an application under this program involves two stages.
IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE UK
-
Preparing application form HSMP1 and lodged it to the HSMP team in UK for consideration.
-
If the application is approved by HSMP team if you are out of UK you are required to make separate application for entry clearance to UK to British Embassy / High Commission or Consulate in either your country of origin or country of residence.
IF YOU ARE IN UK
Individuals already in the UK may apply to switch into HSMP without leaving the UK provided they have lived as a:
-
Work permit holder; or
-
Student who has successfully obtained a degree level qualification in a recognized degree course at either a UK publicly funded or higher education institution or a bona fide UK private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; or
-
Postgraduate doctor or a postgraduate dentist or trainee general practitioner; or
-
Working holidaymaker; or
-
International Graduates Scheme participant; or
-
Innovator; or
-
Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme participant.
However you can not be successful under this scheme if you are in the UK as visitor, on temporary admission, or without permission.
Urgent Processing
If you wish that your application is to be considered on an urgent basis, it is possible to make a request for your application to be processed urgently in the following circumstances:
- You have urgent travel commitments;
- You require urgent medical treatment;
- You have received an offer of employment;
- You have other exceptional circumstances.
Application for Indefinite Stay/ Permanent Residency
If you live here continuously for five years except for short holidays or business trips with Home Office permission, you can make an application for indefinite leave to remain here as Permanent Resident. If you are outside UK for more than three months it will make your previous stay in the UK ineligible as a continuous period in the UK. If you are granted leave to remain indefinitely in UK you and your dependent family members can stay permanently in the UK.
Accompaning Dependent Familiy Members
Your spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same-sex partner and dependent children under the age of 18 may apply to join you in the UK. If they are overseas they must apply for the entry clearance before they travel to the UK.
If entry clearance is approved your spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner and dependent children will be granted leave to enter on the same conditions of stay as you. They will be able to work if they wish.
If your dependent family members are already in UK they can also apply for an extension to stay or leave to remain in the UK.
Review of Descision
If you are not satisfied with the decision of the authority you are entitled to request for the review of your application. This review application should be made within 28 days of date of original decision letter explaining why you believe that the decision taken was wrong by giving reference to the guidance note.
While making review application it should be noted that the application should be made only on the basis of documents provided with the original application. The information which was not provided in the original application can not be considered.
It should be noted that the review process is complete reconsideration of the application under this scheme hence the points awarded under review process may differ from the original decision.
There is only one review available. If you are successful you will be informed accordingly and you may thereafter apply for the entry clearance.
If you wish to submit further information you are required to make fresh application with the full fees.
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