The Revised Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

1. The Revised Highly Skilled Migrant Programme • 2 May 2007, 3.00pm – 4.00pm

2. Background • Introduced 2002 • UK Government aim: • To allow individuals with exceptional skills and experience to seek entry or stay to work in the UK without prior offer of employment or to take up self-employment opportunities. • Suddenly revised in November 2006. • New scheme introduced on 5 December 2006.

3. Why has the scheme changed? • To ensure greater transparency and objectivity in decision making. • To ensure the scheme selects the people who will be most successful in the labour market and will make a strong economic contribution to the UK.

4. Process • HSMP application. • Application approved for 2 years. • Need immigration approval. • If in country – FLR (HSMP). • If out of country – entry clearance (within six months of the HSMP application).

5. How to apply • Complete application form. • Supply ORIGINAL documentation (provide certified translations if necessary). • Fee payable to Home Office Work Permits (UK) now £400) • You need to provide evidence you score 75 points or more; AND • Meet the English Language requirements.

6. Educational Qualifications • PHD: 50 points • Masters: 35 points • Graduate Degree: 30 points Vocational and professional qualifications can score points if satisfactory independent evidence is produced to show that the qualification is equivalent to a UK academic qualification.

7. Educational Qualifications (2) • Evidence required: • Original degree certificate. Clearly showing: • Date and title of award and name of awarding institution. • If professional/vocational you need to provide a letter from appropriate body confirming the qualification’s equivalence to UK academic levels.

8. Previous Earnings • You can claim points for any earnings you have from current employment. • You can claim points for any earnings from employment in the 15 months before you became a full time student. • Your gross earnings will be assessed for a total period of up to 12 months out of the 15 months immediately prior to the application. • Part-time earnings will be considered/earnings do not have to be from a single employer. • Points scored for earnings depend on the country you have been residing and working in to reflect differences in income levels across the world.

9. Previous Earnings (2) • Countries are split into 5 bands (A – E) (set by HM Treasury). • Earnings need to be converted into £. • Points scores for this category range from 5 points to 45 points. • If you have worked in the UK for the past year you will need to demonstrate that you earned between £16,000 (5 points) - £40,000 (45 points).

10. Previous Earnings (3) Two pieces of EVIDENCE are required (all evidence must be in English. If not in English you must send certified translations). If employed: • 12 months wage slips; and • Income tax return. • (If you worked in a country that does not have a tax system you should provide: • Wage slips / bank statements / letter from your employer confirming your income)

11. Previous Earnings (4) If self employed: • Individual tax return; and • Personal bank statements and one of the following: • Company audited accounts and company tax return; • Unaudited business / management accounts plus either business bank statements and a business tax return or copies of business contracts.

12. Previous earnings (4) • If you are a current student and wish to claim points for earnings for 12 months in the 15 month period before your full-time study you need to provide all the evidence plus: - Evidence to show the exchange rate relevant to the dates to be considered. (The website www.oanda.com/convert/classic can find historical exchange rates). • An original signed letter on headed paper of the institution showing: • Your name; • Dates of study; and • Number of hours studied per week.

13. UK Experience • 5 points can be claimed if either: • 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 in full-time higher education in the UK for at least one full academic year.

14. UK Experience (2) • If you are claiming 5 points for previous earnings in the UK you do not need to provide any additional evidence. • If you are claiming your 5 points for studying at a UK institution (or an overseas educational institution with a base in the UK) you need to: • Provide a letter from the UK institution stating that: • You achieved a degree (or higher), and; • The degree involved study for at least one full academic year, and; • This was during the last 5 years, and; • Provide the original letter of permission from the Home Office to enter / remain as a student.

15. UK Experience (3) • If you do not have the original letter of permission from the Home Office you may request exceptional consideration of your case (such as if war or natural disaster has affected you). • You will need to provide alternative evidence: • Notarised copy of the personal details page of your passport and • Notarised copy of your visa.

16. The Age Assessment • This Category involves the award of points depending on age. • Points are awarded as follows AgePoints 27 or under 20 28 or 29 10 30 or 31 5 32 and over 0 • Evidence required: original birth certificate / original full driving licence. • Application must be received before your birthday.

17. MBA Provision To meet the MBA provision and be granted an automatic 75 points you must: • Have graduated from an eligible MBA programme (there are 50 eligible MBA programmes around the world) and • Provide evidence that clearly demonstrates you have graduated from an eligible MBA programme (i.e. original certificate).

18. The English Language Requirement • In order to qualify for HSMP, you must have a good knowledge of English and provide the appropriate evidence to support this. • If you cannot meet this assessment your application will be rejected regardless of any points you score.

19. The English Language Requirement (2) Evidence required Either • An IELTS Test Report form issued the two years prior to the application being made at Band 6 or above (Academic or General tests are fine); Or • A Bachelors degree certificate and an original letter from the awarding body on official letter headed paper (including your name, the qualification obtained, date of the award and confirmation that the course was taught in English).

20. The English Language Requirement (3) • Important to note – a Bachelors degree meets the English language requirements, higher level degrees do not. • Alternative evidence – alternative qualification to IELTS level 6 (check with NARIC). • IELTS – University of Manchester, Language Centre, Oddfellows Hall, (0161) 306 8891. • The Cost of the IELTS exam is £95.

21. Reviews of HSMP Decisions • Reconsiderations – complete form “Request for a Review of a HSMP Application”. • 28 days to submit your request. • 1 review per application. • If new information is submitted a fresh application must be made with new fee.

22. Entry Clearance/Leave to Remain • Out of country – entry clearance. • In country – Leave to remain. • FLR(HSMP) Fee (now £350). • The leave to remain application must be submitted before your existing leave to remain expires.