Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) was a scheme, which has now been phased out, that was designed to allow highly skilled people to immigrate into the United Kingdom to look for work or self-employment opportunities. It was different from the standard UK work permit scheme in that applicants do not need a specific job offer in the UK. [ [http://www.frommers.com/articles/4726.html How To Live Abroad (Legally) Without Going Broke] , Frommers, 16 October 2007, accessed 9 January 2008]

History

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme was introduced on 28 January 2002. [cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/em2005/uksiem_20050627_en.pdf|title=Explanatory memorandum to the Immigration Employment Document (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2005|year=2005|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|accessdate=2008-08-23] The scheme was significantly changed on 7 November 2006 (with changes taking effect from 8 November 2006), with a points-based assessment for new applicants and those wishing to extend their stay being introduced. This prompted protests, with many HSMP visa holders fearing that the changes will force them out of the UK, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6252007.stm Skilled migrant workers protest] , BBC News, 11 January 2007, accessed 26 August 2007] and the joint House of Commons and House of Lords Human Rights Committee arguing that the retroactive changes breach human rights legislation. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6937329.stm Tougher migrant rules 'illegal'] , BBC News, 8 August 2007, accessed 26 August 2007] The application of these HSMP changes to those already in the UK as HSMP holders as at 7th November 2006 was ruled as unlawful in a judicial review [ [http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2008/664.html HSMP Forum Ltd, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department ] ] and the UK Border Agency subsequently honoured this judicial review, implementing a remedy which allowed impacted migrants, including those who left the country, to apply to have leave under the new points-based UK immigration system instated in place of their lost HSMP leave. [ [http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/hsmp/hsmpjudicialreview/ UK Border Agency HSMP Forum judicial review ] ]

The HSMP has been replaced by Tier 1 of the new points-based UK immigration system. [ [http://bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/pointsbasedsystem/eligibility/whoshouldapply/ UK Border Agency: Who Should Apply for Tier 1 Immigration ] ] .

Points system

The HSMP system was a points-based immigration scheme, requiring a minimum of 75 points to qualify. From 8 November 2006 until closure points were awarded for educational qualifications (maximum of 50 points), past earnings based on a country banding system (45), age (20) and UK experience (5). Applicants also had to demonstrate English language ability and that they had sufficient funds to maintain themselves in the UK.

References

External links

* [http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/hsmp/ UK Home Office Highly Skilled Migrant Programme information]
* [http://www.naric.org.uk UK Naric]
* [http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/A/5/pbr04_50mbas_50.pdf List of approved MBA schools]
* [http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/11406/49552/hsmp1guidance?version=1 HSMP guidance document (PDF)]