|
1. Education - 30 HSMP points available ( back to top )
- Bachelors degree (eg BA, BSc) - 15 points
- Masters degree (eg MA, MSc or MBA) - 25 points
- Doctoral degree - 30 points available
Qualifications have to be to the recognised British standard of Bachelors, Masters or PhD to be awarded the respective points towards HSMP for each level of qualification.Vocational and professional qualifications can also score points towards the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme in this area if satisfactory evidence can be produced to show the qualification is equivalent to an applicable level British qualification. This will be validated, where necessary, by reference to the National Academic Recognition Information Centre database by the HSMP Team.
2. Work Experience - 50 HSMP points available ( back to top )
The points available towards HSMP in this category have changed for those under 28 years of age ( see below ). For those over 28 years of age the scoring criteria for the Highly Skilled Migrant Program remain much the same for this category.
Your points score should be based on EITHER a) OR b).
a) 5 years work experience in a job normally requiring a graduate - 25 points.
3 years work experience with a PhD - 25 points.
Add another 10 points to the above if you have that level of experience AND ALSO have at least two years' senior or specialist work experience.
= Possible 35 points in total
b) You will score 50 points if you have at least ten years' graduate level work experience including at least 5 years senior or specialist work experience.
Graduate level work experience would normally be a role within a company or institution that would require you to have a minimum educational standard of a first-degree level qualification. You do not necessarily have to hold a degree but the post held would normally require one.
Senior level work experience would normally be a role at board level in a small company, in a larger business it could amount to a department head or leader of project management team. Those working in academia may have run a department or headed a research team. We will usually consider those who run their own businesses that employ a number of staff as demonstrating senior level work experience.
A specialist position is normally one that may not have any particular managerial role but requires a very high level of technical or artistic expertise.
The type of evidence required to demonstrate work experience is :
* Employer references on their letter headed paper, showing dates of employment, job title and a description of duties and responsibilities held.
Those who have been self employed should provide (where relevant) :
* Business plans
* Annual business accounts
* Tax returns for the business
* Client contracts
* Number of staff employed
Please note - Personal references will not be accepted as evidence.2. Work Experience - 50 HSMP points available - ( back to top )
For those under 28 years of age
- 2 years work experience in a job normally requiring a graduate - 25 points.
- 4 years work experience in a job normally requiring a graduate - 35 points.
- 4 years work experience in a job normally requiring a graduate plus at least one year in a senior or specialist role - 50 points.
3. Earnings - 50 HSMP points available ( back to top )
This category requires you to demonstrate a minimum earned income in your country of residence to score points. In order to reflect differences in income levels across the world the level required to qualify varies depending where you live. The country you are living in (or where your income is earned) is considered, not your nationality. Again, the required earnings for scoring of points depends on your age ( Over or Under 28 years ).
For example a Chinese National residing and working in the United States of America would be required to demonstrate a minimum annual income level over the past twelve months of £40,000 in order to score 25 points, whilst a Canadian National working in South Africa would be required to demonstrate an minimum annual income level over the past twelve months of £12,500 to score 25 points
It is important to note that not all income will 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.
You need to show your income in the country where you live now. Of course there are different levels of income depending on where you live. The country codes linked from below will establish this for you. All earnings need to be declared.
Country Code A
e.g. Germany, France, Sweden, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, Bermuda, Japan,
Singapore
Over 28 - £40,000 per annum = 25 Points | Under 28 - £27,000 per annum
Over 28 - £100,000 per annum = 35 Points | Under 28 - £40,000 per annum
Over 28 - £250,000 per annum = 50 Points | Under 28 - £60,000 per annum
Country Code B
e.g. Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, Poland, Hungary, Argentina, Mexico, Czech Republic, South Korea, Saudi Arabia
Over 28 - £17,500 per annum = 25 Points | Under 28 - £11,800 per annum
Over 28 - £43,750 per annum = 35 Points | Under 28 - £17,500 per annum
Over 28 - £109,375 per annum = 50 Points | Under 28 - £26,250 per annum
Country Code C
e.g. Jamaica, Russia, Iran, Bulgaria, Romania, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa, China
Over 28 - £12,500 per annum = 25 Points | Under 28 - £8,450 per annum
Over 28 - £31,250 per annum = 35 Points | Under 28 - £12,500 per annum
Over 28 - £78,125 per annum = 50 Points | Under 28 - £18,750 per annum
Country Code D
e.g. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cameroon, Guyana
£7,500 per annum = 25 Points | Under 28 - £5,000 per annum
£18,750 per annum = 35 Points | Under 28 - £7,500 per annum
£48,875 per annum = 50 Points | Under 28 - £11,250 per annum<
Country Code E
e.g. Nigeria, Cambodia, Nepal, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia
Over 28 - £3,500 per annum = 25 Points | Under 28 - £2,350 per annum
Over 28 - £8,750 per annum = 35 Points | Under 28 - £3,500 per annum
Over 28 - £21,875 per annum = 50 Points | Under 28 - £5,250 per annum
If you have lived in more than one country during the past twelve months we will normally assess your income against the country where you have spent the longest period, on a pro-rata basis. In addition, if you have been seconded overseas and your salary continues to be paid elsewhere, the country where you receive your salary would normally be considered. For example if you have spent eight of the last twelve months in the United Kingdom and four in Nigeria, we will take your earned income in the United Kingdom divide it by eight and multiply it by twelve to give an annual income figure. You will then be allocated points appropriate to that figure.
4. Achievements - 50 HSMP points available ( back to top )
In order to score in this category you will need to produce a body of evidence showing how your work has been acknowledged by your peers and contributed significantly to the development of your field.
This could be through an acknowledged breakthrough in your field of expertise with a piece of original published research, a recognised artistic achievement, a lifetime achievement award from an industry body, or an invention which is likely to or has provided commercially successful.
Two score levels can be obtained. Those with an exceptional achievement in their chosen field will be at the top of their profession, be recognised beyond their field of expertise and have obtained international recognition. Very few people will meet these criteria. Those who can show significant achievement may not be known outside their field of expertise, or not yet be recognised on an international basis but have developed a body of work that is acknowledged by their peers as contributing significantly to the development of your area of work.
Less weight has been given to this category in the revised HSMP. The maximum score for significant achievement is now 15 and for exceptional achievement 25. However the total number of points available under HSMP remains the same, as more points are now available for work experience.
Significant Achievement - 15 points
Exceptional Achievement - 25 points
Significant achievements include substantial business success with several brach offices or shops and employees ; high level economists offering sought after advice to both public and private sectors internationally ; a recognised and published IT professional ; a leading published academic possibly with research team leadership ; a top classical musician or recognised film producer.
Outstanding achievements are very much more rare and include awards for internationally recognised achievements such as an Oscar, Nobel or Booker prize ; holding a recognised world record or winner of an Olympic Medal ; senior politicians ; heading or starting large companies and architectural design of a world renowned building.
In either case you will need to show evidence [ at least 3 from the below list ] :
1. Industry Prize
2. Published Work
3. Peer group reviews
4. Academic References
5. Industry Reference
6. Ownership of intellectual property rights [ IPR ]
7. Published testimonials or profile
8. Scholarship or research awards
9. Press Articles
5. Priority Applications for Doctors - 50 HSMP points ( back to top )
For a Doctor currently working as a general practitioner [ GP ] in the UK, your application will be afforded priority status as long as you have full GMC (General Medical Council) Registration and either a GMC validated UK or EEA vocational training certificate or a GMC validated UK or EEA certificate of acquired right certificate or a similar such certification issued by the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice.
6. Married or Unmarried Partners ( back to top )If you are married ( or unmarried but living together for at least 2 years ) you can claim a maximum of 10 points for the achievements of your partner including their education and work experience.
7. Other Requirements ( back to top )
In addition to scoring at least 65 points in the above areas you will also need to demonstrate:
1. Your ability to continue to work in your chosen field in the United Kingdom.
2. That you have enough savings and/or potential income to be able to support yourself and your family. You will not be allowed any use of UK public funds (for example income support) whilst in the United Kingdom with permission to stay under the programme.
3. That you are willing and able to make the United Kingdom your main home. We will ask you to provide a written undertaking to that effect. You will be expected to make the UK your country of habitual residence. Secondments abroad that are an integral part of a job based in the UK are permitted by HSMP, however they will be considered as time outside of the UK for settlement eligibility purposes. To qualify for settlement in the UK you must have spent a continuous period of four years in the UK except for short holidays or business trips. Any secondment that requires you to be outside the UK for a continuous period of over three months will make your previous stay in the UK ineligible as a continuous period in the UK.
7. Points Scoring for the Highly Skilled Migrant Program ( back to top )
Add up your points score from the score areas above. You need a minimum 65 points and the other requirements listed from the below maximums.
- Qualifications 30
- Work Experience 50
- Earning Power 50
- Achievements 25
- HSMP Priority Application 50
- Under 28 Age allowance 5
- Partner's achievements 10
Total 220
8. Kinds of supporting data you may need to provide ( back to top )
The amount and type of evidence required to support your application will depend on your previous experience and your future plans. The evidence you submit should support any statements you make. For example if you say that you have a degree you will need to provide your degree certificate.
You should submit original documentation as evidence (with certified translations if necessary). It should be from a clear source and relevant to your application. (Please be selective, as submitting a large amount of irrelevant or poor quality documentation may extend the consideration of your application).
The HSMP application form asks you a number of questions about your plans in the United Kingdom. You will need to submit the type of evidence suggested above to support your replies to those questions.
9. Your Family ( back to top )
Your spouse and dependant children under the age of 18 may apply to accompany you or to join you in the UK. They will also need to seek entry clearance for this purpose before travelling to the United Kingdom. If entry clearance is approved your spouse and dependant children will be granted leave to enter on the same conditions of stay as yourself. They will be able to work if they wish. All dependants of in country applicants should be listed on the FLR (O) form. Please note that spouses and dependant children continued stay in the United Kingdom is conditional on them remaining in the United Kingdom as your dependants.
10. What happens after your HSMP expires ? ( back to top )
If your application is successful you will usually be given permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for a period of 2 years. In the last month before the end of that period you will be able to apply for further permission to stay as a Highly Skilled Migrant. Please contact us at this time. On this you will need to declare that you and your family have not had access to public funds and have not received a prison sentence. In addition you will be asked to provide evidence of your economic activity during your period of stay in the UK and evidence of your personal earnings during the period, if you are employed. If you are self-employed you will need to supply evidence of the progress of the business. This should include a business plan and evidence that you have established a business bank account. If you have been active in employment and self-employment then you should submit evidence of both.
You will normally be given permission to remain for a further 3 year period. Further details on the application process for an extension of stay after 1 year will be provided to successful applicants.
If you have been granted permission to stay in the United Kingdom as a Highly Skilled Migrant for four years and wish to remain in the United Kingdom on a permanent basis you can apply at the end of the four year period for permanent residence. This is otherwise known as indefinite leave or settlement. In addition those applicants who have been approved under HSMP and are applying for permanent residence as a highly skilled migrant will be able to amalgamate leave to remain under HSMP with previous leave from other categories that lead to settlement. For example if you had previously stayed in the UK with 2 years leave for work permit employment and then switched to the HSMP you would be eligible to apply for settlement after a further 2 years in the UK as a highly skilled migrant.
If you meet the requirements for settlement your spouse and children under the age of 18 will also be able to obtain permanent residence with you.
|
|
