HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRATANT PROGRAM

The HSMP scheme is aimed at highly skilled migrant wishing to work and reside in the UK . It is not job lead (ie an applicant does not need a sponsor in the UK ) and time spent in the UK under the scheme leads to indefinite leave to remain (ie permanent residency). Under the HSMP a person is free to take employment in the UK with any employer and/or be self-employed.

The Assessment Criteria are
Applicants must score at least 75 points across the categories outlined below to qualify for a Highly Skilled Migrant ‘Visa'. The assessment is carried out objectively and as such there is no room for discretion. It follows that all supporting documentation will have to be provided in line with the scheme's requirements. Alternative documentation/evidence will be accepted only in the most exceptional (wars and natural disasters) and compelling circumstances.

Academic Qualifications
Points for academic qualifications are awarded as follows:

 PHD 50
 MASTERS 35
 BACHELORS 30

Evidence required:

• Original degree certificate
• Professional qualification certificate together with confirmation from appropriate body
• Recent graduates who have yet to be issued with their degree certificates – original letter from institution awarding the degree plus original academic transcript.

 Previous Earnings

• Applicants may claim points for gross earnings (before tax) over a total period of up to 12 months out of the 15 months immediately preceding the application.
• Not all income will be considered - rental income and interest on savings or funds received through an inheritance will not be taken into account.
• The previous earnings required to score points will vary depending on where the applicant has been living and working over the relevant period. Please click here for the list of earning level per country.

Supporting documents:

• income tax return (P60)
• 12 months wage slips
  When an applicant is unable to provide a tax return (P60) to cover the exact 12-month period for which points are being claimed, he should be able to provide alternative evidence such as:
• bank statements showing the salary paid for the full 12 month period; and/or
• a letter from the employer confirming the salary earned over the 12 month period.

UK Experience
An applicant who has lived and worked or studied in the UK will be entitled to 5 points which he will be able to claim where:

• he has successfully scored points under the previous earnings category and the earnings were in the UK ; or
• he has studied and graduated at Bachelors degree level or higher in full time higher education in the UK, or at a UK-based overseas educational institution, for at least one year.

Supporting documents
If evidence has already been provided for previous earnings no further evidence is required.

Age
 Age Points for age are allocated as follows:

• 27 or under -20 points
• 28 or 29 -10 points
• 30 or 31- 5 points
• 20 or over- 0 points

Supporting documents

• Original birth certificate or original driving licence
• English Language Ability

All applicants will also be required to demonstrate that they are proficient in the English language. This is a requirement which apply to all applicants regardless of their nationality and failure to provide the required evidence of proficiency in the English language will result in the application being rejected.

Applicants can demonstrate their English language ability in one of two ways:

• by submitting evidence that he has completed a Bachelors degree level qualification which was taught in English; or
• by producing an International English Language Testing System (“IELTS”) Test Report Form issued in the two years prior to the date of application at Band 6 or above.

TOFEL may be accepted provided that both oral and written test have been successfully passed. Successful applications: If an HSMP application is successful, the applicant will then be required to make an application either for further leave to remain as a highly skilled migrant, if he is already in the UK in an immigration category which allows him to “switch” (for instance a working holiday maker visa), or entry clearance (a visa) from the British Embassy in his country of origin.

The applicant should be granted an initial period of two years' leave to enter or remain in the UK under the HSMP. Under the HSMP a person is free to take employment in the UK with any employer and/or be self-employed. Processing times at present: 50% of applications within 5 weeks of receipt 90% of applications within 14 weeks of receipt

PROCEESSING HSMP TIPS

GENERAL

• Ensure that you submit all the required corroborative evidence with your application;
• If you are submitting documents in a language other than English, ensure that you provide the authorities with a certified translation of each documents;
• All documents must be original;
• If you intend to submit your application yourself, make a copy of the application and all supporting documentation, and send your application by recorded delivery (please ensure that you keep the recorded delivery slip as it may be the only mean you have to track your application until it has been issued with a case number) - you can also provide a self addressed recorded delivery envelope to facilitate the return of your documents – again take a copy of the delivery number;
• For those applying in the UK, ensure that your application for further leave to remain in filed before the expiry of your leave – do not attached your photos to the payment page of the applications as they may be misplaced. Take a copy of your passport (ID page and the page endorsed with your current leave) and try not to plan trip abroad before your application has been completed;
• Be aware that you will need to satisfy the requirements to obtain an extension of leave under the scheme;
• We would recommend that you keep a record of all your travel out of the UK (date of departure, date of return, country visited and purpose of the trip) as you will be required to provide a schedule of absences when you come to applying for settlement (ie indefinite leave to remain) and naturalisation.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• if you hold a foreign qualification and you are not entirely sure that it is equivalent to a British qualification, get confirmation from NARIC;
• ensure that you submit your original degree certificate or professional qualification certificate along with confirmation from the appropriate institution – only in EXCEPTIONAL circumstances will the BIA accept alternative evidence such as an original transcript and an original letter from the awarding university/college confirming that they do not re-issue certificate as a matter of policy;
• for applicants who have only recently graduated and have yet to be issued with their degree certificate, an original letter from the awarding institution along with their original transcript should be submitted.

PREVIOUS EARNINGS:

• you will be able to claim points for GROSS earnings before tax over a period of up to 12 months out of the 15 months preceding the filing of your application;
• unearned income such as dividends from investments, property rental income, interest form savings or inheritance will not be taken into account when calculating your income.
• Salaried employees are required to submit original payslips covering the 12 month period (internet prints or copies should be stamped and countersigned by issuer) together with original income tax return ( ie P60 or W2 for the US) – if you are from a country with no tax system or your tax return does not cover the period claimed, you should submit your original payslips along with either your original bank statements for the 12 months along with an original letter from your employer stating your gross earnings over the period.
• Independent contractors must provide their income tax return together with original invoices, original contracts and bank statements – it is crucial that all the various items of evidence corroborate each other.
• Self-employed applicants must provide personal original tax returns and original bank statements for the full period claimed along with: - company's audited accounts and company tax return or unaudited business/management accounts confirming the amount claimed together with original business bank statements and a business tax return or contracts for the full amount claimed and corroborating invoices showing that you have been paid.

AGE

• if you claiming points on the basis of your age, ensure that you submit either your original birth certificate or original driving licence – certified copies of passports will not be accepted.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

• This applies to all applicants regardless of their nationalities;
• Applicants are required to produce either: - their original BACHELOR degree certificate (if their course was taught in English) together with an original letter from their University confirming that their BACHELOR degree was taught in English; or – an original Level 6 International English Language Testing System (IELST) test report (can be general or academic test) issued within 2 years prior to filing their applications (other tests such as TOFEL may be accepted as long as they are considered the equivalent to the IELST level 6 – check with the BIA before filing).