HSMP Updates , UK Immigration

In March 2006, the UK announced its new approach to immigration using a points based system. While this system is not expected to be in place until, at the earliest, mid-2007, some of the changes it will bring be as follow.

Under the new HSMP scheme, it will be simpler for highly qualified immigrants to obtain visas, while less skilled immigrants will find it more difficult (as has always been the case!). Now, however, specific points will be awarded to all potential immigrants based on the applicant's age, financial situation, education, qualifications, English language ability and other factors. All applicants other than the most highly skilled will need to provide a certificate of sponsorship from an approved sponsor, such as an employer or a school, when making their application. Sponsors will have to apply to sponsor a potential immigrant and will also be rated by the Home Office.

The new HSMP system is not a linear ranking of attributes but a system of weightings and trade-offs. This means that, for example a person with just a Bachelor's degree and high previous earnings, or someone with a UK PhD and relatively low previous earnings would equally earn enough points to apply. The government says the system is still objective to use, since it is clear how many points will be awarded for a given attribute, and how these attributes can be combined to gain enough points to make an application.