Highly Skilled Migrant Programme: an overview

INTERNATIONAL WORK PERMITS: HSMP SERVICES

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) was introduced by the Home Office as a new immigration category in January 2002 to allow highly skilled individuals to enter the UK to seek and take work in their particular fields. The programme was subsequently incorporated into the UK's Immigration Rules. The object was, and remains, to attract highly skilled workers to live and work in the UK, thereby making a positive economic contribution.

Successful applicants are granted permission to enter the UK and may work in an employed or self-employed capacity or in a combination of both. The approval is for an initial period of 12 months, but can be extended by application for a further period of three years. After a total of four continuous years in the UK in this capacity the applicant may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (commonly referred to as 'permanent residence'). Applicants do not have to have employment in place when applying to enter the UK as highly skilled migrants and nor do they have to have employment arranged before entering the UK once their application has been approved. Once approved in this immigration category, it is permissible to enter the UK to seek and take employment and/or to start self-employment. In addition, the successful applicant may change employment at will and does not require Home Office permission to do so. There is, however, a requirement that highly skilled migrants should work in their particular field/s of expertise.
The HSMP operates on a points-based system and success depends upon scoring a minimum number of points, as well as satisfying some further requirements and we offer ‘NO VISA NO FEE’ for peace of mind!
In essence, you require a degree qualification that is considered equivalent to at least a UK Bachelors, earnings and a certain amount of ‘graduate level’ work experience. We would assess your history in order to take your case on.

Applicants under the age of 28
This immigration category is particularly attractive for applicants under the age of 28, as the qualification requirements for that age group are significantly lower. International Work Permits has had, and continues to have, an exceptionally high level of success in respect of HSMP applications and we are widely experienced. We have obtained approval for applicants in a broad range of areas of professional practice - from the financial sector to marketing, management and industry, as well as in academia/education, art history, sciences, law etc

What about your spouse/partner and children?
As with a number of other immigration categories, highly skilled migrants may include their dependent spouse/partner and dependent children under the age of 18 within their applications. This is included in the 1 application