Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
On 28 January Immigration & Nationality Directorate, launched HSMP as a new initiative to allow individuals with exceptional personal skills and experience to come to the United Kingdom to seek and take work or self-employment.

The program aims to provide an individual migration route for highly skilled persons who have the skills and experience required by the UK to compete in the global economy.

The program was initially set up as a pilot for 12 months. Following the success of the program it has been decided to extend HSMP indefinitely.

On 31 October 2003 further changes to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme were introduced. These changes are intended to build on the current success of HSMP and to make the UK and even more attractive destination for the Highly Skilled.

Requirements
To make a successful application, individuals need to provide evidence that they score 65 points or more in the six areas below and demonstrate that they will be able to continue their chosen career in the UK. There are separate scoring criteria for those applicants, who are under 28 years of age. Application forms are intended for self-assessment. Those who score below 65 points should not pursue the application.

• Educational qualifications
• Work Experience
• Past Earnings
• Achievement in your chosen field
• HSMP Priority Applications
• Partner's achievements

• a genuine HSMP Criteria Approval Letter issued by Work Permits (UK).
• a fully completed Entry Clearance Application Form IM2A.
• separate IM2A forms for any dependents traveling with you, who are not included in your passport.
• your valid passport or travel document.
• two passport size photographs.
• the appropriate fee.
• evidence that you will be able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any of your dependents adequately, without recourse to public funds.

Working Holiday Maker Visa

The working holidaymaker scheme is an arrangement whereby a person aged between 17 and 30 (inclusive) can come to the United Kingdom for an extended holiday for up to two years, with the intention of taking paid work here as a part of his working holiday.

You are eligible for entry clearance as a working holidaymaker if:

• you are a Commonwealth citizen, British Dependent Territories citizen or British Overseas citizen;
• you are aged 17 to 30 (inclusive);
• you want to come to the United Kingdom for an extended holiday, with the intention of taking paid work here as part of your holiday;
• you are single or are married to a person who also qualifies for and plans to take a working holiday at the same time as you;
• you do not have any dependent children who are aged five years or over, or who will be five before you complete your holiday;
• you can support and accommodate yourself without help from public funds;
• you can pay for your onward or return journey; and
• you plan to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your holiday.

WWICS will help you get entry clearance as a working holidaymaker before you travel to the United Kingdom. Entry clearance is a visa or entry clearance certificate that you are given so that you can travel to the United Kingdom. You must apply for entry clearance to the British Embassy, High Commission or other British Diplomatic Mission (known as British Diplomatic Posts) in the country where you live.

If you wish to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits like Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Housing and homelessness assistance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, Working Families' Tax Credit, Child Benefit or any disability allowance.

You can only stay in the United Kingdom for two years as a working holidaymaker. UK immigration authorities will count any time you spend outside the United Kingdom during that period as part of the two years. There are no restrictions on the type of paid work you can do. You may do any paid work you choose, for as long as you want while you are here, but you should still intend to take a holiday during your stay. (You may also engage in unpaid voluntary work that meets the terms of the National Minimum Wage exemption for voluntary workers.)

You can apply to extend your stay if you entered the United Kingdom with valid United Kingdom entry clearance as a working holidaymaker; and an extension of your stay would not take your stay beyond two years from the date you were first given permission to enter.

You can apply to extend your stay as a Work Permit holder if you have been in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months as a working holidaymaker and you meet the work permit criteria in full.