SETTLE IN UNITED KINGDOM (UK)

The UK offers a wide range of UK immigration, UK residency, UK naturalization, UK work permit and UK visa options. A UK work permit and UK HSMP Visa are two of the works permit categories that count towards a future UK residency application. Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) is one of the most popular forms of immigration to the UK. This allows you to enter the UK before finding a job and means that you do not need a UK employer to sponsor your work permit. This is a points based system and you need to score a minimum of 75 points to be eligible under this scheme. One of the biggest advantages offered by the UK HSMP Visa (Highly Skilled Migrant Programme) is that it is effectively a UK work permit that allows you to work in the UK for any employer. Naturally, with an employer sponsored UK work permit you can only work for the employer that sponsors your work permit in the UK. There has been a new provision within the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme for some MBA graduates, effectively giving full qualifying points towards HSMP application. Further points were made available for education, past earnings and UK experience. English language ability to at least IELTS Level 6 is an absolute requirement. Applications are made up of 2 equally important parts, Assessing a correct amount of points towards the application and Ensuring that the supporting documents are provided and say the right things. This requires in depth knowledge of what Work Permits (UK) actually need to see from an application and, more importantly, how to phrase it, in order to make a successful application. (top)

Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) is the scheme operated by UK government to encourage the professionals to migrate and settle in the United Kingdom. Anyone with good academic background and solid experience in highly demanding fields like IT, Bio-technology, Economics, Management etc are eligible to apply under this scheme. The UK HSMP scheme (Highly Skilled Migrant Program) means you do not need an employer to make you a job offer. Nor do you need to satisfy the requirements of business based permits like the Innovators Scheme or other business visa categories. You simply need to be highly skilled at what you do in order to qualify for the HSMP Visa (UK Highly Skilled Migrant Programme). You will need to show that you can support yourself financially in the UK while you find work without recourse to public funds. You do not have to score points in every area of the HSMP application but you must obtain a minimum of 75 points in order to qualify for HSMP and evidence your English language abilities. We will assist you in determining this and will be unable to recommend application for the Highly Skilled Migrant Program should 75 points not be obtained. 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. If your application is successful you will be given permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for a period of two 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. You will normally be given permission to remain for a further 3 year period. If you have been granted permission to stay in the United Kingdom as a Highly Skilled Migrant for five years and wish to remain in the United Kingdom on a permanent basis you can apply at the end of the five 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 3 years in the UK as a highly skilled migrant. Your Family 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. If the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is not for you and you do not qualify under this scheme, there are other ways you can come and work in the UK as an innovators - with an innovative business idea and the right supporting evidence, particularly if its IT related, you can come to the UK to start a business or with work Permits - if a company wishes to employ you and has made you an offer, you may be able to get a work permit, particularly if your skills are in short supply in the UK and no-one else has been found by that company from the EU. (top)

MBA Provision: MBA provision for the UK Highly Skilled Migrant Programme: From 12 April 2005 you will be able to gain full qualifying points for your HSMP application if you are an MBA Graduate from one of the business schools listed below. This is a wonderful opportunity for those that qualify to obtain the right to work under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. You must meet the following criteria to qualify for the MBA Provision: You must have qualified from an eligible business school at the time it is published on the list of eligible business schools. This means that if you graduated before the current list was published on 2 December 2004 then you will not qualify. You must have graduated with an MBA - other courses or qualifications will not qualify. You must still meet the usual qualifying criteria for HSMP, including: You must be able to continue your chosen career in the UK. You must be able to support yourself and your dependents (if applicable) without recourse to public funds. You must intend to make the UK your main home. If you meet the MBA Provision criteria then you should contact us now! If you have graduated from one of the eligible business schools with a different qualification than an MBA then you might still qualify for the UK HSMP Visa. List of eligible business schools for the HSMP MBA Provision:

1. Harvard Business School (USA)
2. Columbia Business School (USA)
3. University of Pennsylvania: Wharton (USA)
4. IMD (SWI)
5. University of Chicago (USA)
6. Dartmouth College: Tuck (USA)
7. Stanford University (USA)
8. Insead (FR/Sing)
9. University of Oxford: Said (UK)
10. MIT: Sloan (USA)
11. Ashridge (UK)
12. North Western: Kellogg (USA)
13. London Business School (UK)
14. New York University: Stern (US)
15. University of Strathclyde (UK)
16. Lese Business School (SP)
17. Yale School of Management (USA)
18. Warwick Business School (UK)
19. City University: Cass (UK)
20. Rotterdam School of Management (Neth)
21. UC Berkeley: Haas (USA)
22. University of Cambridge: Judge (UK)
23. Georgetown University: McDonough (USA)
24. Instituto de Empresa (SP)
25. Cornell University: Johnson (USA)
26. University of Michigan (USA)
27. Duke University: Fuqua (USA)
28. University of Virginia: Darden (USA)
29. Carnegie Mellon University (USA)
30. SDA Bocconi (IT)
31. Emory University: Goizueta (USA)
32. UCLA: Anderson (USA)
33. Manchester Business School (UK)
34. Cranfield School of Management (UK)
35. University of Toronto: Rotman (CAN)
36. University College Dublin: Smurfit (IRE)
37. University of Southern California: Marshall (USA)
38. University of Rochester: Simon (USA)
39. Vanderbilt University: Owen (USA)
40. Rice University: Jones (USA)
41. University of North Carolina: Kenan-Flagler (USA)
42. Babson College: Olin (USA)
43. Melbourne Business School (AUS)
44. Ceibs (CHN)
45. Australian Graduate School of Management (AUS)
46. Universiteit Nyenrode (NTH)
47. University of Western Ontario: Ivey (CAN)
48. Boston University School of Management (USA)
49. University of Maryland: Smith (USA)
50. Bradford School of Management/Nimbas (UK/NTH/GER

UK Immigration for Innovators is designed for those with some investment capital and great ideas. This is another scheme aimed predominantly at IT and Telecoms sectors but available to a wider industry base. Your business idea needs to promise economic benefit to the UK. This is for entrepreneurs that don't have the money required under the entrepreneur entry scheme. Apart from from the innovative nature of your idea, your business ability and experience to carry it out and its economic benefits to the UK, you need to be able to create jobs, have funding either agreed or in place and have at least a 5% stake. Similar to the UK HSMP Visa, this is a points based application designed to allow you to prove your ideas and business plan in a targeted way. Generally though, you must achieve Minimum 15 points for business experience and qualifications, Minimum 15 points for the financial, commercial and technical viability of your Business Plan, Minimum 30 points for jobs created, the technological or other degree of innovation and the overall economic benefits to the UK. The viability of your business plan is vital to your application.  Your business plan will need to show your detailed proposal ; jobs to be created ; levels of technology and innovation ; the management structure ; funding and accounting data ; marketing plan ; the legal entity of the company. The plan must cover at least 18 months forecasts. You will need to show that you have enough money for you and your family by way of financial references ; that you have researched the market and can show that research and any other R+D ; a commercial reference ; any relevant technical specification documents and references ; any communication with prospective customers or other relevant parties ; a report from a person or organisation with authority detailing the viability of your plans. Business Plan CV is needed. Your spouse, partner and children can enjoy the same benefits as UK people including free education, free healthcare and the ability to work in the UK. After your initial 18 month visa period, you can apply for an extension of up to 4 years as long as you and your family have been able to support yourselves through the business ; you are 100% active in your business, you hold a minimum 5% stake, you have created the required new jobs and your business is still fully functional as per your original business plan. When this further period is completed you may apply for permanent residence in the UK and, 1 year after that, naturalisation.This scheme is designed for those with money to invest in the UK to do so. It is not for those who wish to start their own business (for that entrepreneurs, innovators, EEA or freelance schemes are there). You will need at least £1 million to your name or under your control and you must invest at least £750,000 of that in the UK in private companies or unit trusts. The only areas where investment is not permitted are off shore companies, property investment companies and banks. You need to make the UK you main place of residence at least half of your time, must not take employment here and your remaining £250,000 can be disposed of as you see fit. Your spouse, partner and children can enjoy the same benefits as UK people including free education, free healthcare and the ability to work in the UK. After your initial 12 month visa period, you can apply for an extension of up to 3 years as long as the above funds were transferred to the UK within 3 months of your arrival here and you maintain your UK portfolio value of at least £1 million. When this further 3 year period is completed you may apply for permanent residence in the UK and, 1 year after that, naturalisation. Your business plan is very important and should show evidence of the money you will invest in the business ; what the business will be doing ; ownership and accounting information ; financial projections ; your qualifications and work experience. (top)

UK Immigration for Entrepreneurs: If you wish to enter the UK to start a business, you must work full time in that business. If you wish to invest in a business without hands on involvement, you can immigrate under the Investor's scheme. You can also send someone else to the UK to run your business for you under Sole Representitive scheme. Coming to the UK to invest or start your own business normally requires at least £200,000 capital for this investment ( unless you are from an EEA country ). The more you intend to invest, the quicker your application may be processed. If you are not an EEA Country national, you will need to show that you have £200,000 to invest in a new UK business venture; work only in that business ; have a controlling share of that business ; have enough money for you and any family with you to maintain yourselves until the business is profitable ; create at least 2 full time jobs for EEA national and provide a good business plan. (EEA Association agreement countries are Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or Slovenia and you have a good business plan and sufficient money to support yourself until you make a profit, you do not need the £200,000 or to create 2 jobs) Your spouse, partner and children can enjoy the same benefits as UK people including free education, free healthcare and the ability to work in the UK. After your initial 12 month visa period, you can apply for an extension of up to 3 years as long as you and your family have been able to support yourselves through the business ; you are 100% active in your business and your business is still fully functional as per your original business plan. When this further 3 year period is completed you may apply for permanent residence in the UK and, 1 year after that, naturalisation. Your business plan is very important and should show evidence of the money you will invest in the business ; what the business will be doing ; ownership and accounting information ; financial projections ; your qualifications and work experience. (top)

Spouse, Dependent and Family Visa: It would be fairly pointless you achieving the career you desire in the country you want to live in without your family with you. In fact, your family and their own particular skills and experience, may help you obtain your permit in the first place. Work Permits and Visas for the UK are designed to allow your family to share the benefits of living here and they are very welcome. When you make your application, be sure to include the relevant sections about your family. This may need separate forms for your spouse. You may apply for your spouse and children (under 18 years) to accompany you as your dependants. Your spouse, partner and children can get a UK Visa and enjoy the same benefits as UK people, including free education, free healthcare and the ability to work in the UK. There is also private education and private healthcare which you are welcome to assess. (top)

Permanent residence ( or indefinite leave to remain ) depends on the status of your stay in the UK to date and consequently how long you need to have been in UK to qualify. Permanent residence removes any immigration based restrictions. After one year of permanent residence you can apply for naturalisation. (top)