Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) Visas - {Closed Category}
This section will contain information regarding the types of work categories available without the need of an employer to sponsor you. Some of the categories lead to a settlement, whilst others can count towards settlement.
If you are currently in the United Kingdom in the old category and your leave is soon to expire, then you would need to apply under the relevant category that you qualify. The highly skilled worker's scheme, renamed as being Tier 1 General, is designed to allow skilled people to come or remain in the United Kingdom to work or do self-employment. Post 6th April 2011, you cannot switch or enter the UK into this category. The extension is now closed and only until 5th April 2018, can you apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years in the UK.
The Home Office will assess what provisions are needed for indefinite leave to remain applications once all extension applications have been processed after April 2015, and will consider making adjustments in a future change to the Immigration Rules. Under the current Rules, however, applications for indefinite leave to remain will no longer be accepted in Tier 1 (General) category from 6 April 2018. Applicants who are currently in the UK and who wish to apply for indefinite leave to remain must submit an application on or before 5 April 2018.
General information on the Tier 1 policy and its previous association with HSMP
From February 2008, all HSMP applications have been submitted under Tier 1 of the new points-based system (PBS) for skilled migration to the UK. The PBS comprises 5 tiers, with each one covering a different level of skill or a specific occupation. Over the course of 2008, the HSMP visa was being phased out and entirely replaced with the Tier 1 visa.
The following will apply to those who are already in the UK and are on the Tier 1 General or HSMP. There is no requirement for you to have an employer. The points are awarded for age, qualifications, your last 12 months earnings, your UK experience, English language, and maintenance funds.
The rule is very restricted and only allows certain people to switch from in-country. The Home Office has stated that the following people can enter this category and they are as follows:
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Already in the United Kingdom with permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') as a Tier 1 or HSMP migrant.
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Already in the United Kingdom as a highly-skilled worker and you want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category;
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Already in the United Kingdom under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), you want to extend your permission to stay and you are eligible to switch into the highly skilled worker category.
Want to know more? Read about other UK Visa options:
Related FAQ's
Our speciality lies in the field of Immigration, Nationality and EU Law, so it means we always are dealing with this side of the law. We are able to support you in making a correct decision, avoid delays on your case, save money and time, not forgetting the stress of any doubts with your application.
There are many routes available to come to the UK, extend or switch, some of them do not allow extension or even switching. Knowing what is right can be a difficult task and this is why we are here. Simple task of not using the prescribed forms can mean your application is invalid, which means if you have no valid stay, you would have to return back and there is no appeal rights.
Our initial consultations are a chargeable service. We initially discuss the requirements of the application to ensure you meet the requirements and have the documentation required at hand for the submission. It gives you an opportunity to meet us and ask questions.
Each case will be checked thoroughly, everything will be cross referenced so guidelines are met and we will also add our legal document which would outline the Immigration Rules and how the client has satisfied the rules. We use documents that are used by Home Office case workers, so we know exactly what they would look for in your case.
The most important fact is that law constantly changes, policy guidelines and requirements are always changing, so it is best that you always use specialised services to support you. We never compromise our services, our fees remain very competitive but our expertise is at the very highest standard.
We place our clients first, so when you sign the customer care letter and we go through your case file, and we believe that the case would not be successful, we will terminate the agreement and return your documents. We will also provide alternative solutions with no added costs. We also have a cancellation period should you feel you want to withdraw your file.
Please note that all cases cannot be guaranteed as circumstances depends and whether you met guidelines, however the Home Office caseworker can still refuse cases on the balance of probabilities and other factors. Our job would be to prepare your case in the best possible way.
1) You contact us through e-mail or phone.
2) We take some basic information, we ask some relevant questions to understand the type of query and what type of support is required.
3) Your case then gets passed to a case worker.
4) Case Worker would contact you to set up an initial meeting.
5) You attend a consultation, an action plan is drawn up and we find out whether ICS Legal can support your case. A report would be sent where there is a requirement to outline what was discussed and what to do next.
6) You authorise us to be your legal representative by signing our customer care letter.
7) We will then start to request documents and information about your case this will build up your case pack.
8) We will then write our legal report and use Home Office caseworker’s documents to ensure everything has been checked and all requirement have been met.
9) Where possible we will go through every aspect of your case before case submission.
10) We will continue to update you throughout the case life cycle .