The Hindu Business Line : UK puts out new points-based immigration system

New Delhi, Feb. 7 The UK Government on Thursday announced its deadline of February 29 to put in place its new Australian-style points based immigration system (PBS).

Releasing the rules for highly-skilled foreign workers applying to come to Britain, the UK Government said the new regulations would start coming into effect on February 29 In April, the new system would be rolled out overseas, when Indians who want to work in the UK as highly skilled migrants would need to apply under PBS. “The points system means only those migrants Britain needs can come to the UK. We know that migrants contributed to our economy to the tune of £6 billion to GDP in 2006. A strong system for highly skilled migrants is vital to Britain winning these benefits because these migrants are well-educated and pay lots of tax. We want India to come first because India is Britain’s most important market for highly skilled migrants,” said the Borders and Immigration Minister, Mr Liam Byrne.

Under the new system, applicants will need sufficient points to qualify for entry to the UK to train, study and work. “Tier 1 is the first of five tiers of PBS due to be rolled out over the next 12 months. Tier 2, targeting skilled workers with a job offer and Tier 5, for temporary workers such as musicians, actors and sportsmen will both come online in the third quarter of 2008. Tier 4, for students, will follow at the beginning of 2009. There are no plans to introduce tier 3, (low skilled routes),” a statement said.

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