The Immigration Process

Immigration into the UK is a relatively straight forward process and is often inexpensive compared to many countries. In the early 1980s there were 60,000 economic migrants a year coming into the UK , there are now 150,000, making up 10.5% of the UK workforce.

In order to obtain entry into the UK you will need to apply for a visa. A visa is a certificate that is put into your passport. It gives you permission to enter the UK . You will need a visa whether you are visiting, working or studying within the UK . Visas can be granted for six months, one year, five years or even ten years. You can apply for a visa in person, by post or online.

The immigration system in the UK has however recently changed to a points based system, similar to those seen in Canada and Australia . You should use the guidelines of this points system along with your visa to obtain entry to the UK . This points based system makes it easier for high skilled migrant workers to enter the UK but more difficult for those with low skill.

Within this points system you win points for aspects such as educational qualifications, UK degree or professional level qualifications, previous earnings and UK work experience. This change to the immigration process has a five tier framework with each tier having a different number of points in order to gain entry into the UK . Points will be awarded according to set criteria. Immigrants will then be able to assess themselves against the criteria and apply to start the immigration process in whichever tier is appropriate to them.

Tier 1: Highly skilled individuals who will contribute to growth and productivity. Workers in this category will have the most flexibility in the UK and greatest opportunities to settle here for good because the system regards them as having the most potential for generating wealth - such as by setting up companies and creating jobs.

Tier 2: Skilled workers with a job offer to fill gaps in UK labour force. People in this category will be given points on their talents and will be allowed into the UK if they have a job offer that falls into what is known as a shortage area. What is meant by this is an industry sector that is low on skilled workers. Two areas at present that would fall into this category are teaching and nursing.

Tier 3: Limited numbers of low skilled workers needed to fill specific temporary labour shortages. Until now, the government has allowed temporary migration to jobs in hospitality, food processing and agriculture from all over the world. It is now ending these permissions in favour of workers from the expanded European Union, who do not need prior permission to work in the UK . If you want to come to the UK temporarily to do low-skilled work, you would fall into Tier 3 but you will have to be from a country which has effective returns arrangements with the UK and find an employee who will act as your sponsor.

Tier 4: Students wanting to study in the UK. To qualify under this tier you will need to get sponsorship from a university or college. This tier is not coming into effect until 2009 and once in place it aims to make the route to studying in the UK more transparent.

Tier 5: Youth mobility and temporary workers: people allowed to work in the UK for a limited period of time to satisfy primarily non-economic objectives