During the next few months of 2008 the immigration law within the UK is being over hauled and the current system is being replaced with a points based system for non-European Union migrants wishing to come to the UK.

The new system that will replace the current one will consist of five tiers. Each of these tiers has their own requirements and conditions. Each of these tiers will require the migrant to score a sufficient amount of points to gain entry in the UK and remain there. These points are awarded for various criteria specific to each tier. All of the points that will be awarded in each of these tiers will be done so to indicate that an individual is likely to comply with immigration requirements. Points will be awarded to reflect aptitude, experience, age and also the level of demand in any given sector.
This new tier system will replace much of the current system, which currently comprises of UK visas and work permits. The tier system helps to streamline and rationalise the wide variety of immigration visa services that are available at present.
It should be noted that the tier system is likely to be subject to change as the system comes closer to launching. It is possible that information may change as the tier system is not in full operation so keep checking back to Immigration Consult for more information.

The UK immigration tier system reconstructs the more than 80 current types of visa for immigration that are currently in use in the UK, making the immigration process easier to understand and easier to process. The new tier system describes exactly who should be applying under which tier and outlines that qualities needed in order to gain the correct amount of points in order for a successful application to work or Residence within the UK.

There are a few exceptions to the new tier rules, for example the new UK immigration tier system will not apply to temporary solutions i.e. a visitor visa, which is often known as a tourist visa due to their short term nature. These will continue to operator separately from the tier system and you will apply for them in the same process that is in place now.

The tier system starts with tier one, which is for highly skilled migrants, entrepreneurs, investors and graduate students. The tier system ends with tier five, which is suited for youth mobility and temporary workers, i.e. those who come under working holiday agreements and temporary employment.

The reason that this overhaul of the immigration system took place was so that the UK could control migration more effectively as well as being able to tackle abuse and identify the most talented workers. The points based system is a central part of the Government’s five year strategy for asylum and immigration, which was published in February 2005, and is committed to a wide-ranging plan to make sure that only people of benefit to the country are allowed in Britain as well as cracking down on abuse and illegal immigration by strengthening the UK’s borders.

Helen is the web master for Immigration Consult, experts in all aspects of the new Immigration Process.