TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore, Apr 1: Highly skilled professionals who wish to migrate to the United Kingdom will now have a new system for applying for visa from 1 April, 2008 — Points Based System (PBS), Tier 1.
This replaces the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. PBS is the new system for managing migration for those wishing to enter the UK for work and study and is being introduced tier by tier.
Under PBS, applicants will need sufficient points to qualify. Points are awarded for objective criteria such as qualifications, previous earnings, age and UK experience.
The British government will roll out Tier 1 in India first. The rollout to the rest of the world will take place in the summer.
Sir Richard Stagg, British High Commissioner to India, said on the eve of the launch, “The introduction of Tier 1 of the Points Based System is good for those wanting to work in Britain and good for the UK economy.”
The new system allows those wanting to work in Britain to calculate, before they make their application, whether their points add up to entry as a highly skilled worker.
The quicker process will now have only one stage instead of the previous two- stage process. The initial visa will be granted for three years.