This is the temporary arrangements that UK Home Office is putting in place for migrants currently holding permission to stay in the United Kingdom as Home Office introduces new categories of the points-based system to come to the UK to work, train or study.

It is particularly relevant to those currently in the United Kingdom:

• as self-employed lawyers;
• as writers, composers and artists;
• as innovators;
• under the International Graduates Scheme; or
• under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme.

These immigration categories are among eight Home Office will delete in the middle of 2008 as Home Office continue to introduce the highly skilled tier (Tier 1) of the points-based system.

The eight immigration categories being deleted are:

• Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) (already deleted in the United Kingdom and India);
• writers, composers and artists;
• innovators;
• business persons;
• self-employed lawyers (a concession within the category of business persons);
• investors;
• Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme; and
• International Graduates Scheme.

Under Tier 1 of the points-based system, we are introducing four new categories:

• General (already partly in force);
• Entrepreneurs;
• Investors (this is similar to the existing investors route but will be a sub category of the points-based system); and
• Post Study Work.

At this stage it is not possible to confirm when Tier 1 will be fully implemented and the eight categories deleted but it will not be before 30 June 2008.

For further information of how to apply, click here.

To download the forms click the relevant links on the right.

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