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This Guide will give you information about the Tier 1 of the new points based
immigration scheme for employement based immigration. |
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Introduction |
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Tier 1 Visas are for highly skilled migrants, entrepreneurs, investors and
foreign graduate students. From June 30, 2008, this scheme has fully replaced
all the schemes that cover these categories including Highly Skilled Migration
Programme (HSMP). This scheme is designed to attract top talent from outside the
European Union who can contribute the most to the UK economy.
Migrants coming to the UK under Tier 1 visas do not need to have a job offer or
a sponsor and are free to seek employement anywhere in the UK. A person must
successfully score 75 points under a points based system to come to the UK under
Tier 1. Migrants who are successfully granted leave in the UK under Tier 1 can
stay for three years. After three years, a migrant can renew their Tier 1 visa. |
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Tier 1 is designed for different types of highly skilled individuals and is
broken up into following sub-categories. |
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General Highly Skilled Migrants (GHSM) |
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This Tier 1 sub-category is for highly educated and highly skilled migrants
who can score enough points on their qualifications, previous earnings, age, and
UK experience. You can check our Tier 1 General Highly Skilled Migrants Points
Calculate to assess your chances of success. |
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Entrepreneurs |
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This Tier 1 sub-category is for individuals who plan to invest in the UK by
setting up or taking over a business and being actively involved in running the
business. The main requirement is to have £ 200,000 of disposable capital held
in a regulated financial institutions. Nationals from many countries including
Pakistan will find this Entrepreneur visa category very attractive if they can
meet the criteria. |
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Investors |
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This sub-category is for wealthy individuals who plan to make a substantial
financial investment in the UK. The main requirement is to have atleast £
1,000,000 of disposable funds. Investors are exempt from the English language
requirement, requirement to prove the ability to support themselves and any
dependents. This sub-category suits very wealthy individuals who want to live in
the UK. |
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Post Study Work |
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This sub-category is meant to retain the brightest foreign students who have
studied in the UK. This category is part of Tier 1 instead of Tier 4 because
successful applicants will be able to find work after graduation without having
a sponsor. |
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Tier 1 has replaced the following immigration categories: |
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- The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
- Investors
- Self-employed lawyers
- Businesspersons
- Writers, Composers and Artists
- The International Graduates Scheme (IGS)
- Innovators
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Dependents |
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Migrants granted leave in the UK under Tier 1 will be able to bring their
dependants provided they can support them during their stay. Dependants unclude
children, spouses, civil partners, same sex partners and unmarried partners. |
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