22 September 2008

UK Home Office: points calculator and online sponsor application forms now available

As part of the new Australian-style points-based system for UK immigration, the points calculator and online sponsor application forms are now available.

The UK Home Office has made major changes to the immigration system this year.  The new system is based on Australia’s points-based system, in which UK visa applicants can score points on the basis of their skills, ability to support themselves and their dependants, qualifications, earnings, and English skills.  These points are then calculated to see if the applicant is regarded as a highly skilled worker.  The Home Office announced today that the points calculator is now available, and has apologised for the inconvenience caused for its being unavailable.

As part of the changes to the system, employers who are hiring overseas workers under the Tier 2 stream of migration must have an employer sponsorship licence to do so.  When the Tier 2 stream goes live in November this year, all employers of migrants from outside the EU on a UK skilled visa or temporary work visa will need to have a licence, and are being urged to have their applications in for a sponsorship licence by next week, the beginning of October 2008, or will face penalties from the government.  The Home Office also announced today the online sponsor application forms are now available and has apologised for any inconvenience caused to businesses.

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The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in UK visa and immigration services.

Article by Jessica Bird, UK Visa Bureau.