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United Kingdom
| UK | ABOUT UK : | | UK, a dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a historic role in developing parliamentary democracy and in escalating literature and science. The British Empire, at its peak boasted of ruling an area, which stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century however, saw UK's strength gravely exhausted with two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. | | Location | Europe / part of European Union | | Capital City | London (population 7.2 million) | | Main Cities | Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff. | | Population | 60.4 million in 2005 | | Area [sq.km] | 244,880 | | Currency | Pound sterling | | Languages | English, Welsh, (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scots Gaelic, Irish Gaelic (all official) | | Religions | Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% | | GDP | US$1.25 trillion | | GDP per capita | US$22,800 | | Annual Growth | 3.2% | | Major Industries | Machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods | | Major Trading Partners | EU (especially Germany, France, Netherlands, Ireland), USA Import Partners: Germany 13%, US 9.3%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.6%, Belgium 4.9%, China 4.3%, Italy 4.3% Export Partners: US 15.3%, Germany 10.8%, France 9.2%, Ireland 6.8%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5.1%, Spain 4.5%, Italy 4.2% |
*Data as on 2005 | | | | GOVERNMENT BENEFITS: | | ECONOMIC BENEFITS OFFERED BY UK | | The United Kingdom is the most favoured inward investment location in Europe, attracting around 40 per cent of Japanese, US and Asian investment into the EU. UK has a fast, easy access to the EU single market, a 28 million skilled and adaptable English-speaking workforce, and an environment which allows business to prosper. It has the lowest utilities costs in the European Union, and a telecommunications industry that is one of the most advanced in the world. There are tax allowances available for companies setting up in certain areas of the UK. Plus, the UK has the lowest main corporation tax rate of any major industrialised country, and there are no additional local taxes on profits.
| | | | MEDICAL BENEFITS | | National Insurance Number ( NI ) | | The UK has a government-subsidised National Health Service (NHS) and all residents of the UK, by the deduction of National Insurance from salary, are entitled to medical coverage. As a foreign national living in the UK, in order to apply for NHS registration you need to have obtained a National Insurance (NI) number. The healthcare occupations mainly of doctors and nurses are included in the Shortage Occupations List in the UK and HSMP scheme also provides special scoring points for the fully registered General Practitioners in the UK. | | UK – A MAJOR ECONOMY: | | As a member of the European Union the UK is part of the world's largest trading entity, with more than 370 million consumers. The UK economy is one of the strongest in Europe; unemployment and inflation, are very low favoring high growth. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership by means of privatization programmes.
As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy.
The UK is also a major market and economy in itself due to the fact that it:
| | - | has the lowest barriers to inward foreign direct investment the industrialised world (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - June 2003) | | - | is the second largest recipient of foreign direct investment ('FDI') in the world (UNCTAD, September 2003) and is forecast to maintain this position until at least 2006 (EIU); | | - | is the largest recipient of FDI compared to its major competitors (in relation to the size of its economy); | | - | UK is the 4th largest trading nation, accounting for 5% of world trade in goods and services (World Trade Organisation - 2002 | | - | has low unemployment, with rates below the EU average; | | - | is one of the most attractive and profitable locations in Europe foR investors thanks to its historically low tax environment; | | - | has the best city (London) in which to do business (Healey & Baker's European Cities Monitor, October 2003). |
| | | | IMMIGRATION PROGRAMME: | | UK has introduced a number of new immigration, naturalization and working visa categories in the last few years. | | HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANT PROGRAM | From November 7, 2006 HSMP selection criteria has been changed.
The most important thing is that the points are enhanced from 65 to 75 & IELTS
is compulsory & minimum 6 band score is must.
Following is new criteria against which new HSMP application would be considered.
1) Age
2) Education
3) Past earnings
4) Working/studying in the UK.
5) MBA from one of the 50 Universities enlisted. Previous section of selection criteria has been taken away i.e. Work experience, significant achievement, General practitioner priority application, skilled partner Point calculator for UK HSMP is as follows: 1) Age : The points varies between 0 to 20 Points.
Age Points
27 or less 20
28-29 10
30-31 5
32 or over 0
2)Educational qualification: The points varies between 30 to 50.
PHD: 50 points Master Degree: 35 Points Bachelor Degree: 30 points 3)Past Earning
The applicant can claim from 5 to maximum 45 points in the past earnings. The applicants can show earnings from last 12 months out of last 15 months. There will be different salary bracket for different countries.
4)UK experience:
Maximum 5 points can be claimed if an applicant has acquired work experience in the UK or has studied for at least one full academic year at a Bachelors degree level or higher
In full time higher education in the UK or at a UK based education system. 5) MBA provision (75 points)
If you have a MBA degree from the list of universities provided by UK Home office. 6) English language ability:
You need to have a bachelor’s degree that was taught in English (not a Masters degree or PhD). Or You need to possess an International English Language Testing System qualification at least at Band 6 less than two years old. | | | | WORKING HOILDAY MAKER | The Scheme - This program is an arrangement, whereby the citizens of Commonwealth countries are allowed to enter UK for an extended holiday of upto 2 years wherein they have to take up work/employment as an integral part of the holiday.
The Work - You must intend to take work in the UK only as an incidental part of your holiday, so you must intend to spend no more than 12 months working, and to spend the rest of your stay on holiday. You can take most types of work including voluntary work, but you may not engage in any business, or provide services as a professional sportsperson. | | Qualifying Criteria | | - | You are a Commonwealth Citizen. | | - | You should be in the age group of 17-30. | | - | You are single OR are married to a person whom you plan to take along with you and also you plan to take the employment together. | | - | You do not have any dependent children who will be 5 years of age before you complete the period of employment. | | - | You can support and accommodate yourself without relying on public funds. | | - | You have the finance to pay for your return | | - | You plan to leave UK at the end of your employment |
| | You can spend up to two years in the UK as a working holidaymaker. This two year period starts as soon as you enter the UK on this status and will last exactly two years. If after spending two years in the UK you may be in a position to stay longer. Working holidaymakers can remain in the UK on an UK Work Permit, on the basis of marriage, as an unmarried partner, as a student, etc. |
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