2008 sees the biggest change to the UK immigration system for 45 years, to protect our borders and prevent illegal immigration.
As part of reform we are introducing a points system so that those we need from abroad can work in Britain. Crucially, when we set the points pass mark, we will be informed by independent expertise – from the Migration Advisory Committee on the needs of the economy; and from the Migration Impacts Forum on the capacity of society to absorb change.
In February 2008 we began the roll – out of the points system with the Highly Skilled tier 1,
Introducing new licenses for businesses that want to employ migrants and big on – the – spot fines for those not obeying the rules and found hiring illegal worker,
This Statement of Intent provides detail on how we envisage Tier 5: Temporary Workers and the Youth Mobility Scheme will operate when it starts later this year.
In common with other parts of the Points Based System , on introduction, Tier 5: Temporary Workers will introduce some basic requirements, including:
· Migrants will need a sponsor, licensed by the UK Border Agency, who will confirm to the best of their knowledge that the migrant will company with the terms of their stay whilst in the UK and will leave once their leave has expired; and
· Migrants will be required to earn points by holding a valid certificate of sponsorship issued by a licensed sponsor and demonstrating they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves when they come to the UK
The basic requirement under the Tier 5: Youth Mobility Scheme are that:
· The new scheme will only be open to low risk countries with which the UK has good returns arrangements and which offer similar opportunities for our young people to spend time there;
· Young overseas national entering under the new scheme will need to be sponsored by their national governments; and
· Numbers will be controlled by setting maximum numbers permitted to enter under the YMS in line with the numbers of young UK national benefiting from such opportunities overseas.
In 2006, following an extensive public consultation, we published’ proposals to modernize and strengthen the immigration system by bringing in an Australian – style points system comprising five tiers:
| Tier 1 - Highly skilled individuals to contribute to growth and productivity |
| Tier 2 - Skilled workers with a job offer to fill gaps in the UK labour force |
| Tier 3 - Low skilled workers to fill to specific labour shortages |
| Tier 4 - Students |
| Tier 5 - Temporary worker and youth mobility; people coming to the UK to satisfy primarily non – economic objectives |
Source: HOME OFFICE, UK BORDER AGENCY (Statement of Intent).....