Home Office encourages overseas skilled workers

The Home Office will be expanding its Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) to encourage skilled people in areas such as medicine, engineering and music to come to the UK.

The HSMP is one of a range of Government initiatives to encourage overseas workers with skills in demand in the UK to come to the country without the usual restrictions.

Home Office Minister, Beverley Hughes, said: "The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme has made an extremely encouraging start with 3,721 talented people now working in the UK in fields as diverse as medicine, music, and engineering.

"We will shortly be expanding the scheme to attract and enable skilled applicants to work in the UK and to take the achievements of partners into account when considering an application.

"The Government welcomes those with the skills to help the UK prosper both economically and culturally."

The Government has also announced that workers applying to come to the UK under the HSMP will have to pay £150 from 31 October 2003. This charge will cover the costs of processing applications under the scheme which should save taxpayers £1.8 million in 2004-05. The Home Office already charges for work permits, leave to remain, visas and nationality applications, sector based schemes and all those accepted onto the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme was set up in January 2002 as a route for 'particularly talented people' to apply to work in the UK. It differs from the work permit scheme in that it does not require an employer to obtain a work permit for the individual. Applicants are assessed on a points system on their qualifications, earning ability and experience.