New Point System for UK Visas
The government of UK is looking at a new point system for the UK visas. It is part of policy changes that it is planning to pass and implement in the year 2008. The new point system was outlined by the UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on December 2007.
New immigrations rules will be executed and new requirements will be needed. Smith mentioned things like Mandatory ID cards for foreign nationals living in the country, more rigorous rules for foreign spouses going to the country, and details of the new points based system or what they call the Tier Systems.
Smith started by acknowledging the contributions of the immigrants to the economy of the UK. They have provided much aid throughout the history of the country. She has made emphasis on issues like skills shortages being filled by the migrant labour and the labour market demands in the UK being met by the migrants as well. She even mentioned that if the migration to the UK stops, the country will surely be affected negatively. Immigration has contributed about six billion pounds in gross domestic product growth in the year 2007.
The Tier 1 system is the single points based system that will change the existing old system that UK is using for immigration. The five tier program includes Tier 1 to replace the HSMP or Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. The Tier 2 will be for skilled workers to work under the shortage list of jobs. Tier 3 are for the low-skilled workers but will be suspended as of the moment. Tier 4 is for foreign student visas while Tier 5 is for temporary workers.