Work permit holder or Student who has successfully obtained a degree level qualification on a recognized degree course at either a UK publicly funded further or higher education institution or a bona fide UK private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; or

Frequently Asked Questions for HSMP …….

Can copies of certificates or other evidence be submitted with the Petition?
Only the original certificates are submitted at the time of filing. Where a document is not in English the original must be accompanied by a fully certified translation by an officially recognised translator.

Can my application be processed any faster than published estimates?
It is possible to make a request for your application to be processed urgently but only in the following circumstances such as urgent travel commitments; you require urgent medical treatment; you have received an offer of employment; you have other exceptional circumstances.

My application for HSMP was unsuccessful, what can I do?
You may submit the Review Request Form clearly stating where you think the case should have been scored differently. However, if you wish to submit any new, or additional, evidence to support your application, or if you wish to claim additional points, you must submit a new HSMP application, on a new form along with all the original documentary evidence. You will be charged the standard fee for a fresh application.

What if I meet the points threshold to gain HSMP but don't have the evidence to meet the English language requirement?
In order to qualify for HSMP approval you must achieve 75 points in the Points Scoring Assessment and also demonstrate that you meet the English language requirement. If you cannot meet both of these requirements, your application will be refused.

I have previously studied and worked in the UK, can I claim five points in the UK Experience category for each of these?
You can only claim a total of five points in this point scoring area for either UK study or previous UK employment but not both.

If the HSMP team considers that I have applied under the wrong employment category for the assessment of previous earnings, will further information be sought?
No. It is your responsibility to ensure that you apply under the correct employment category and supply the appropriate supporting evidence to meet the requirements of that category.

How long will I be allowed to stay in the U.K. as a highly skilled migrant?
At first, you may get permission to stay in the UK for up to 24 months to seek work or self-employment opportunities. After 24 months, you can apply to stay for longer and may be granted up to a further three years' leave, but you must meet the criteria set down for an extension of leave.

As a highly skilled migrant, can I stay in the United Kingdom permanently?
If you live in UK continuously for five years with Home Office permission, you can make an application for Indefinite leave to remain.

The working holidaymaker scheme is an arrangement where a Commonwealth citizen aged between 17 and 30 can apply to the United Kingdom (UK) for an extended holiday for up to two years. You can work, but only provided this is incidental to the holiday. The holiday should be the primary reason for your stay.

One can qualify as a working holidaymaker if:

you want to go to the UK for an extended holiday, and intend to take employment as part of your holiday for no more than 12 months during your stay;

you do not intend to engage in business or work as a professional sports person during your stay;

you are single or are married to a person who also qualifies as a working holidaymaker and you plan to take the working holiday together;

you do not have any dependent children who are aged five years or over or who will be five before you complete your holiday;

you can support and accommodate yourself in the UK without help from public funds;

you have not spent time in the United Kingdom on a previous working holidaymaker visa; and

you plan to leave the UK at the end of your holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much and what work can I do?
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. (Any other type of professional work is permitted.)You can choose when to work and when to take your holiday breaks as you wish, but you must not work for more than a total of 12 months or you will be breaking the conditions of your stay.

How much money will I need to qualify as a working holidaymaker?
You must be able to support and accommodate yourself adequately without recourse to State public funds. You must be able to show that you have enough money to pay the cost of at least your outward journey. You must also be able to show that you have enough money for your accommodation and living expenses for the first 2 months after arrival or for at least 1 month if you can show that you have arranged a job in advance which will adequately cover you accommodation and living expenses.

Can I apply to extend my stay once I am in the UK?
You cannot extend your stay as a working holidaymaker. But you may be eligible to switch into work permit employment after 12 months in the UK where your occupation is on the list of designated shortage occupations. Working Holidaymakers may also switch into Innovators and the Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP).