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Home » Immigration » UK » Tier 1 Visa for General Highly Skilled Migrants » Extensions

Tier 1 - General Highly Skilled Migrant Extensions for HSMP visa holders


Call the London Office on +44 (0)20 7842 0800 for a HSMP consultation or an appointment.

Overview

HSMP visa holders applying for an extension under the General Highly Skilled Migrants sub-category must score 75 points under the current rules in place for Tier 1 General Highlys Skilled Migrants. However, certain differences exist (see below). If you currently are in the UK and hold an HSMP visa, you must apply for an extension under these rules as of 29 February 2008.

Qualifications

Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
30 points35 points50 points

Age

The points awarded for Age differ for those switching over from HSMP and for those extending an existing Tier 1(General) visa.

Extension Applications for current HSMP visa holders
Under 30 years of age20 points
30 or 31 years of age10 points
32 or 33 years of age5 points

Extension Applications for current Tier 1 (General) visa holders
Under 31 years of age20 points
31 or 32 years of age10 points
33 or 34 years of age5 points

Previous Earnings

Previous earnings will be calculated from any consecutive 12 month period within the previous 15 months that you worked in the UK before applying for an extension. Exceptions to this rule exist if you were absent from work during this period due to maternity leave or adoption-related leave.

In pounds per yearPoints scored
£16,000 - £17,9995
£18,000 - £19,99910
£20,000 - £22,99915
£23,000 - £25,99920
£26,000 - £28,99925
£29,000 - £31,99930
£32,000 - £34,99935
£35,000 - £39,99940
£40,000+45

UK Experience

It will also be possible for you to claim 5 points for UK Experience, if you could not previously do so. However, you must be able to claim points for Previous Earnings and have 16,000 GBP of those earnings made in the UK during that period.

English Language Ability

You are not required to prove English Language ability again when applying for an extension unless you were granted an HSMP visa after the rules put in place on 5 December 2006.

Maintenance

You must show that you have at least 800 GBP at your disposal for at least the last three months. This has changed from the previous Statement of Intent paper, which stated that applicants extending a Tier 1 (Migrant) visa would not be required to show Maintenance funds.

Transitional Measures

If you are unable to qualify for an extension to your highly skilled migrant visa, there are transitional arrangements in place to allow you to move to another Tier, such as Tier 2 for skilled workers. If you have been working in the same position for the last 12 months and you have held an HSMP visa for more than 12 months, or you have worked in the same position for 8 months and have held an HSMP visa for 12 months or less, your employer can apply for a work permit for you without the need to show that a British or European Union citizen could not be found to fill the job.

When transitioning to another Tier, time spent in the UK under Tier 1 will qualify towards the time required to qualify for settlement under the target tier.