Skilled migrants to be charged to enter UK

Workers
applying to come to the UK under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
will have to pay £150 from 31 October 2003, the Home Office announced today.

The
HSMP 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.

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."

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

By Michael Millar