A points based system for Britain

In March 2006 the British Government produced a  report outlining a system for points based immigration (“PBS”).

The aims outlined in the report include:

• Better targetting of those migrants with the right skill sets for the UK economy
• More efficient and streamlined immigration system
• A reduction in any abuse or fraudulent applications

The new PBS will cover nationals from outside the EU who are looking for employment or study.  There will be five stratas in the the PBS and these will be more user friendly in capturing the broad categories for application.

• Tier 1: Skilled individuals or entrepreneurs
• Tier 2: Appropriately skilled workers who have an offer of employment
• Tier 3:Limits on low skilled workers to fill shortages in very particular and specific areas of the economy
• Tier 4: Students
• Tier 5: Youth and temporary workers: people given consent to take work in the UK for a short time ultimately to fulfil a non economic objective.

The PBS will be worked on  in conjunction with experts in the area but no dates have yet announced yet for its implementation although a phased roll-out is planned.