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The UK Government today announced the go-live date for Tiers 2 and 5 of the new Australian-style points based system (PBS).

These tiers, which cover skilled and temporary workers, will come into effect on 27 November – sweeping aside around 30 previous schemes, including the old work permit system.

The introduction of the points system is part of the biggest shake-up to the UK immigration system for 45 years. It will reinforce the UK’s position as a destination of choice for foreign workers, while tightening control against those who seek to abuse the system.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

“The UK is a fantastic place to work and we want the UK to stay open and attractive to skilled workers. At the same time we are determined to deliver a system of border security which is among the most secure in the world.

“The new Australian-style points system will allow us to attract those people who have the skills we need. It is also flexible, allowing us to raise or lower the bar according to the needs of the labour market and the country as a whole.”

The Home Office will also introduce a new Business Visitor Visa for visa nationals on the 27th November to cater for business activities falling outside the points system. It will allow travel to the UK for people undertaking specific business activity – including attending meetings or conferences, arranging deals, undertaking fact finding missions, and conducting site visits. Non visa nationals will not need prior entry clearance (visa) to come to the UK to undertake these activities.

Details on the new Business, Sports, Entertainer and Special visas can be found at :

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/managingmigration/businessandspecialvisitors/

Full guidance on making an application under Tier 2 or 5 of the Point Based System will be available via this website from the 4th November. For further information now please read the statement of Intent for Skilled Workers under the Points Based System (Tier 2)

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbsdocs/

And for Temporary Workers and Youth Mobility (Tier 5)

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbsdocs/

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