If you are considering immigration to the UK you need to understand the different types of visas and permits. To begin with it is good to know that if you are going to be visiting the UK for a short period of time (under 3 months) you will not need a visa of any type. A current passport is all that will be required of you if you are a tourist. If you want to work while in the UK you will need to acquire a visa. The UK uses a point system to determine eligibility for visas. There are five different levels of visas, called Tiers. These range from a Tier 1, with the highest degree of permanence, to the Tier 5 for students or transients. The Tier 1 visa is the most sought after type of visa for UK immigration because it allows for highly skilled workers.
The Tier 1 visa replaces the HSMP or Highly Skilled Migrant Programme that was previously in place. The process for obtaining a Tier 1 visa relies on assigning points to various categories. These total points must add to at least 75 in order to qualify for a Tier 1 visa. The areas of consideration include age, education, work experience and previous salary. There are additional categories for English language skills and UK knowledge. The purpose of the point system is to ensure that the best candidates are allowed into the country and that they will have a high likelihood of being successful and fitting into society. Applicants must submit all the supporting paperwork and documentation along with their application since the application process is now a one-step operation.