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Tier 1(G) –HSMP

AGE
Qualifications
Previous Earnings
United Kingdom Experience
English Language
Maintenance

The Tier 1 (General) category allows highly skilled people to come to the UK to look for work or self-employment opportunities

The points-based assessment

To apply under Tier 1 (General), you must pass a points-based assessment. You must score:

75 or 80 points for your attributes (age, qualifications, previous earnings, and experience in the UK); and
10 points for your English language skills; and
10 points for available maintenance (funds).

If you do not score enough points, your application will be refused.

The number of points that you must score, and the ways that you can score points, depend on whether you are:

applying to the Tier 1 (General) category for the first time (initial applications); or
applying to extend your existing permission to stay in the UK under Tier 1 (General) (extension applications); or
applying to Tier 1 (General) from inside the UK with current permission to stay under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP).

AGE:

Points awarded for an initial application to Tier 1 (General)
The table below shows the points awarded if you are applying to come to the UK under Tier 1 (General), or if you are currently in the UK in a different immigration category (other than those listed below).

Age on date of application	Points
Under 30 years	20
30 to 34 years	10
35 to 39 years	5
40 years or over	0

Points awarded for an extension application under Tier 1 (General)
The tables below show the points awarded if you are already in the UK under Tier 1 (General) and you want to extend your stay in this category.
If your current permission to enter or stay was granted before 6 April 2010, the points awarded are:

Age on date of application	Points
Under 31 years	20
31 or 32 years	10
33 or 34 years	5
35 years or over	0

If your current permission to enter or stay was granted on or after 6 April 2010, the points awarded are:

Age on date of application	Points
Under 32 years	20
32 to 36 years	10
37 to 41 years	5
42 years or over	0

Qualifications:

Points awarded for initial applications to Tier 1 (General)
The table below shows the points awarded if you are applying to come to the UK under Tier 1 (General), or if you are currently in the UK in a different immigration category (other than those listed below).

Qualification	Points
Bachelor's degree	30
Master's degree	35
PhD	45

Qualification	Points
Bachelor's degree	30
Master's degree	35
PhD	50

If your current permission to enter or stay was granted between 31 March 2009 and 5 April 2010, the points awarded are:

Qualification	Points
Master's degree	35
PhD	50

If your current permission to enter or stay was granted between on or after 6 April 2010, the points awarded are:

Qualification	Points
Bachelor's degree	30
Master's degree	35
PhD	45

Previous Experience:

Previous earnings	Points
£25,000-£29,999	5
£30,000-£34,999	15
£35,000-£39,999	20
£40,000-£49,999	25
£50,000-£54,999	30
£55,000-£64,999	35
£65,000-£74,999	40
£75,000-£149,999	45
£150,000 or more	80

Previous earnings	Points
£16,000-£17,999	5
£18,000-£19,999	10
£20,000-£22,999	15
£23,000-£25,999	20
£26,000-£28,999	25
£29,000-£31,999	30
£32,000-£34,999	35
£35,000-£39,999	40
£40,000 or more	45

If your current permission to enter or stay was granted between 31 March 2009 and 5 April 2010, the points awarded are:

Previous earnings	Points
£20,000-£22,999	15
£23,000-£25,999	20
£26,000-£28,999	25
£29,000-£31,999	30
£32,000-£34,999	35
£35,000-£39,999	40
£40,000 or more	45

If your current permission to enter or stay was granted between on or after 6 April 2010, the points awarded are:

Previous earnings	Points
£25,000-£29,999	5
£30,000-£34,999	15
£35,000-£39,999	20
£40,000-£49,999	25
£50,000-£54,999	30
£55,000-£64,999	35
£65,000-£74,999	40
£75,000-£149,999	45
£150,000 or more	80

Points awarded for applications to switch into Tier 1 (General) from the Writer, composer or artist and Self-employed lawyer categories or from the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
The table below shows the points awarded if you are already in the UK as a Writer, composer or artist, as a Self-employed lawyer, or under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.

Previous earnings	Points
£16,000-£17,999	5
£18,000-£19,999	10
£20,000-£22,999	15
£23,000-£25,999	20
£26,000-£28,999	25
£29,000-£31,999	30
£32,000-£34,999	35
£35,000-£39,999	40
£40,000 or more	45

UK Experience:
Points awarded for initial applications to Tier 1 (General)
The table below shows the points awarded if you are applying to come to the UK under Tier 1 (General), or if you are currently in the UK in a different immigration category (other than those listed below).

Type of UK experience	Points
You are successfully scoring points for your previous earnings, and £25,000 or more of those earnings were made in the UK	5
You have been in full-time study in the UK for at least one full academic year, and have been awarded a qualification at bachelor's degree level or above within the past five years	5

Type of UK experience	Points
You are successfully scoring points for your previous earnings, and £16,000 or more of those earnings were made in the UK	5

If your current permission to enter or stay was granted on or after 6 April 2010, the points awarded are:

Type of UK experiene	Points
You are successfully scoring points for your previous earnings, and £25,000 or more of those earnings were made in the UK	5

English Language:

If you have passed an English language test
If you have a degree taught in English

Maintenance Funds:

The points awarded for maintenance (funds) if you are already inside the United Kingdom
You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds). These will be awarded if you are applying for permission to stay in the United Kingdom (known as 'leave to remain') and have £800 in available funds
For more information visit: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk