What You Will Need To Work In The UK

E ach year more than 35,000        the UK a reality. Some of these    people from destinations        options can even eventually lead   like Australia, South           to permanent residency, British    Africa, Canada and New Zealand        Citizenship and a UK Passport.     make the decision to spend some                                          time living and working in the        The Work Permit Scheme             UK. Spending time in a totally                                           different environment is an           The UK work permit scheme is an    awesome way to experience new         employer and position specific     things, gain work experience,         scheme designed for professionals  embrace new cultures and broaden      or executives who will bring       your horizons. Unfortunately it's     value and skill to the UK labour   not as simple as just waving          market. If you have a job offer    goodbye and boarding a plane to       from a UK based employer and fit   Heathrow.                             certain criteria you may be able                                         to apply for a work permit. The    How Do I Get There?                   main purpose of these visas is to                                        assist businesses in their         If you are one of the lucky few       international development and      who already have a European Union     employing key staff who do not     passport this article is not for      have the required working status   you. Travellers with EU passports     in the UK. A work permit may be    can work not only in the UK but       issued for any length of time up   anywhere in the European Union.       to five years. After completing    If you don't have an EU passport      four years on a work permit the    keep reading. A large selection       holder may apply for               of Immigration Visas, Residency       Residency/Indefinite Leave to      and work permits are on offer in      Remain in the UK.                  the UK to enable to make your                                            dream of living and working in        The Highly Skilled Migrant         Program (HSMP)                        for Indefinite Leave to Remain                                           (Permanent Residency).             The HSMP was designed to allow                                           highly skilled people to migrate      Working Holiday Visa               to the United Kingdom to look for                                        work or self-employment               If you are under 30 years of age   opportunities. The Highly Skilled     and are a citizen of a             Migrant Program is different from     Commonwealth (previous British     the work permit scheme because        Empire) country the chances that   you do not need a specific job        will be eligible for a Working     offer in the UK to apply. This        Holiday Visa are high. The         point based scheme works off          Working Holiday Visa is valid for  points gained in five key areas:      two years and allows you to        educational qualifications / work     legally work in the UK for 12      experience / past earnings / your     months. This is a popular option   achievement in your chosen field      amongst young South Africans,      / your husband's, wife's or           Australians and New Zealanders     unmarried partner's achievements.     who are looking to gain a bit of   If you score 65 points or more        work experience whilst enjoying    you will qualify as a highly          some time off travelling around    skilled migrant. Initially the        the UK.                            HSMP visa will be granted for a                                          period of one year. After the         Permanent Residency & Citizenship  initial year people on the scheme                                        can apply to stay longer, but                                            must remain economically active.      Once you have spent 4 continuous   The visa will then be extended        years on the HSMP or the Work      for a further three years. On         Permit you may be entitled to      completion of the total 4 years       apply for Indefinite Leave to      you can also make an application      Remain (permanent residency).      After a further year on               requirements a little confusing.   Indefinite Leave to Remain and        There are a range of companies     once you have spent 5 years in        who make it their job to           the UK you may be entitled to         understand all the rules and       apply for naturalisation (the         regulations when it comes to       process of become a British           foreigners living and working in   citizen). Should your application     the UK. Some of these companies    be successful you will become a       even go so far as helping you      fully fledged UK citizen with         find a job and opening a bank      that much sought after UK             account in the UK. Sometimes it    passport.                             is easier in the long run to                                             entrust the professionals when it  Sound Complicated?                    comes to some thing as life                                              changing as the "Live and Work in  Some travellers find all of these     the UK" experience.                visa distinctions and                  About the Author: If you have made the decision to live and work in the UK the hassles of visas, applying for foreign bank accounts and job hunting arise many appear challenging to say the least. Whether you're exploring the world, your career or your finances, 1st Contact (http://www.1stcontact.co.uk) offers a range of services to make li Source: www.isnare.com