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Immigration to get tougher in Britain

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: Immigration to Britain will become more difficult from next year with the introduction of a new Australian-style points system designed to ensure that only those who can contribute to British economy are allowed to come in.

Under the five-point scheme, applicants will be graded according to their skills and qualifications with preference given to highly-skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.

"With the exception of an elite group of highly skilled migrants, all other foreign workers or students will need a U.K. sponsor to vouch for them and help us make sure they are playing by the rules,'' Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said.

The new system, to be introduced in phases, will replace the existing 80 different routes of entry into Britain, making it easier for the Government to weed out those it does not require. Recruitment of low-skilled workers from outside the European Union would be virtually banned except in areas of serious short-term shortages.

The following is the list of various categories of migrants and how they will be graded: Tier 1: highly skilled, such as scientists or entrepreneurs; Tier 2: skilled workers with a job offer such as nurses, teachers, engineers; Tier 3: low skilled workers filling specific temporary labour shortages in a particular project; Tier 4: students; Tier 5: youth mobility and temporary workers — for example, working holiday makers or musicians coming to play a concert.

A Home Office statement said that points would be awarded to reflect aptitude, experience, age and also the level of need in any given sector. This would help the Government "respond flexibly to changes in the labour market.''

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