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| Immigration points system begins | Immigration points system begins |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A long-expected overhaul of the UK's immigration system has come into force with the launch of a point-based system for foreign workers. | A long-expected overhaul of the UK's immigration system has come into force with the launch of a point-based system for foreign workers. |
| The first stage of the system becomes operational on Friday - and will apply fully by the end of the summer. | The first stage of the system becomes operational on Friday - and will apply fully by the end of the summer. |
| Ministers say the changes are the biggest for a generation - and will allow the UK to better control migrants from outside EU. | Ministers say the changes are the biggest for a generation - and will allow the UK to better control migrants from outside EU. |
| But the Conservatives say they want an annual cap on the numbers allowed in. | But the Conservatives say they want an annual cap on the numbers allowed in. |
| Under the system, migrant workers will need to show they have sufficient skills under new rules that assess whether or not the economy needs them. | Under the system, migrant workers will need to show they have sufficient skills under new rules that assess whether or not the economy needs them. |
| Applicants are given a score based on their abilities, with a special body advising ministers on how many points to award to certain skills to reflect economic conditions. | Applicants are given a score based on their abilities, with a special body advising ministers on how many points to award to certain skills to reflect economic conditions. |
| The system is based on Australia's immigration rules and has been more than three years in the planning. It replaces a system of more than 80 categories that critics say was confusing, complex and failing to meet government goals. | The system is based on Australia's immigration rules and has been more than three years in the planning. It replaces a system of more than 80 categories that critics say was confusing, complex and failing to meet government goals. |
| Five tiers | Five tiers |
| The first of five tiers to come into force only affects highly-skilled people. At first those already living in the UK who want to extend their stay - 14,000 people last year - will be covered. The system will be fully in place for all highly-skilled workers by the end of the summer, says the Home Office. | The first of five tiers to come into force only affects highly-skilled people. At first those already living in the UK who want to extend their stay - 14,000 people last year - will be covered. The system will be fully in place for all highly-skilled workers by the end of the summer, says the Home Office. |
| POINTS BASED SYSTEM Skills assessedPoints awardedPoints lead to entry80 categories reduced to fiveTwo-year roll-out Points system explained | POINTS BASED SYSTEM Skills assessedPoints awardedPoints lead to entry80 categories reduced to fiveTwo-year roll-out Points system explained |
| Highly-skilled workers can apply to come to the UK without a job offer because they are considered to be among those most likely to benefit the economy. The category includes high-flying business people, entrepreneurs and scientists. | Highly-skilled workers can apply to come to the UK without a job offer because they are considered to be among those most likely to benefit the economy. The category includes high-flying business people, entrepreneurs and scientists. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "The introduction of our Australian-Style points system will ensure that only those with skills the country needs can come to work and study. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "The introduction of our Australian-Style points system will ensure that only those with skills the country needs can come to work and study. |
| "Today's proposals are part of the biggest changes to British Immigration policy in a generation, which includes a new deal for those migrants seeking citizenship here, a new UK Border Agency to strengthen controls at the border and the introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals." | "Today's proposals are part of the biggest changes to British Immigration policy in a generation, which includes a new deal for those migrants seeking citizenship here, a new UK Border Agency to strengthen controls at the border and the introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals." |
| Australian model | |
| Immigration minister Liam Byrne told BBC News the Australian model had been closely examined by the British government. | |
| "I think that people want to know that only those who we need to come to Britain should be allowed to come and I think a points system has worked extremely well in Australia so we have studied that hard, we think it would work well in this country." | |
| The next tiers to come into operation cover skilled workers who have a job offer, temporary workers and young people allowed to come in for a short time. Businesses who want to bring in skilled workers from the autumn will need licences. | |
| Students will be covered from next year - but no date has been set for admission of low-skilled workers, largely affecting people from poorer parts of the world. | Students will be covered from next year - but no date has been set for admission of low-skilled workers, largely affecting people from poorer parts of the world. |
| The government has also introduced new fines for those found to be employing illegal immigrants. | |
| The points-based-system does not cover workers from Eastern European nations which have joined the EU in recent years. These workers, along with British people, have freedom of movement around the union. | The points-based-system does not cover workers from Eastern European nations which have joined the EU in recent years. These workers, along with British people, have freedom of movement around the union. |