Invitation to all HSMP holders in the UK affected by recent retrospective changes

HSMP Forum a non profit making organisation formed after the Nov 2006 retrospective changes has now launched its website www.hsmpforumltd.com , for regular updates on its Judicial Review and various other activities register now at its forum at http://forum.hsmpforumltd.com

The retrospective changes implemented by the UK Home Office in Nov 2006 have caused lots of hardships for HSMP holders who have already been in the UK since 2002.

Due to these changes majority of the HSMP holders do not qualify for further leave to remain. The UK Government is backing off from the very promises they made to HSMP Immigrants on which they were invited to UK. After the retrospective changes implemented on 8th Nov people are being asked to re-qualify for their visa extension thru an unfair points based system (PBS) rather than initial promise of extension on economic activity alone.

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) after a meeting with HSMP Forum recently wrote to Immigration and Nationality Directorate informing that the new rules does indirect discrimination towards non EEA nationals and penalizes ethnic minorities.

After several requests made by CRE to provide the Race Equality Impact Assessment (REIA) copy, the REIA was provided by Border and Immigration Agency (IND) to CRE next day after HSMP Forum raised the issue during the meeting with the Immigration Minister on 26th March 07. CRE criticized BIA on not publishing the REIA (or making it available), lack of consultation for the changes and basically conducting a flawed REIA.

Many HSMP immigrants don't qualify for further Extension due to these new changes and are being forced to wind up their establishments, careers, schooling of their children, and investments and are being forced to leave the Country. This is after making innumerable sacrifices like leaving their well established careers back home, selling their properties and overall uprooting their family to settle in the UK based on the undertaking given by the UK Government.

A Judicial Review has been filed against the changes by HSMP Forum Ltd and further development on the same is still awaited.

Join now at the forum, support the campaign and discuss your issues and get support at www.hsmpforumltd.org

Protest infront of parliament square

Demonstration infront of parliament square was very successful. BBC, Sky and they have sent their TV CAMERA to The Demonstration.

Today(29th) we all will see a TV footage with interview on Sky channel 791 and 814 at 10 pm, 1 am and also news at BBC LONDON (already shown at 7 pm news, but will show again. keep on eye), Sky news (haven't been told from Press office, what time).

Letters to MP

If any one affected by the new rules for hsmp, Please open the web site below and rise ur voice to MP.

http://www.writetothem.com/?keyword=local%20mp&creativeid=494396319&gclid=CPHsys3LwogCFTVmEQod0hw0AQ

HSMP changes - JOIN WITH US to FIGHT

Please join our group to fight for justice. We have started yahoo groups to gather everybody who are suffering with new changes in HSMP. We are also planning to go for legal action against these new rules.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HSMP2006


HSMP changes -Unfair Retrospective Rules

Background
· In 2002, the UK introduced Highly Skilled Migration Programme (HSMP), which aims to bring Highly Skilled Workers to work in the UK. It is a point-based scheme and individual must score minimum of 65 points in order to qualify for this programme.

· Points can be gained for educational qualifications, work experience, past earnings,significant achievement on their own field and partner's achievement. After successfully gaining 65 points, a candidate is able to work for any employer in the UK, be a self-employed contractor or start their own business.
· After completion of 4 years period, they qualify to apply for permanent UK residency as long as the individual is in permanent employment and not dependent on public funds.
· Once 65 points have been achieved and the individual is in employment, there is no further review required.

Four years into the scheme, the government has now changed the rules, which will disadvantage people such as myself who are already in the programme:

Changes 2006
· In April 2006, it was announced by the Home Office, that the qualifying period for permanent residency would increase from 4 years to 5 years.
· In November 2006, the Home Office again announced that those who are working under HSMP would now require 75 and not 65 points in order to extend their stay in the U.K.
· No points are now given for qualifications such as professional experience, significant achievements, partner’s achievement etc, which were earlier considered by the old scheme.
· A review is now necessary during the extension period, which now requires 75 points regardless of the individuals’ employment status.
· More points are now given to people who are at less age.

The effect of these changes now mean that having fulfilled the original requirements of the scheme and relocated and settled with our families,we are now faced with having to leave the UK.
We accept the Government’s prerogative to change the programme rules, but surely this must only apply to new entrants and not those who have met all the requirements of the scheme and been here for a number of years. People who came here surely can not grow young to meet age requirements.

There are hundrends of people like me who came to UK on HSMP scheme and betrayed. Please fight with us.