Launch of new Points-Based
Immigration system
In a radical shake-up of the UK Immigration system, in 2008 the Home Office introduced a new Points-Based System (PBS) to replace all categories of work permit, permit free and student visa streams previously in operation. Underpinning the new migration system is a five tier framework and a system of registered sponsors. From November 2008 all non-EEA students entering the UK under the auspices of the British Council’s IAESTE programme are eligible for entry under Tier 5 of the PBS, which is the immigration stream for temporary workers, youth mobility schemes and cultural exchange programmes.
The British Council is registered as a Category A Sponsor under Tier 5 for the management of the IAESTE programme. Once trainees have been accepted for placement by their employers, the IAESTE UK Team accesses the PBS database managed by the UK Border Agency and enters students’ details in order to issue Certificates of Sponsorship. These are virtual documents, essentially a reference number, which confirm that the individual is sponsored by a government supported exchange scheme. We then liaise with the students and our IAESTE partners overseas to advise trainees on entry clearance procedures so that they may apply on-line through the PBS. In their own countries they are required to fill in an online form and give biometric data. Under Tier 5 IAESTE trainees are allowed to work in the UK for periods of up to up to 24 months maximum depending on the dates specified by their employers. The transition to the new system has been smooth with clear step-by-step guidelines prepared by the IAESTE team to help all incoming students with the process.
