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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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."

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.

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.

英国“澳式”移民评分制开始实施



英国外籍工人移民评分制的第一阶段在2月29日开始生效，这个人们等待已久的制度在今年夏季结束时将全面实施。

英国大臣们说，这几十年来最大的移民制度变革，会帮助英国对欧盟之外的移民进行更好的控制。

但是保守党人士则希望每年允许移民的人数应该有年度限额。

新制度要求移民工人证明他们有充分的技能，有关官员会对这些技能评估看英国经济是否需要。

申请者的技能会以分数形式得到评估。一个特殊组织会为政府部长们建议，针对英国经济的需求，何种技能可以获得多少分数。

效仿澳大利亚

这个制度是参考了澳大利亚的移民规定，已经规划了三年。被取而代之的旧规定中包括80多项分类。批评人士说过去的分类让人感到困惑，太复杂，而且也没有达到政府的目的。

新的移民五层制的第一层首先是对高技术移民生效。一些已经在英国居住并希望延长工作许可的人士属于这一范畴。

去年在英国就有14000人希望能续签。内政部表示，这个制度将会在夏季结束时全面实施。

另外，在英国还没有工作的海外高技术人士也可以申请到英国，因为他们被视为是能够为英国经济做出贡献的人群。这一组人群包括那些高级商务人士、企业家和科学家。

内政部大臣史密斯说，"推出这个澳大利亚形式的评分制是为了确保只有那些英国需要的人士才可以来这里工作和学习。"

移民事务部长拜尔恩对BBC说，英国政府对澳大利亚的评分制度进行了认真仔细的研究。

不适用东欧工人

将会实施的下一个层次是针对已经得到工作邀请的一般技能的移民，希望聘用一般技能移民的公司从秋季开始需要许可证。

对外国学生的制度将会从明年开始实施，但是目前针对低技术工人的制度实施日期还没有决定，这主要涵盖那些来自贫穷国家的人群。

另外英国政府还会对那些雇佣非法移民的公司推出新的惩罚制度。

对于刚刚加入欧盟的东欧工作者来说，这个新推出的评分制并不适用。因为作为欧盟成员国公民他们有权到欧盟的任何国家工作。