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Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

Highly skilled migrant worker

People who were refused an extension of stay and switched to a different immigration category

You can ask us to review your original refusal under the arrangements that were in place before 7 November 2006.

As well as migrants who have switched to another category within the immigration rules, this group also covers migrants who were granted discretionary leave or leave outside the immigration rules.

To apply for a review please use the FLR Tier 1 (HSMP) Review application form and read the accompanying guidance notes. You can download the application form and guidance notes from the right side of this page. Your original application for an extension of leave under HSMP will be reviewed under the HSMP criteria that were in place before 7 November 2006. If you are successful, your immigration status will be switched back to highly skilled under the terms of the special policy document and you will be granted a sufficient length of leave to take you to the settlement threshold.

You will not be charged a fee.

If you switched to the work permit arrangements, you should note that the immigration rules have, since 29 February 2008, allowed time spent in HSMP to count towards an application for settlement under the work permit arrangements. If your combined HSMP and work permit leave is already up to or beyond five years you may wish to consider whether it is worth switching back to the highly skilled category before applying for settlement.