Starting next year, the United Kingdom will use a new points-based immigration system that helps highly skilled professionals like scientists, doctors and entrepreneurs from India and other non-European Union countries to come to the UK.

This simplifies the current 80 of so different routes of immigration by replacing it with 5 routes.

* Route 1: Highly skilled migrants (e.g., scientists, doctors and entrepreneurs). No employer sponsor required.

* Route 2: Skilled migrants performing jobs in shortage areas (e.g., nurses, teachers and engineers). Employer sponsor required.

* Route 3: Low-skilled migrants (e.g., construction workers, catering staff) Employer sponsor required.

* Route 4: Students. Starts in 2009. Requires payment of tuition. A system of sponsorship by employers and educational institutions will be introduced at the beginning of next year.

* Route 5: Tourists, professional athletes and musicians.

Applicants need at least 75 points to be considered for a work visa. The points will be based on qualification, age and previous earnings.

See New immigration system to be operational in UK from new year, PTI World News, December 18, 2007, for the rest of the story.