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New immigration rules for international medical graduates

  • Last modified date:
    6 February 2008

New immigration rules that will restrict international medical graduates' (IMGs) access to UK post graduate medical training were today welcomed by the Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

The Home Office has laid immigration rules implementing the first part of the new Points Based System, which is the Tier 1 (General) route for highly skilled migrants. 

The new rules start to take effect from 29 February 2008

The new rules take effect from 29 February 2008. They will not impact on recruitment until 2009 and will prohibit the following people from accessing post graduate medical training posts:

From 29 February

• Migrants from overseas who are applying to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)

• Migrants already in the UK who are applying to switch to Tier 1 (General)

From 1 April 2008

• Migrants in India who are applying for entry clearance as a Tier 1 (General) Migrant.

The following people will be exempt from the regulations:

• Those who currently have leave to remain in the UK as a Highly Skilled Migrant

• Postgraduate doctors or dentists who are seeking leave to remain as a Tier 1 (General) Migrant.

These changes to the immigration rules are expected to reduce the potential pool of new migrant applicants by between 3,000 to 5,000 in 2009.

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