New versions of forms and guidance for points-based system applicants

The Home Office have published new versions of application forms today, and a new version of the Tier 1 (General) policy guidance.

New versions of the following application forms were published:

• Tier 1 (General) form
• Tier 1 (Post-study Work) form
• Tier 2 form
• Tier 4 (General) form
• Tier 4 (Child) form
• PBS Dependant form

Last month the Home Office withdrew the facility to pay the application fee by cash at public enquiry offices, and the above application forms have been amended to remove all references to cash payments.

We have also made the following additional changes to the Tier 1 (General) and Tier 2 application forms.

• Tier 1 (General) – we have corrected a question number (U2)
• Tier 2 – We have changed the help text about enrolling biometric information at a post office.

You should use the new forms from now on. However, in line with paragraph 34 (I) of the Immigration Rules, the Home Office will continue to accept applications made on the previous version of the application forms up to and including 27 September 2010. Any application submitted until 27 September 2010 will be considered under the new Immigration Rules, regardless of the version of the application form used.

The change to the Tier 1 (General) policy guidance relates to migrants who are currently in the UK as Innovators. The table in paragraph 46 has been amended to show that these migrants' applications will be treated as applications to switch into Tier 1 (General), not as extension applications.