Tier 1 general scheme for immigration; recruitment/work permit agencies?

Question

I believe that under the new Tier 1 general which replaces the old HSMP scheme, the initial application now has to be made outside of the UK (i.e. to the British Embassy in whichever country). I believe that in the past recruitment and work permit agencies used to make money on the fact that they would charge a fee for foreigners to send over their CVs and have the forms filled in for them and sent to the relevant department in Britain. However now that the biometrics requirements are in place (necessitating presence of the applicant at the embassy) and hard copies of documents such as passports etc must be included in the application to the embassy would it not be simpler/necessary for the foreigener themselves go to the embassy with the filled out form (and give the biometrics and passport) rather than sending all this stuff over to england to have it sent back to the british embassywhich is in their own country anyway and have to pay for it! how did/do these agencies make money?Thxs

Answer 1

First of all, few years ago British Government used to offer all services for free & all the salaries were paid from the Treasury. This practice has been changed now, they decided to charge people for the services they offer, and all the cost is covered from the money they are charging.

The HSMP scheme was distributed among two departments fee was charged separately (£400 for HSMP + 200 for visa). The procedure is now combined into Tier 1 & the fee has been combined too. This has facilitate the procedure both for the dealing departments as well as applicant. Its now single application & even though the point system is bit enhanced comparing HSMP as far as qualification criteria is concerned.

Yet I liked that HSMP has been changed to Tier1 to avoid fradulent applications giving more powers to Embassies in the related country to make their checks since HSMP was abused in past. Plus they added to bring funds £2800 this step is another good step to make sure that anyone who is entering UK is able to at least support him/herself during job hunt.