Temporary, creative and supporting workers and youth mobility

Tier 5 PBS will encompass all these categories from the third quarter of 2008.

Temporary Exchange Workers must be sponsored by an "overarching body" which runs and administers the exchange scheme. Individual employers cannot act. The overarching body will need an associated government department which will be liable for enforcement costs where breaches take place.

Creative workers will apply within arts, film and TV, theatre and music sub-categories. Guidance will apparently have regard to the needs of the resident labour market.

Temporary sports people will require sponsorship by a sporting body, sports club or event organiser, any of which will require a sponsor's licence to issue certificates to sports people.

Youth mobility sponsorship will be by governments of the applicable countries. These governments will need to apply for inclusion, and consequently accept the generic obligations of sponsorship. "Low immigration risk" applicants will be "deemed to be sponsored" by their government if they have a national passport. In other cases, a certificate of sponsorship will be required.

MfB can advise and assist with preparation of applications before formal pre-assessment; generating or evaluating support documentation; assisting with reviews and appeals.