A new immigration category of Training and work experience scheme i.e. Medical Training Initiatives has been introduced for overseas professionals who intend to seek training in the UK to put into practice, the training and work experience they gain, in their home countries. Previously they used to come to the UK on a different route i.e. Permit free route.

These changes have been made to keep the opportunity open to the overseas practitioners but at the same time restricting the period of stay for a maximum of two years. One more reason for making it under the Training and work experience scheme is that the applicants would not be able to return to the UK under the work permit arrangements within 12 months if he has remained in the UK on this category for less than 12 months and within 24 months if he has remained in the UK on this category for more than 12 months. The intention is to give full opportunity to the resident specialists / professionals to apply for the Jobs available within the UK thus reducing the unemployment rate among the UK qualified professionals.

1. Purpose and Scope of MTI - (TWES)

This is a new category within the Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES) to accommodate overseas post-graduate medical specialists to undertake further / continuing training in the UK, normally within the NHS. It covers all schemes and arrangements sponsored or administered by the Medical Royal Colleges and similar organisations (for example, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission) for the training of overseas medical professionals, doctors or dentists.

Work Permits (UK) would consider MTI applications for those individuals who are administered or who are sponsored for the purpose of registration with the General Medical Council, and whose post is approved by the Deaneries, or other recognised medical authorities, to undertake a period of training, under the following categories:

• fixed term appointments (type II, specialist registrars)
• scholarships,
• locum appointments - training (LATs),
• medical professionals from overseas governments,
• head-for-head exchanges.

2. General Requirements

Following are general requirements which an employer needs to make sure that these are complied with, before making a MTI work permit application.

For the Applicant

• The applicant must be overseas post graduate medical specialists who wish to undertake further training in the UK and intend to use their work experience / training on their return to their home countries.

For the Position

• The position that would be occupied by a MTI permit holder may NOT be an additional to the normal staff requirement of that employer.

For the Employer

• The employer needs to establish its UK existence before the Work Permits (UK), which may be established by various documentary evidences related to the physical and trading existence in the UK, unless they have made any work permit application in the last five years for an overseas national.

3. Special Requirements

In addition to the general requirements, the employer needs to fulfil / comply with the rules / requirements, in order to make a successful application under this category of TWES permit.

The employer of the overseas worker can be the sponsoring Royal College or appropriate regional Deanery, or an individual NHS Trust. Whichever arrangement is agreed upon the employer will need to provide evidence that includes:

• the comprehensive training programme (including the trainer accreditation and contact details, timetable, key stages, course or module titles, location(s) and key outputs such as certificates of completion of training)
• evidence of GMC registration (PIN, or a certificate where this is available)
• the formal notification of sponsorship or endorsement
• a letter of sponsorship from the NHS trust or Deanery or endorsement from the appropriate Royal College or similar organisation.

4. Duration of Visa

The MTI permit can only be issued for a maximum of two years. There is also a restriction on them that they cannot return to the UK on any other work arrangements within a specified period of time. However, they can make an application under the Highly skilled migrant program from outside the UK and return before the time restrictions, HSMP does not come under the work permit arrangements.

5. Work Allowed

Work permit holders can only work for a specific employer in the specific position unless they get permission from the Home Office to make any changes. A TWES work permit holder CANNOT take any part time or supplementary job in any case.

6. Extension of TWES Work Permit

The employer can apply for an extension of the MTI permit for the applicant provided the applicant does not stay for an aggregate period of two years.

7. Spouse / Children

MIT permit holders can invite their spouse / children to join them as their dependants during the time of their stay provided they could support their families without recourse to public funds. The spouse of a work permit holder will be allowed to work / engage himself in business.

8. Switching Rules

Switching to:
Since 01st of October 2004, there have been some major changes in the switching rules. Only overseas students and those who are on permit free immigration category can switch to MTI permit while remaining in the UK.

Switching from:
MTI permit holders cannot switch to any immigration category in any case without leaving the UK. But there are two exceptions of this rule i.e.

• Spouse visa (Provided the applicant has been issued visa / leave to remain for more than 6 months initially and he has got more than 3 months of his current leave to remain).
• Religious Minister (Provided the applicant has remained in TWES work permit category for 12 months and is eligible to apply for this category.

9. Settlement Prospects

TWES Work Permits are issued on the assumption that the applicants would return to their home countries on the completion of their training and work experience. There are no settlement prospects for TWES permits holders unless they switch into one of the above immigration categories that lead to permanent settlement in the UK.