Regarding question 2 in the FAQ

[oneway]

Board Admins,

I looked at the latest version of the FLR(IED) document online and Q 40 to 44 were not related to designated profession requirements.

I am really interested in this point because I am currently making money in a self employed field that is very loosely related to my education. My income for the past one year was a combination of my salary as a highly skilled professional as well as my self employement income. I have enough points to qualify for the HSMP programme. I live in the US and would really like to move to the UK. Once I am in the UK, I would like to only work on the self employed gig. I want to know if this is possible.

Here is the point I am seeking clarification on.

2. Can I do any sort of work outside my designated HSMP profession?
Not for the HSMP renewal purposes. Any economic activity (job) used in any renewal should be in your HSMP designated profession. Please refer to Q 40 to 44 of the FLR (IED) form. Of course, one may engage in any legal activity for purely economical reasons. If you happen to successfully renew your HSMP status while employed outside of your designated profession, please share that with the Board. Thanks!

[oneway]

Anyone??

[rella]

Anyone??

The FLR(IED) does not apply to your situation. You will apply for the HSMP and then for EC. You won't apply for FLR(IED) until you get through your first few years in the UK on your HSMP.

My husband has been self-employed for the last several years and his experience and income qualified for HSMP. Is your regular job full-time? If it is, you should be able to use that for work experience points. You can include all of your work for income, I believe. Is your self-employment professional level?

As long as you fulfill the requirements in the guidelines, I would apply and go for it. Make sure that you meticulously document every point that you claim, so you make it easy for the caseworker to verify your point assessment.

Sorry -- edited to say that I missed your point about FLR. How closely related is your self-employment area to the area you will claim for you expertise for HSMP?

[oneway]

rella,

Thanks for your response. I have worked as a application developer for a year and a half followed by the title of software engineer for the last 5 years. My part time gig is in online marketing using websites. The reason I said it's loosely related is that I still use code to create the websites. I was wondering if I can just switch to doing this full time once I am in the UK.

[rella]

If I were you, I'd try to fit both in to your experience and expertise. Maybe you can call yourself a software/web developer. You could say you are a web developer for your FLR. You could also consider setting up your company in the UK as a web development and software consulting company. That way you are covered, no matter what you end up doing. I would say not to worry because in the past, people have gotten their renewals with jobs that are way outside their area. But.... the way things are changing and tightening up, I wouldn't take any chances at all. I'd follow the guidelines to the letter and be flexible, so that if they change the rules on you midstream, you are ready to adapt and still be successful.

Many of us on this forum have been caught up in rule changes and they are always applied w/out any provision for those already in the system. Rules seem to be retroacive if they harm you and not if they help. So, be prepared to set yourself up in the best way to show that you are highly professional and a real attribute to the UK.