Sorry if I sound stupid.
According to Page 46 of Immigration Directorate Instructions for Tier 1 Settlement
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2. All other Tier 1 Applications
The specified period of continuous leave for all other Tier 1 applications is 5 years.
2.1 Calculation of the five year period for settlement
When assessing if an applicant has met the criteria for 5 years continuous residence in the UK, short absences abroad, for example for holidays (consistent with annual paid leave) or business trips (consistent with maintaining employment or self-employment in the UK), may be disregarded, provided the applicant has clearly continued to be based here.
2.2 Applications that fall short of the five year continuous period
In some cases, applicants may have been granted 5 years continuous leave, but will not have spent 5 years continuously in the UK before their current leave expires. Caseworkers may count the period between entry clearance being granted and the date the applicant entered the UK towards the 5 years, provided this period was not longer than 3 months.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guide is purely for Tier 1 and not for Tier 2. So how come all of you have concluded that 3 months concession is not applicable on hsmp/tier 1 holders..
Where does it says that this concession is for Tier 2 holders/work permit holders only.
As per my understanding of above paragraph it looks like this concession is valid for Tier 1 as well.
waiting for others to comment..........