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Tier 2 (General) Migrant

  • The Tier 2 General visa is designed to enable skilled workers to come to the UK in order to fill a gap in the UK labour market
  • The employer must hold a sponsorship licence agreement
  • The main requirements:
    • Applicant has a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from an organisation based in the UK that holds a sponsor licence
    • the role represents a genuine vacancy
    • they possess the suitable skills and experience for the role
    • the role is at the relevant skill level (typically NQF level 6 or above) and they will be paid an appropriate salary as listed within the Codes of Practice
    • they meet the required level of English language (currently B1 of the CEFR)
    • they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves (if maintenance is not certified by the sponsor); and
    • they do not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal
  • Applicants can apply to come to the UK for a period of five years and 14 days, or the time given by the sponsor on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 1 month, whichever is shorter
  • Applicants can apply to extend their stay in the UK up to a maximum period of six years providing they continue to meet the requirements of the scheme
  • Applicant can switch into this category from within the UK
  • Applicant pays NHS Suracharge
  • Applicant may be invited for an interview: genuine earnings test
  • During their stay in the UK, applicants can work for the sponsor in the role described on their Certificate of Sponsorship, perform supplementary work of up to 20 hours per week in accordance with the rules and undertake voluntary work and study providing this does not interfere with their main sponsored work
  • Applicants cannot hold more than 10% of the shares in the sponsoring company unless they earn an annual salary at or above the high earner rate and they are not permitted to access public funds
  • Applicant’s can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain can be made once an applicant has held a Tier 2 General visa for a period of at least five years

Total points scored

  • Attributes: based on Certificate of Sponsorship i.e. job post and salary 50 points
  • Maintenance requirement: £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days in account ; 10 points
  • English language: CEFR A1 10 points

Tier 1 (Intra-company Transfer Worker)

  • The Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa is designed to enable workers who are based overseas to transfer temporarily to the organisation’s UK branch or connected entity.
  • There are two types of Tier 2 ICT visa:
    • Long-term Staff: for transfers of more than 12 months for a worker who has worked for the overseas organisation for at least 12 months, unless the migrant is earning at least £73,900
    • Graduate Trainee: for transfers into graduate trainee programmes. The applicant must be a recent graduate with at least three months experience with the overseas organisation
  • The employer must hold a sponsorship licence agreement
  • Main requirements:
    • Applicant must have a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from an organisation based in the UK that holds a sponsor licence
    • Applicant’s role represents a genuine vacancy
    • Applicant’s possess the suitable skills and experience for the role
    • the role is at the relevant skill level (typically NQF level 6 or above) and they will be paid an appropriate salary as listed within the Codes of Practice
    • Applicant has sufficient funds to maintain themselves (if maintenance is not certified by the sponsor)
    • Applicant does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.
    • Applicant meets the English language requirements CEFR Level A1.
    • Applicant may be invited to attend an interview, genuine vacancy test.

Length and conditions of stay in the UK

  • Applicants in the Graduate Trainee category can apply to come to the UK for a maximum period of 12 months
  • Applicants in the Long-term staff category earning at least £120,000 a year can extend their leave up to a maximum of nine years, whilst those in this category earning less than this can extend their leave up to a maximum of five years and one month.
  • It is not possible to switch from a Tier 2 ICT visa to a Tier 2 (General) visa from within the UK.
  • Those wishing to apply under Tier 2 (General) or extend their Tier 2 ICT visa beyond the maximum time allowed are required to leave the UK.
  • A 12 month cooling off period will generally then be applied (unless one of the exceptions applies) before the applicant can obtain a new visa to return under Tier 2.
  • During their stay in the UK, applicants can work for the sponsor in the role described on their Certificate of Sponsorship, perform supplementary work of up to 20 hours per week in accordance with the rules and undertake voluntary work and study providing this does not interfere with their main sponsored work. They are not permitted access to public funds.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

  • The Tier 2 ICT visa is no longer a route leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.
  • Some holders of leave under this route may be eligible to apply because of the amount of time they have spent in the UK and we can provide specific advice if required.
  • Applicants will need to show that their sponsor still requires their services as per the CoS

Total Points

Attributes: Certificate of Sponsorship 30 points.

Appropriate salary 20 points.

Total 50 in attributes.

Maintenance requirement:  £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days in account ; 10 points.

English language: CEFR A1 10 points.

Tier 2 Minister of Religion

  • This category is for religious workers e.g ministers, those with pastoral duties, preaching, monks, nuns etc
  • The employer must hold a sponsorship licence agreement
  • Requirements:
    • Applicant must show he is qualified for the job role – has CoS
    • Applicant intends to be based in the UK
    • Applicant intends to leave at the end of the visa
    • Applicant passes English language test CEFR B21
    • Labour market; unless the role is exempt, the Applicant will need to show he is not displacing or denying employment opportunity to a suitable qualified person in the UK labour force
    • Applicant must show he can adequately maintain themselves or the sponsor can provide an undertaking to confirm he/she will support the Applicant throughout the whole of the visa duration
    • Leave is granted for about 3 years.
    • Applicant can apply for visa extension You can extend a Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa for up to 3 years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or the time required to take your total stay in the UK to a maximum of 6 years, whichever time is shorter.
    • Applicant can apply for settlement after 5 years
    • Applicant must pay NHS Surcharge
    • TB test where applicable
    • Applicant can switch into this country from within the UK

Total Points:

Attributes: Certificate of Sponsorship 30 points.

Appropriate salary 20 points.

Total 50 in attributes.

Maintenance requirements £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days in account: 10 points.

English language; CEFR B2  10 points.

Tier 2 (Sportsperson)

  • Tier 2 is for applicants who will stay in the UK for more than 24 months.
  • The applicant must be able to demonstrate the following:
    • they are an elite sportsperson or qualified coach, who is recognised by their sport’s governing body as being at the highest level of their profession internationally
    • their sport’s governing bodyis endorsing their application and they have a suitable sponsor (this may be a club for example) Endorsement bodies are listed in Appendix M of the Immigration Rules
    • their work will develop their particular sport in the UK at the highest level
    • they meet the required level of English language (currently B1 of the CEFR)
    • they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves
    • they have a valid TB test certificate, if applying from a relevant country
    • they do not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal
  • Applicants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain once they have completed 5 years in this category (providing they meet the requirements for ILR).

Total Points:

Attributes: Certificate of Sponsorship 30 points.

Appropriate salary 20 points.

Total 50 in attributes.

Maintenance requirement:  £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days in account 10 points.

English language: CEFR B2 10 points.

Tier 5 (Temporary Work)

  • The Tier 5 Temporary Work visa allows certain types of temporary workers to enter the UK to satisfy creative and sport, cultural, charitable, religious or international objectives including volunteering and job shadowing
  • The employer must have a sponsorship licence
  • Main requirements:
    • they have a UK sponsor who has issued them with a Certificate of Sponsorship;
    • the role is supernumerary;
    • they have at least £945 in savings and have held this for at least 90 days prior to making the application;
    • they will be paid at least the National Minimum Wage;
    • they do not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.

Length and conditions of stay in the UK

  • Applicants can apply to come to the UK for a maximum period of 12 or 24 months depending on the scheme they are applying under:
  • Seasonal agricultural workers: six months
  • religious workers: 24 months

 

  • international agreement workers: 24 months
  • youth mobility scheme workers: 24 months
  • government authorised exchange workers: 72months
  • If applying for a shorter stay, an applicant will be granted leave in line with the time stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 28 days.
  • During their stay in the UK, applicants can study, work in the role described on their Certificate of Sponsorship and undertake certain supplementary work of up to 20 hours per week.
  • Applicants cannot take a permanent job or access public funds.
  • Applicant must pay NHS Surcharge
  • This is not a route which leads to settlement in the UK.

Total Points:

Attributes: Certificate of Sponsorship 30 points.

Total 30 in attributes.

Maintenance requirement:  £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days in account 10 points.

English language: There is no language requirement.

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