Work Abroad in the United Kingdom

Work & Settle In The UK

In order to retain its competitive edge, the UK invites skilled professionals to work in the UK under the Tier 2 visa program. Under this program, workers whose occupations are listed on the Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List can apply to work in the UK on a long term basis. Among the popular professions on the list are IT, finance, teaching, healthcare and engineering. AMI Education and Immigration can help you take advantage of this talent shortage in the UK and position yourself to gain a work permit to the UK.

If skilled workers must come to the UK, they need to have the Tier 2 visa. You can apply for this visa if you have been offered a skilled job in the UK. The salary requirements for this visa are £20,800 per annum for first-time employees and £30,000 for those with job experience.

UK Tier 2 Work Permit Visa Details (Tier 2 General Visa)

  • The Tier 2 visa allows skilled professionals to build their professional career in the UK. The duration for stay as per the U.K. Tier 2 Work Permit Visa is for a maximum period of 5 years 14 days, or the time-period mentioned on your certificate of sponsorship [plus 1 month], whichever duration is shorter. The Tier 2 Visa is a points-based visa and applicants must score a minimum of 70 points for their application to be considered. The points are awarded based on:
  • Whether you have a Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer
  • Whether you are receiving an appropriate salary
  • Your English communication skills
  • The maintenance funds you hold
  • If you satisfy these parameters you can then apply to the Tier 2 visa. The Tier 2 visa is further subdivided to allow for the following professionals:
  • Tier 2 General Visa: For workers who have a job offer in the UK and whose profession appears on the shortage occupation list
  • Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa: For workers of corporations transferring to the UK
  • Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa: For ministers of religions within a religious organisation
  • Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa:For coaches and sportspersons
  • If you have successfully received a UK Tier 2 Visa you can:
  • Study in the UK
  • Bring family members to the UK
  • Travel to and from the UK

Processing time

  • You can apply for this visa three months before you begin working in the UK. The starting date will be mentioned in the certificate of sponsorship you will receive from your UK employer.
  • You will get the decision on your visa within three weeks of your application. With the UK government including more occupations in the Shortage Occupation List, the processing time is expected to be reduced for many applicants.

How long can one stay on Tier 2 Work Permit Visa?

  • You can stay for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days on this visa.

Documents Required

  • The documentation required for the UK Tier 2 Visa includes:
  • Having a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer
  • Current passport and travel history
  • Educational credentials
  • Professional credentials
  • Recent medical report
  • Police clearance certificate
  • Other supporting documents

Tier 2 Dependent Visa

  • The Tier 2 dependent visa is for children and partners of those who have come to the country on a Tier 2 visa or have applied for one
  • The Tier 2 dependent visa is for children and partners of those who have come to the country on a Tier 2 visa or have applied for one
  • The following persons qualify for a Tier 2 dependent visa:
  • Spouse
  • Unmarried or same-sex partner
  • Children under the age of 18 at the time of application
  • Children over the age of 18 who are dependents
  • The partnership between spouses and partners should be genuine and they should plan to live together for the duration of stay in the country.
  • Maintenance funds:
  • Tier 2 dependents have no recourse to public funds As such, in their application they must prove access to adequate financial means for the period of stay in the UK and if there are dependents, they must demonstrate an additional £ 630 available for each dependent
  • Age:
  • The principal applicant and dependent must be at least 18 on the date of arrival in the United Kingdom, or when the visa is issued.
  • Other requirements:
  • You must not be a previous holder of a UK visa for students, short-term study visa on or after April 2015 or have been given leave on or after April 2015 as a parent of a Tier 4 student (child).
  • Furthermore, you will have to qualify the general grounds for admission. You must have a clear history of immigration, with no case of overstaying. When your spouse or relative’s visa expires, you must have no intention to stay in the UK.
  • Application process:
  • Tier 2 dependent visa applications may be made with the main Tier 2 visa application either simultaneously or later. Regardless of when the applications are submitted, successful applicants will be given leave in accordance with the time of leave of the principal visa applicant. The approval process can vary according to where the approval for a Tier 2 based visa is made.
  • As a holder of tier 2 dependent visas, you can:
  • Remain in the UK for the same period as the main tier 2 visa holder Work, with limited exceptions Study or take a postgraduate course, under certain conditions Apply to extend your visa in compliance with the principal applicant, provided that you continue to meet the eligibility conditions. When the key visa holder has left the UK, you will not be eligible to apply for an extension. You cannot access public funds, or work as a doctor in training, or as a dentist, or as a sports instructor for professionals

How AMI Education and Immigration Can Help You?

  • AMI Education and Immigrationcan help you make the most of this opportunity with our end to end UK Tier 2 Visa support. Our services include:
  • Immigration documents checklist
  • Forms, documentation & application filing
  • Updates & follow up
  • Job search services
  • Relocation and post-landing support in UK
  • Talk to us to learn how you can launch your career in the UK.

FAQ

If skilled workers wish to move to the UK, they need to have the Tier 2 visa. You can apply for this visa if you have been offered a skilled job in the UK. The salary requirements for this visa are £20,800 per annum for first-time employees and £30,000 for those with job experience.

You must also have been offered a COS-Certificate of Sponsorship from the licensed sponsor in the UK. The names of licensed sponsors will be in the Tier 2 sponsor list. Your area of work must correspond with the work of your sponsoring organization.

You should receive a decision on your UK Tier 2 Work Permit Visa within 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK. You can apply a maximum of 3 months prior to the date you are due to begin to work in the UK. The date will be specified on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

There are diverse ways to obtain a UK Work Visa.  The most usual pathway is to first have a job offer for a skilled position in the UK. You must also have been offered a COS- Certificate of Sponsorship from the licensed sponsor in the UK. Your area of work must correspond with the work of your sponsoring organization.

Due to Brexit, it is evident that it will be easier for Indian nationals to obtain the UK Work Visa if they have specific skills. Skilled professionals from India received the highest number of Work Visas offered by the UK Government in 2018. This is according to the official data released by the Office of National Statistics in the UK.

You can, however, apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme Tier 5 Visa without being sponsored if you:

  • Intend to work and live in the UK for up to 24 months
  • Are between 18 to 30 years of age
  • Have savings of 1, 890 Pounds
  • Are from specific nations or have specific types of nationality
  • Fulfil other requirements for eligibility

The documents required for the UK Work Visa are as follows:

  • Reference number of your Certificate of Sponsorship
  • Evidence of your proficiency in the English language
  • A letter/building society/bank statement that shows that you have adequate personal savings unless your COS specifies that your sponsor can support you
  • A travel document or current passport that proves that you can travel with a blank page for your Visa
  • Expired travel documents or Passports if you require them to show your travel history
  • Tuberculosis test results if you are from a listed nation
  • A certificate for a criminal record if you are working with vulnerable individuals

You will also have to provide a certified translation if your documents are not in Welsh or English. Depending on your circumstances you may have to offer additional documents.

Tier 2 Visa (General)

The total minimum salary for new entrants is 20, 800 Pounds. For experienced workers, it is a minimum of 30,000 Pounds. However, if the appropriate SOC code specifies a higher salary, the higher salary as per the SOC code must be paid.

Tier 2 Visa (ICT)

The total minimum salary is 41, 800 Pounds or as per the rate for the experienced worker specified in the codes of SOC, whichever is higher. The only exception is if the applicant is being sponsored through the Tier 2 Graduate Trainee ICT route.

The individual must be paid minimum 23,000 Pounds annually if applying as Graduate Trainee or as per the rate for the new entrant specified in the codes of SOC, whichever is higher.

There are 3 major steps involved in submitting an application for UK Tier 2 Visa:

Step # 1: Sponsorship licence

The employer undertakes the first stage. They will apply directly for a sponsorship licence to the UKVI – UK Visas and Immigration and will be accordingly assessed. 

Step # 2: Certificate of Sponsorship

The application for COS – Certificate of Sponsorship is filed by the approved sponsor for the occupation they would like to be filled by a non-resident worker. The immigrant can apply for the Work Visa once the COS is assigned.

Step # 3: Applying for the General Tier 2 Visa

The prospective employee will submit the Visa application in the final stage. This is with their unique COS number and evidence for fulfilling the requirements for Tier 2 Visa.

The cost of the UK General Tier 2 Visa is based on the category of the Visa and your location.

Up to three years

Whom you are applying for

To switch or extend in the UK

Applying from outside the UK

Yourself

£704

£610

If you are a national of Macedonia or Turkey

£649

£555

Every dependant

£704 each person

£610 each individual

Up to three years – Shortage employment

Shortage employment is a skilled occupation having a scarcity of workers in the UK.

Whom you are applying for

To switch or extend in the UK

Applying from outside the UK

Yourself

£464

£464

If you are a national of Macedonia or Turkey

£409

£409

Every dependant

£464 each individual

£464 each individual

More than three years

Whom  you are applying for

To switch or extend in the UK

Applying from outside the UK

Yourself

£1,408

£1,220

If you are a national of Macedonia or Turkey

£1,353

£1,165

Every dependant

£1,408 each individual

£1,220 each individual

More than three years – Shortage employment

Shortage employment is a skilled occupation having a scarcity of workers in the UK.

Whom you are applying for

To switch or extend in the UK

Applying from outside the UK

Yourself

£928

£928

If you are a national of Macedonia or Turkey

£873

£873

Every dependant

£928 each individual

£928 each individual

 

You will also be required to make payment of the Healthcare surcharge with your Visa application.

You must have an offer of employment from a licensed employer who can sponsor employees from outside the country.

The employer or sponsor will verify if you have the skills to do the job you will be hired for and if you are qualified for the visa. If they are satisfied, they will give you a certificate of sponsorship with which you can apply for the visa.

You can get your Tier 2 visa decision within 5 days if you are willing to pay an extra amount of £500 for this priority service. You also have the option of paying £800 for the super priority service to get a decision.

You can:

  • Work in the position for your sponsor as described in the Certificate of Sponsorship
  • Work on a second job under certain circumstances. If you are working on your job for only 20 hours in a week, you can work on a job that is similar to your main job and at the same level. Or you can work on a job mentioned in the Skills Shortage List.
  • Do some voluntary work
  • Study along with working on your job if it does not interfere with your work hours
  • Travel to and from UK to other countries
  • Bring your family members to the UK

You cannot:

  • Apply for ownership of more than 10% of your sponsor’s share provided you are earning more than £159,600 a year
  • Apply for a second job before you start working for your sponsor