UK
- Overview
- Points Criteria-Candidates
- Employer Requirements
- Basic Features
- Duration
- Intra Company Transfer (ICT) Category
- Minster of Religion Category
- Sportsperson Category
- Spouse & Dependent Immigration
- FAQs
- Y-Axis Full Service & Processing
- The United Kingdom
- UK Success List
- UK Testimonials
Overview
Tier 2 skilled work permit is for medium and highly skilled workers who wish to migrate to the UK with an employment offer from a British company.
If you are a non-EEA national and would like to work in the UK, you should
- have a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid certificate of sponsorship; and
- pass the points-based assessment.
There are 4 categories of skilled worker
- Tier 2 (General)
- Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
- Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
- Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer)
Tier 2 – General
The Tier 2 is for qualified professionals to come to the UK with a skilled job offer to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker.
It is an employer based procedure wherein the sponsoring company will apply on behalf of the applicant. However, the candidates are required to pass a points test. To qualify candidates are required to satisfy the minimum pass mark of 70 points.
Points Criteria - Candidates
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A total of 70 points must be scored across various criteria prior to assigning a sponsorship certificate.
The points awarded are classified as follows:
Criteria |
Categories |
Points scored |
Sponsorship |
Job is on the shortage occupation list |
50 |
The job satisfying the resident labour market test |
30 |
|
The migrant switching from a post-study worker category |
30 |
|
Qualifications/education |
None or under the level of a education below the degree level |
0 |
Education below degree level. NQV level 3 qualification |
5 |
|
Bachelor’s or master’s degree |
10 |
|
PhD |
15 |
|
Prospective Earnings |
Below £17,000 |
0 |
In between £17,000 and £19,999 |
5 |
|
In between £20,000 and £21,999 |
10 |
|
In between £22,000 and £23,999 |
15 |
|
£24,000 or more |
20 |
|
Maintenance |
£800
|
10 |
English language skills |
The applicant is a citizen of a majority English-speaking country |
10 |
Employer Requirements
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The candidates, in addition to meeting the required points should have a job offer/sponsor and a certificate of sponsorship. The responsibility is on the employer to ensure that the candidates are eligible and suitable to fill the positions being offered in the organisation.
If an organization wishes to employ people from outside the EEA, they have to meet the requirements below -
Obtain a sponsorship license
– The employer should register with the UK Border Agency as a Licensed Sponsor and satisfy the requirements under this category. The organization will be subjected to immigration compliance checks and should adhere to several record keeping and reporting duties for the applicants it sponsors. Employers are awarded either an A or B level sponsorship license.
Resident Labour Market Test
– The test should be done to prove that no suitably qualified resident worker can be found to fill a particular job vacancy under the terms of Tier 2. The job should be advertised in the UK for a period of 1 to 2 weeks, based on the role and remuneration. If no suitable applicant is found after advertising, the job can be offered to a non-EEA national outside the UK.
The resident labour market test is not required, if the job is on the shortage occupation list, if it is an intra-company transfer or if the applicant is switching from other visa categories such as Post Study, International Graduate Scheme, Fresh Talent Scheme or the Science and Engineering scheme.Job Offer & Certificate of sponsorship -
Before an applicant can apply for the Tier 2, he should have a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from the employer. The certificate is a virtual document in the form of a database record and has a unique reference number and contains information about the job for which it has been issued and the applicant's personal details. The certificate is valid for a period of 3 months.
Basic Features of the Tier 2 visa
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- Tier 2 visas are not a permanent residency visa in itself, but it is a route to permanent residency in the United Kingdom. After 5 years in the UK, applicants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or settlement in the UK (ILR). Further to this, an applicant may opt to undergo British Naturalization as a UK citizen.
- Tier 2 work permit applicants can change their job while being in the United Kingdom, although the process of attaining a Certificate of Sponsorship must be repeated and applicants should be reassessed against the points test.
Duration of the Tier 2 visa
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For candidates applying from outside the UK, this visa will allow them to live and work in the UK for a maximum of three years plus one month, or the time given in their certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter.
For applicants within the UK, who are switching from another visa category, they will able to live and work here for a maximum of three years, or the time given in their certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
At the end of 3 years, the visa can be extended for another 2 years. Work permit holders can then apply for settlement after 5 years in the UK.
Spouse, common law, civil or unmarried partner of the applicant and any dependent children can be included in the application at the same time. Any such dependents would be granted the same period of leave as the main tier 2 visa applicant. Dependents will be able to work in the UK.
Intra-company transfer (ICT) category
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Under this category, candidates can transfer from an overseas branch of a UK firm to work on a specific project.
Multi national employers can transfer overseas employees to fill a specific position provided they have been unable to fill these positions from the local resident workforce. The employer should demonstrate that the salary is appropriate for the position and the position being filled meets the NQV level 3 or above.
The sponsored applicant should have been working for the overseas company for at least 6 months prior to making the application and should have explicit and pertinent knowledge of the company’s services or products. Candidates from certain professions should also be registered with the appropriate governing body.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants applying for an intra-company transfer should have –
- A licensed sponsor
- A valid certificate of sponsorship
It is a points-based system and applicants are expected to score 70 points on the basis of their qualifications, future earnings, sponsorship, English language and maintenance funds.
Qualifications
- A PhD qualification - 15 points
- A Master's Degree - 10 points
- A Bachelor's Degree - 10 points
- An NVQ level 3 qualification - 5 points
Sponsorship
- Certificate of sponsorship – 30 points
Prospective Earnings
- In excess of £24,000 - 20 Points
- £22,000-23,999 - 15 points
- £20,000-21,999 - 10 points
- £17,000-19,999 - 5 points
English language skills
Applicants will only be required to score points for English language if they are already in the UK and are applying to extend their leave under the Intra-Company Transfer category to more than three years.
Maintenance
Applicants must show evidence that they have available funds of £800 which has been in their bank account for at least three months prior to the application being made.
Applicants can also provide a letter from the employer, which will cover them for meeting the maintenance requirements, if the potential employer is an A-rated sponsor.
Duration of the visa
The duration of the ICT visa is at the discretion of the sponsoring employer and the particular country’s government. An employer could request for the visa for a few days to up to 5 years. Applicants are obligated to return to their home country once their visa expires.
If the visa granted to stay in the UK, the applicant will be able to live and work in the UK for a maximum time of three years, or the time given in their certificate of sponsorship, which ever time is shorter.
At the end of this period an extension can be applied for
The husband/wife or partner of a candidate may relocate to the UK along with them, although, as the main applicant, the dependents will also need to return to their home country when the permit expires. Dependents can work in the UK.
Minister of Religion category
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Minister of Religion category is for those who wish to go to the UK as religious workers to perform recognized religious duties within religious group for more than 2 years. The duties will include preaching to a community and performing pastoral roles.
To apply under the Minister of Religion category, you must have:
- a licensed sponsor
- a valid certificate of sponsorship.
It’s a points-based system and points are awarded for meeting the following criteria
- certificate of sponsorship – 50 points
- English language skills – 10 points are awarded. A higher level of English ability is required to address a congregation.
- available maintenance (funds) – To earn 10 points in this category, applicants should show personal savings of £800 or written confirmation from their sponsor that the sponsor will maintain and accommodate them until the end of the first month of their work in the United Kingdom.
Duration of Stay
For candidates applying from outside the UK, this visa will allow them to live and work in the UK for a maximum of three years plus one month, or the time given in their certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter.
For applicants within the UK, who are switching from another visa category, they will able to live and work here for a maximum of three years, or the time given in their certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
At the end of 3 years, the visa can be extended for another 2 years, a new Certificate of Sponsorship for his or her continued employment should be issued. After a continuous period of residency in the UK for 5 years, they can apply for settlement as a permanent resident.
Sportsperson category
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The sportsperson category under the tier 2 visa is designed for the elite sports person and coaches who are internationally established at the highest level, and will make a substantial contribution to the development of their sport.
To apply under the Minister of Religion category, you must have:
- a licensed sponsor
- a valid certificate of sponsorship with a governing body endorsement number. The endorsement will confirm the sponsored applicant is internationally established, will make significant contribution for the development of the sport and that the position could not be filled by a resident worker.
It’s a points-based system and points are awarded for meeting the following criteria
- certificate of sponsorship – 50 points
- English language skills – 10 points are awarded.
- available maintenance (funds) – To earn 10 points in this category, applicants should show personal savings of £800 (£533 per dependent) or written confirmation from their sponsor that the sponsor will maintain and accommodate them until the end of the first month of their work in the United Kingdom.
Duration of Stay
For candidates applying from outside the UK, this visa will allow them to live and work in the UK for a maximum of three years plus one month, or the time given in their certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter.
For applicants within the UK, who are switching from another visa category, they will able to live and work here for a maximum of three years, or the time given in their certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
At the end of 3 years, the visa can be extended for another 2 years, a new Certificate of Sponsorship for his or her continued employment should be issued. After a continuous period of residency in the UK for 5 years, they can apply for settlement as a permanent resident.
Spouse and dependent immigration
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As the tier 2 immigration visa may lead to settlement in the UK (after staying and working in the UK for 5 years), it makes provision for the husband/wife, common law, civil or unmarried life partner of the candidate ad any dependent children to travel to the UK at the same time. Any dependents of such category would be permitted the same period of leave as of the main tier 2 visa candidates and as dependents they may be able to work in the UK.
Cost
Main applicant [applying from outside the UK] - £265
Each dependents [applying outside the UK] - £265
Extension application fee
Main applicant [applying from inside the UK] - £465
Main applicant applying at public enquiry offices - £665
If the dependents are applying from inside the UK along with the applicants form would cost £50 for each dependents.
If the application of the dependents is applied separately then the separate cost of £465 is applicable if applying by post or if applying in person then £665 is applicable.
FAQs
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- What is a Tier 2 visa?
Tier 2 skilled work permit is for medium and highly skilled workers who wish to migrate to the UK with an employment offer from a British company. - How many categories of Tier 2 visas are there?
There are 4 categories of skilled worker -- Tier 2 (General)
- Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
- Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
- Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer)
- Who is qualified to apply as a skilled worker?
You must have a sponsor and a valid legal certificate of sponsorship prior to your application for the skilled worker. - On what basis are the points awarded?
To qualify for the Tier 2 visa applicants need to score 70 points on the basis of- qualifications;
- future expected earnings;
- certificate of sponsorship;
- English language skills; and
- Maintenance (funds).
- What is a certificate of sponsorship and how long is it valid for?
The certificate is a virtual document in the form of a database record and has a unique reference number and contains information about the job for which it has been issued and the applicant's personal details. The certificate is valid for a period of 3 months. - What is the Resident Labour Market Test?
Employers wanting to sponsor an overseas applicant should conduct a test to prove that no suitably qualified resident worker can be found to fill a particular job vacancy under the terms of Tier 2. The job should be advertised in the UK for a period of 1 to 2 weeks, based on the role and remuneration. If no suitable applicant is found after advertising, the job can be offered to a non-EEA national outside the UK. - How can an employer obtain a sponsorship license?
The employer should register with the UK Border Agency as a Licensed Sponsor and satisfy the requirements under this category. The organization will be subjected to immigration compliance checks and should adhere to several record keeping and reporting duties for the applicants it sponsors. Employers are awarded either an A or B level sponsorship license. - What is the maintenance fund an applicant needs to show?
To earn 10 points in this category, applicants should show personal savings of £800 (£533 per dependent) or written confirmation from their sponsor that the sponsor will maintain and accommodate them until the end of the first month of their work in the United Kingdom. - How long can I stay?
It depends on the mode of application. If you are applying as a skilled worker under tier 2, outside the UK then you will be able to live or work there for maximum of 3 years plus 1 month or the time given in the sponsorship certificate plus 1 month. If you’re inside the UK and are switching into the skilled worker category, you are allowed to stay for the period of three years or the time given in the sponsorship certificate plus 14 days more. - What if I would like to stay further?
At the end of the 3 years stay in the UK, you need to apply for the extension. The extension is approved for 2 more years. After a 5 year stay in the UK, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. - Can I bring my dependents?
Spouse, common law, civil or unmarried life partner of the candidate ad any dependent children can travel to the UK at the same time. The dependents would be permitted the same period of leave as of the principal applicant and as dependents they may be able to work in the UK. - How do I know if I am eligible for a Tier 2 sponsored work permit visas to the UK?
To find out if you are eligible to apply for a Tier 2 visa, please send an email to consult@y-axis.com or click here for a FREE consultation.
Y-Axis Full Service & Processing
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Use our professional services to apply for your Tier 2 Visa. We have the experience of having processed cases from all over the world. No other consultant in the market has processes more applications than us. You can count on our experience and success.
Our terms & conditions are clear along with a transparent system & clear policies. We only accept applications that we are confident will be a success.
Our Full Service & Processing Includes:
- Starter Kit issuance
- Complete Application Processing
- Forms, Documentation & Petition Filing
- Updates & Follow up with the Consulate
- Airport Pickup*
- Accommodation Assistance*
- Relocation Orientation
- Job Search Assistance*
*these services are provided at an additional cost.
Payment Options
UK 101
Lump-sum Fee: US$ 275
This fee is applicable only to those who have a Tier 2 approval and need to apply for a visa at the local consulate.
If you do not have an approval and need Y-Axis to get you one please contact Y-Axis Customer Service <customerservice@y-axis.com)
Y-Axis Refund Policy
Visa Denial - 25% refund. No refunds in cases of
- Fraudulent documentation
- Failure of Medicals (if required)
- Failure of Police clearance (if required)
- Insufficient Funds
NO Refund in case of:
- Non-submission of required documents in 30 days after sign up
- Withdrawal of application at anytime, for any reason after sign up
25% refund in the event the immigration rules change & you are found ineligible to apply for the Tier 2 Visa
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