Work Permit

What is the importance of a work visa?

This category allows you to enter the UK if you have a job offer in the UK and are a medium or highly skilled worker. In addition, you must have a sponsor in the United Kingdom who holds a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Who is a Certified Sponsor?

A sponsorship certificate holder person or a firm is eligible to hire workers from other countries. However, the sponsor must be registered to issue Certificates of Sponsorship to Tier 2 Employment Visa applicants with the Home Office.

What is the requirement of a Tier 2 Work Visa?

The main requirements are as follows:

You will need to score at least 70 points from the following three criteria: Attributes, Maintenance and English language.

Attributes

You need to score a minimum of 50 scores in the following three categories:

• Sponsorship
• Qualifications
• Prospective earnings

Sponsorship

A certificate of sponsorship to a potential employer will be only issued if you fill a vacancy requiring a worker with skills at NVQ level 3 or above, and you will comply with the conditions of your permission to stay or leave the United Kingdom in case of your leave expires.

You will be awarded 50 points on the certificate of sponsorship for a job on a shortage occupation list, and you will be awarded 30 points in another case if you have passed the resident labour market test. In addition, have a certificate of sponsorship for a job not covered by the shortage occupation list.

Qualifications

For their qualification, an applicant can score more than 15 points. These points will only be awarded for the highest-level qualification that you hold and will be awarded in the following way:

• If you are not qualified, you will be awarded 0 points.
• You will get 5 points on NVQ level 3.
• 10 points will be given to a bachelor or Masters qualified person.
• A PhD qualification holder will be awarded 15 points.

Prospective earnings

You will be awarded up to 20 points for your prospective earnings in the following ways.

• Any individual with prospective earnings of 20,000-21,999 will be awarded 10 points.
• On 22,000-23,999 perspective earnings, you will be awarded 10 points.
• You will be awarded 15 points up to 24,000 perspective earnings.

Maintenance Requirement

In terms of the maintenance required, you need to demonstrate that you can sustain yourself in the UK; you must get at least 10 points.

You must demonstrate that you have £800 in savings that you intend to use while in the United Kingdom to get these points. In addition, if you want to bring dependents, you must prove that you have an additional £533 for each dependant. To avoid this obligation, your sponsors may declare in the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will maintain and accommodate you during the first month of employment.

You might not use public funding and not work for any employer other than your sponsor.

Evidence of personal savings

The following types of evidence are acceptable:

Your personal bank or building society statement, Building Society passbook, A letter from a bank, building society, or other financial institution officially regulated in either the UK or the applicant’s native country.

In all circumstances, the proof must be authentic, clearly linked to the applicant, and contain the name and emblem of the granting institution. Furthermore, statements created electronically should have the mark of the relevant institution on each page.

English language skills

This is a necessary criterion, and you must get 10 points in this area by demonstrating that you can communicate in English at a basic level.

You must demonstrate your English proficiency by completing an English exam at the appropriate level, being from a major English-speaking country, or completing a degree taught in English (verified using national academic recognition information centre data).

The UKBA has issued a number containing ‘shortage occupations. If you want to work in such areas, you do not need to meet the resident labour market test.’ However, if you are presenting Certificates of Sponsorship granted to you in areas other than the shortage occupations, you must demonstrate that the exam as mentioned earlier was completed. Furthermore, the UKBA published ‘Codes of Practice’ outlining how a particular position must be advertised. The job should also be advertised on Jobcentre Plus.

Visa Extensions:

If you apply for entrance clearance, you will be granted a visa for your work term plus one month, with a maximum stay of three years.

You do not have to satisfy a resident labour market test if you wish to extend your leave to remain.