Tier 2 Visa
iConsult Immigration can assist with applications for Tier 2 Visas with a fast and cost-effective service. Call us NOW or complete the FREE online assessment for individuals and/or sponsors licence initial enquiry. Please note that applying for a Tier 2 Visa is an employer led process with the sponsoring company issuing a certificate of sponsorship.
Tier 2 (General) Visa
The Tier 2 Visa is the visa for you if you wish to work for a sponsoring employer in the UK and you can prove you have the necessary skills. To apply for the visa you must have an offer of employment from an employer who holds a sponsorship licence. The employer will issue you with a certificate of sponsorship which must confirm the job is at or above NVQ Level 4 and is paid at or above the appropriate rate for the job. You will be issued with leave to remain for a period of 3 months which can then be extended for a further 3. After being issued with leave for a maximum of 6 years you will not be able to extend and will have to return to your country. There is then a 12 month ‘cooling off period’ before you can reapply for entry clearance.
Points will be awarded for certificate of sponsorship depending on which category you are applying for leave to remain, switching from another eligible category or applying for an extension with the same employer, these are as follows:
Job that is under the shortage occupational list – a full list of these occupations can be found on the UKBA website. Your contracted hours must be a minimum of 30 hours. You will not need to complete a labour market test.
Offer of a job with a salary at or above £150,000 – you will be awarded full points for certificate of sponsorship provided the certificate of sponsorship states that your earnings will be at or above £150,000 gross per annum. You will be exempt from the labour market test.
A job offer that passes the resident labour market test – you will be awarded points provided the test is complete and indicates that no settled worker is available to fill the vacancy.
Your current leave to remain is a Tier 1 post study work – you will be exempt from the labour market tests and automatically obtain full points.
Your current leave to remain is a Tier 4 General student – you must ensure that your leave has not expired, you have completed a bachelors or post graduate degree or PGCE, PGDE, PhD. You must ensure your current visa allowed you to undertake such studies or research and no restrictions applied, the institution you were studying at was a UK recognised institution on the Tier 4 sponsor list and you will be applying from within the UK. You will also be exempt from the labour market test.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to come to the UK you need a job offer, a certificate of sponsorship and enough points. You need at least 50 points for attributes and these points are awarded for qualifications, future expected earnings and sponsorship. You must also have proven English Language skills (10 points) and be able to show that you have sufficient funds to maintain yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds (10 points). Points are awarded as follows:
English Language (10 points):
You must pass an English Language test from a list of approved tests OR
Be a national of a majority English speaking country OR
Hold a degree that was taught in English and is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or above
Maintenance (10 points):
You must show that you have £800.00 (£900.00 after 14/06/2012) in savings for yourself and £533.00 in savings for each of your dependants. The funds must have been held in your bank account for 3 months before the date you apply OR
Your certificate of sponsorship from an A rated sponsor confirms that you will not claim benefits while in the UK. Your sponsor should send a letter saying they will maintain and accommodate you until the end of the first month that you are here.
Certificate of Sponsorship
A certificate of sponsorship is not an actual certificate or paper document. It is a unique online reference number an employer issues to a migrant along with details of their certificate of sponsorship, to enable them to apply for permission to enter if outside the UK (entry clearance) or permission to stay if inside the UK (LTR), for work or study. A certificate of sponsorship issued to students is known as a confirmation of acceptance for studies. Licensed sponsors will issue a certificate of sponsorship using the online sponsorship management system. Once it has been issued the sponsor will inform the migrant of their number. The migrant must then apply for permission to enter, or stay, in the UK.
Tier 2 Ministers of religion
For people coming to the UK as a religious worker, within a religious organisation, to stay for more than 2 years. You must have a sponsor and a valid certificate of sponsorship. You must have at least 70 points which are awarded as follows:
Certificate of sponsorship – 50 points
English Language – 10 points
Maintenance – 10 points
You must meet the same criteria for English Language and Maintenance as for the Tier 2 (General) Visa, as listed above.
Tier 2 Sportsperson
For elite sports people and coaches who are internationally established at the highest level and will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport. You must have a sponsor and a valid certificate of sponsorship with a governing body endorsement number. You will be permitted to stay for up to 3 years or the length of time given in your certificate of sponsorship, whichever ends first. You must have at least 70 points which are awarded as follows:
Certificate of sponsorship – 50 points
English Language – 10 points
Maintenance – 10 points
You must meet the same criteria for English Language and Maintenance as for the Tier 2 (General) Visa, as listed above.
Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfers
For employees of multi-national companies who are being transferred by an overseas employer, to a skilled job in a UK based branch of the organisation. You must have worked for the company for at least 6 months. You must have a sponsor, a certificate of sponsorship and enough points. You will be required to score 50 points for attributes, as for skilled workers. Points are awarded based on qualifications, future expected earnings and sponsorship. You must also have proven English Language skills (10 points) and be able to show that you have sufficient funds to maintain yourself without recourse to public funds (10 points). If given permission to stay, the permission will be for up to 3 years or the length of time given in your certificate of sponsorship, whichever ends first.