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Eligibility to Work in the UK
The A&E Agency is able to offer you Visa Solutions. If you are look to obtain a
Visa for you and your family, or extend your current Visa, please call our
compliance team on 0207 456 1468.
Tier 1 - HSMP
Tier 1 of the Points Based System directly replaces the previous Highly Skilled
Migrant Programme (HSMP) and like its predecessor, it is designed to facilitate
the relocation of skilled migrants to the UK.
Applying for a Tier 1 visa- Unlike the other tiers of the PBS, tier 1 visa
applications do not need a sponsor to be in place. The tier 1 visa application
will be a single process whether initiated from inside or outside the UK and
applicants will need to submit a range of supporting documentation in order to
substantiate their application. Candidates may apply for a tier 1 visa either to
enter the UK, extend a stay, or switch whilst already in the UK.
Tier 2 - Work Permit.
Must have a job offer from a UK company and score a minimum of 50 points based
on education and earnings. Tier 2 immigration, like Tier 1, offers the long-term
possibility of permanent residency in the UK. Although the tier 2 permit is not
in itself a permanent residency visa, candidates living and working in the UK
for the minimum residency requirement of five years may be able to apply for
Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR). Candidates will be assessed on their
qualifications and their prospective earnings (shown below).
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
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
Non-shortage positions are inherently worth 30 points, shortage positions will
automatically receive 50 points. Candidates applying for an Intra Company
Transfer (ICT) will also receive 50 points.
Spouse and dependent immigration
As outlined above, a tier 2 immigration visa for the UK may lead to permanent
settlement in the UK if the candidate continues living and working in the UK for
five years. Since visas of this kind may lead to indefinite leave to remain,
tier 2 makes provision for the spouse, common law, civil or unmarried partner of
the applicant and any dependent children to move to the UK at the same time. Any
such dependents would be granted the same period of leave as the main tier 2
visa applicant. As dependents they will be able to seek employment in the UK.
Tier 3 visa – Low Skilled Migrants - Non Applicable
Tier 4 - UK Student visa
The fourth Tier of the new points based UK immigration service focuses upon
overseas students who wish to gain entry clearance to study in the UK. Tier 4
visas replace the UK student visa service and place more emphasis upon the
responsibility of the educational body in question for the applicants they
permit to study. The aim of this tier immigration service is to provide a more
user-friendly, transparent route to studying in the UK.
With the exception of tier 1 visas, which directly replace the Highly Skilled
Migrant Programme or HSMP, all tier visas for the new system will require a
certificate of sponsorship from the relevant sponsor. In this case, the sponsor
will be the educational institution offering a place which a student has
accepted. Each sponsoring institution will be required to vouch for the ability
of students.
Students studying in Britain at or above degree level in a publicly funded
institution, or engaging in more than 15 hours of study per week. In this
category, work is permitted for 20 hours each week rising to full time hours
during holiday periods. Dependents are permitted to join students in this
category.
Tier 5 - Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) -For adults aged 18-30 from
Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.
Tier 5 of the points based tier immigration service is designed to accommodate
two different groups of people immigrating to the UK on a temporary basis. Fifth
tier visas apply to people who wish to immigrate to the UK in order to
participate in a youth mobility scheme. In addition, they cater for a range of
specific temporary employment opportunities.
Family visas
Marriage visa Have to be 21 and able to support yourselves.
Fiancée visa Must be 21 and can prove you intend to marry within six
months.
Dependency visa Must be a Mother, Grandmother, Father or Grandfather and
meet certain criteria. In some cases parents or Grandparents under 65 qualify.
Additionally, son, daughter, sister, brother, aunt or uncle under 18 sometimes
qualify.
De facto visa For unmarried partners with settled status or ILR who want
to bring their partner to join them in the UK.
Ancestry visa For Commonwealth citizens whose grandparent was born in the
UK (or Republic of Ireland before March 1922).
Tourist visa Covers a visit to the UK for up to 6 months, also covers
business trips and medical treatment.
Indefinite Leave to Remain Commonly known as UK residency, you normally
need to have a minimum of 4 or 5 years continuous residence in the UK on the
same visa (the amount of years depends on which visa you are on).
UK Citizenship Be 18 or over, have lived in the UK for at least five
years, have not spent more than 450 days outside of the UK in the past five
years, have not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months,
have not broken any immigration rules in the last five years.
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