WemExperts.com - UK Immigration, UK Work Visa, Tier 1, HSMP, UK Work Permit Visa

WORK VISA - UNITED KINGDOM

UKBA offers many routes to skilled and talented individuals to live and work in the various industries in the United Kingdom. This includes following categories:

Highly Skilled Workers, Investors and Entrepreneurs

Category 1: Tier 1 (General) - Highly skilled workers

Tier 1 (General) category was introduced in replacement of Highly Skilled Migration Programme (HSMP). It is a point based system which allows highly skilled workers to migrate to UK looking for a job or to be self employed.

Under Tier 1 (General) category an applicant is required to mark a total of 100 points out of the requirements of age, qualification, English language ability, previous earnings, UK experience and available maintenance (funds). Successful applicants are allowed to live, work or start a business without any hindrance.

AGE: Score rewarded for age ranges between 0 to 20 points and younger applicants are awarded more points.

Age (Years)	Points
Under 30	20
30 to 34	10
35 to 39	5
40 or above	0

Qualifications: Applicant must hold a recognized qualification to score between 30 to 50 points.

Qualification	Points
PhD	50
Master’s	35
Bachelor’s	30

Previous Earnings: Based on previous earning, points are awarded between 5 to 80 points.

Amount (Pounds per year)	Points
150,000 or above	80
75,000 to 149,999	45
65,000 to 74,999	40
55,000 to 64,999	35
50,000 to 54,999	30
40,000 to 49,999	25
35,000 to 39,999	20
30,000 to 34,999	15
25,000 to 29,999	5

UK Experience: If the previous earnings of £25,000 or above or qualifications are earned in UK then extra 5 points will be awarded.

English Language Ability: If the applicant proves his English language skills under the given criteria, the applicant is awarded 10 points. The applicant must qualify an English language test equivalent to level C1 of the Europe’s Common European Framework for Language Learning (Level C at GCSE or band of 6.5 on IELTS)

Visa Maintenance Fund: Original bank statement showing an account balance equivalent to £2800 at all times for three months prior to application. Such a statement with applicant’s name, bank account number with bank details can add another 10 points to the total.

Approval and Extension: Once the applicant is approved under Tier 1 (General) category then he or she can stay for up to 2 years to do job or start up its personal business. The applicant has an option to extend its stay at UK up to further 3 years.

Category 2: Tier 1 (Entrepreneurs)

This category covers those entrepreneurs who wish to set up, take over or who are actively involved in running a business in UK. The candidate must assure that he is taking control of a business in UK with a minimum score of 95. The entrepreneur must be investing at least £200,000 in that business to qualify under this visa category.

Category 3: Tier 1 (Investor)

Tier 1 (Investor) category covers those people who want to make substantial investment in UK. A applicant must carry an ability to invest £1,000,000 in UK in a productive business is required under this visa category. This category is exempted from the English language and available maintenance requirements. The investor has a choice to work in UK as well along with his other business activities.

Category 4: Tier 1 (Post-Study Workers)

Those students who have studied in UK for at least a year and want to start their professional career in UK. This category also encourages the skilled worker to be a part of UK and start their employment career. A score of 75 is required by the applicant to qualify under this visa category.

Sponsored Skilled Workers

Category 1: Tier 2 (General) Sponsored Worker

Tier 2 (General) category is a point based scheme and is in replacement of work permit. This is a sponsored worker visa for those individuals who carry a job offer in UK in the areas which face workers shortages. The points based system carries 50 points for certificate of sponsorship from the employer. Up to 15 points can be scored based on the qualifications. A score of 25 points can be earned based on prospective earnings. English language and maintenance requirements are mandatory and will be awarded 10 points each.

This Tier 2 Sponsored skilled worker category requires a minimum total of 70 points to qualify under this visa scheme.

Category 2: Tier 2 (Minister of religion)

Category 3: Tier 2 (Sportspeople)

Tier 2 (Sportspeople) is for internationally established elite sportspeople and coaches carrying employment offer to work in UK. The sportsperson will make a significant contribution in developing the high standards in sports. Other then general rules maintenance requirement and English language will contribute 10 points each and 50 points will be of the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Category 4: Tier 2 ( Intra-Company Transfer)

Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) is for the employees of multinational organizations who are being transferred to the UK branch of that organization. Beside the basic requirements or maintenance and English language the certificate of sponsorship is required. Academic qualifications and prospective earnings will be awarded up to 15 and 20 points respectively.

Temporary Workers

Category 1: Creative and Sporting

This visa category caters those creative artists, entertainers and sports people who want a UK visit. A valid certificate of sponsorship is required to qualify under this category. Maximum stay at UK must not exceed 12 months.

Category 2: Charity Workers

Tier 5 Charity workers category is for those volunteers who want to conduct charity work in UK. The charity work must not be paid and should be in conformity with that of the sponsor organization. This visa category allows maximum stay up to 12 months.

Category 3: Religious Worker

Tier 5 Religious worker category is for those religious workers who are visiting UK to perform their religious duty. This category also requires a sponsor and other basic requirements like available maintenance (funds). Maximum stay period is 24 months.

Category 4: Government Authorized Exchange

Tier 5 Government authorized exchange is focused to share knowledge, experience and best practices and also to experience the socio-cultural life of UK. Maximum stay of 24 months is allowed provided that the sponsor is an approved under government authorized exchange scheme.

Category 5: International Agreements

Tier 5 International Agreement category cover those people who are visiting UK having a contract to do work covered under international law, including GATS or similar agreements between the countries, employees of international organizations and overseas governments and private servants in diplomatic households. The maximum stay of 24 months is allowed.

Category 6: Youth Mobility Scheme

Tier 5 Youth mobility scheme allows young individuals to visit and experience the life at UK. The young individuals in the approved countries are allowed to visit UK with basic requirements of sponsorship letter, age and available maintenance (funds).

Other Category

Category 1: Domestic workers

This visa category is for domestic workers and private household servant who are applying for a UK visa. The applicant is given permission to stay in UK for short or long period if he/she is an established staff member of the employer. The applicant can change his employer but he/she must always work as a domestic worker in UK.

Category 2: Sole Representatives of Overseas Firms

If a person is sole representative of an overseas firm without a work permit can apply for a UK visa under this category. But switching to other categories is not allowed.

Category 3: Representatives of Overseas Newspaper, News Agencies and Broadcasting Organizations

Representatives of overseas newspaper, news agencies and broadcasting organization are allowed to stay in UK under this category. This visa category allows the representative to stay in UK for a maximum period of 24 months. The applicant can apply for an extension if required.