Work in UK

Sponsored Skilled Workers

This section explains how you can enter or stay in the UK as a skilled worker under Tier 2 (General) of our points-based system. What is the skilled worker category? Tier 2 (General) is for people coming to the UK with a skilled job offer to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker. Who can apply as a skilled worker? Before you apply under the skilled worker category (Tier 2 General), you must have: a sponsor; and a valid certificate of sponsorship. When you apply you are awarded points based on your: qualifications; future expected earnings; sponsorship; English language skills; and available maintenance (funds). You can apply under the skilled worker category (Tier 2 General) now if you are: applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the sponsored skilled worker category (Tier 2 General) (see initial applications); in the United Kingdom with permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') in an immigration category that allows you to switch into the sponsored skilled worker category (Tier 2 General) already in the United Kingdom as a sponsored skilled worker (Tier 2 General) and want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category (see extending your stay). Go to our visa services website if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom. There you can find out more about the process in the country you are applying from and download the relevant application forms. How long can you stay for? If you are applying from outside the UK and you are given permission to come here under Tier 2 (General), you will be able to live and work here for a maximum of three years plus one month, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter. If you are already inside the UK in a different category, you may be able to apply to switch into the Tier 2 (General) category. If we approve your application, you will be able to live and work here for a maximum of three years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. At the end of the three years, you can apply to extend your stay in Tier 2 (General). See extending your stay for more information. If we approve your application, we will extend your permission to stay by another two years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. If your previous permission to stay was as a work permit holder, you can apply under the transitional arrangements for permission to stay for a time that takes you to five years in the UK in an eligible category. For example, if you have been here for two-and-a-half years with permission as a work permit holder or under the transitional arrangements, you can apply for a further two-and-a-half years' permission to stay. If this means you would get permission to stay for less than a further two years, you can apply for permission to stay for two years instead. For example, if you have been here for four years with permission as a work permit holder or under the transitional arrangements, you can apply for a further two years' permission to stay. You may apply for settlement once you have been here in an eligible category for five years. If you do not, you must apply under the points-based system and make a new application.

Tier 3 visa – Low Skilled Migrants:

The third tier of the new points based UK visa service is designed to cater for people immigrating to the UK in order to perform temporary low skilled work. The new tiers immigration service has replaced the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and the Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) and will grant leave to enter the UK to migrants from countries with which an effective returns arrangement with the United Kingdom is in place. Our UK immigration consultants can manage your migration to the UK whichever tier visa is right for you. As a specialist immigration consultancy, we can assist you at every stage of your UK visa application with qualified immigration lawyer advice and on arrival services to help you adapt to living and working in the UK.   Understanding tier visas As with the old UK work permit visa structure, a tier 3 visa application is a largely employer led process. Like work permits, sponsoring companies in the United Kingdom will be required to attempt to source labour domestically before recruiting from a wider base outside the EU. These UK visas for immigration will be based upon the creation of low skilled working schemes on an ad hoc basis when a shortage is identified which cannot be dealt with by the domestic workforce. The responsibility for identifying such shortages will lie with the Skills Advisory Body (SAB) and is intended to cater for the fluctuating need for low skilled workers throughout the year. Entry to Britain as with tier 2 visas, tier 4 visas and tier 5 visas, will require a certificate of sponsorship as part of each application. With the exception of tier 1 visas which replace the existing Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or HSMP and offer complete freedom to seek and undertake work in Britain, all levels of the new system require such a certificate of sponsorship from a sponsoring body. In this case, the sponsor will be the operator of a particular low skilled worker scheme and the certificate will serve as confirmation that the applicants immigrating to the UK will be bound by the terms of the route. Unlike a Tier 1 visa or a Tier 2 visa, applications at this level do not constitute a route to settlement and will not provide an opportunity to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) or permanent residency in the UK. Although intended as a work visa, an application of this kind shares attributes with a UK visit visa or travel visa in that it is intended as a temporary arrangement and does not offer any progression to permanent residence or British naturalization as a UK citizen. A visa for the third tier of the five tier immigration system will be granted for a maximum of 12 months and applicants will be obliged to return home at the end of this period. Switching to other tiers is not permitted and immigration visas of this kind do not make provision for spouse immigration and dependent immigration. Applicants living and working in Britain on this temporary route will not be permitted to bring dependents with them and whilst family immigration routes such as the marriage visa, fiancé visa and De facto visa, or unmarried partner visa will continue to function independently of the new system, they will not be relevant to applications of this kind.   Language requirements:   Due to the temporary nature of this tier, and emphasizing the difference from the first two tiers as routes to settlement, no standard English language requirement will be imposed. Competency in the language is of more importance to some industries than to others and whilst language skills may be important in an industry such as healthcare, in another such as agriculture they may not be so relevant. To reflect this, the appropriate level of English required in any low skilled worker scheme will be determined by the operator of an individual scheme who will also ensure that any migrants brought to the country meet that standard.