Tier 2 –General
TIER 2 – GENERAL VISA
The Tier 2 (General) visa category is for skilled workers with a job offer in a shortage occupation in the UK. Tier 2 offers an entry route into the United Kingdom for skilled workers who are citizens of countries outside of the European Economic Area. In all cases people applying for entry under this scheme MUST be in possession of a JOB OFFER and fulfill other requirements as detailed for the different categories.
Tier 2 has four categories:
l General: for people coming to the United Kingdom with a job offer to fill a gap that cannot be filled by a settled worker which may or may not be on the Shortage Occupation List
l 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
l Sports People: for elite sportspeople and coaches whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level
l Ministers of Religion: for those people coming to fill a vacancy as a Minister of Religion, Missionary or Member of a Religious Order
To qualify for inclusion under the General and Intra Company Transfer categories of Tier 2, a job must require a skill level of S/NVQ level 3 or above as indicated in the codes of practice relevant to the sector and to the job
A maximum of 20, 700 visas are available under the Tier 2 (General) visa category for skilled sponsored workers between 6 April 2011 and 5 April 2012. Skilled sponsored workers who earn more than £150,000 per annum are exempt from this cap.
Specific sponsored work visas for Intra-Company Transfers, Ministers of Religion and Sportspersons are also available under the Tier 2 visa category.
Requirements:
l To qualify for a Tier 2 (General) visa under the UK points-based system, applicants must score a minimum of 70 points for attributes including sponsorship, salary and allowances, English language and maintenance (available funds).
l Tier 2 (General) visa applicants must have a Certificate of Sponsorship and to be eligible for a Certificate of Sponsorship, at least one of the following requirements must also be met:
n the applicant’s job offer must be in an occupation on the shortage occupation list; or
n the applicant’s job offer must include remuneration of at least £150,000 per annum; or
n the applicant’s sponsor must have completed a resident labour market test; or
n the applicant must be switching in to the Tier 2 (General) visa scheme from a Post-Study category; or
n the applicant must be applying to extend their stay and continue working in the same job for the same employer in the UK.
n Tier 2 (General) visa applicants may also be required to meet certain health and character requirements.
Visa Holder Entitlements:
l A Tier 2 (General) visa entitles the holder to live and work in the UK temporarily. A Tier 2 (General) visa is usually granted for an initial period of up to three (3) years and extensions may be granted.
l Spouses and unmarried children under 18 years of age may be included on the visa application to accompany their spouse or parent to the UK.
l The Tier 2 (General) visa may lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) which entitles individuals to permanent residency in the UK.