Tier 2 Work Permits: Skilled individuals with a job offer

The Tier 2 visa is similar to the previous work permit scheme whereby a job offer is required in order to submit a successful application. Tier 2 is intended to cater to people with qualifications or important work-related experience within a wide range of sectors from health service workers to white collar jobs and the trades.

As is the case for tier 3 visas, tier 4 visas and tier 5 visas, applying for a UK visa for immigration under tier 2 requires you to obtain a certificate of sponsorship, in this case from the sponsoring company, as part of your application. Like the existing UK work permit visa system, tier 2 visa applications are employer led and the sponsoring employer will need to satisfy certain responsibilities, one of which is being registered as a licensed sponsor with the UK Border Agency.

The tier 2 visa service also has shares some common elements with the tier 1 visa category in that there will be a minimum points threshold that must be met. To qualify for a tier 2 work permit (general category) you are required to score 70 points in a skills assessment and you must also prove that you are proficient in the English language and can satisfy maintenance requirements. Some examples of sectors that fall into the tier 2 category at present include teaching and nursing.

Within the tier 2 visa category there are three visa sub-categories:

• Tier 2 general UK work permits
• Tier 2 intra-company transfer work permits
• Tier 2 visas for sportspeople

Benefits
Like tier 1 visas, a successful tier 2 visa application offers a potential route for permanent settlement in the United Kingdom. After five years in the UK as a tier 2 visa holder you may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain . Following this, provided that you meet the requirements for British Citizenship you may be able to naturalise as a British citizen.

Eligibility assessment
The information below provides an overview of the points assessment for the tier 2 general work permit visa category.

Sponsorship
Job on the shortage occupation list - 50 points
Job that has met the resident labour market test 30 points
Switching from the tier 1 post-study worker category – 30 points

Qualifications
NVQ3 = 5 points
Bachelors Degree = 10 points
Masters Degree = 10 points
PhD = 15 points

Prospective earnings
£17,000 - £19,999 = 5 points
£20,000 - £21,999 = 10 points
£22,000 - £23,999 = 15 points
More than £24,000 = 20 points
Intra-Company Transfer candidates will automatically receive 50 points.
Non-shortage positions which pass the Resident Labour Market Test are worth 30 points.

English language and maintenance requirements
In addition to satisfying the points criteria outlined above, you will also be required to show that you are proficient in the English Language and you must achieve a score of 10 points in this area.

There are three ways you can score points for English language:

Be a national of a majority English speaking country; or
Pass an English language test from an approved English language test provider; or
Hold a degree that was taught in English and is equivalent to a United Kingdom bachelor's degree or above.
To qualify you must also meet the required score of 10 points for maintenance whereby you must show evidence that you have £800 of available funds your bank account for at least three months prior to you making your application.

Employer responsibilities
Employers recruiting candidates through the tier 2 work permit system must provide a sponsorship certificate detailing the job title and demonstrating that the salary offered is appropriate for such a position and that the role is at or above NVQ3. The certificate acts as confirmation that the candidate has the necessary skills and the intention to fill the specified position.

Where a position being offered is not a shortage occupation the employer must illustrate that they have attempted to fill the role from the domestic workforce through appropriate advertising, without success. In circumstances where a candidate wishes to change employment, a new certificate of sponsorship is required and a reassessment against the points system needs to take place.