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It’s time: bags packed, you’re ready to go
TIER 1 VISA Restrictions were put on this route in April 2011, making it only available to Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (Investor), plus those with ‘exceptional talent’ (ie sports stars and scientists). Only 1000 of these visas are available. TIER 2 VISA The Tier 2 (General) Visa is for workers with a job offer who are coming to the UK to fill a skills gap in a
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graduate level position. It is also granted to employees of global companies who are being transferred to the UK. Applicants must be sponsored by a UK employer that has been registered with the UK Border Agency (UKBA). The employer must also issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship to wave at the authorities should they question your stay here. You need to score 70 points to get your paws on this visa – 50 are awarded for ‘attributes’, which is what you need to get sponsored, such as a £150,000 or more salary. You get 10 points for English language skills, and 10 mandatory points for having at least £800 in your bank account. What you need to consider • Sponsoring employers need a licence from the UKBA. • All jobs not on the shortage occupation list must be advertised so UK and EU workers have an opportunity to apply first. • The job must be of a degree level or above. • Visa officials have beefed up scrutiny on all sponsorship applications to ensure that both the worker and the job are legitimate. • If your position is on a list of shortage occupations published by the Migration Advisory Committee, you will automatically score 50 points and your employer