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Tier 2 Visa UK– Work Permit

The Tier 2 Work Permits are designed for medium and highly skilled individuals who are planning to immigrate to the UK and work within a UK company. An offer of employment is required from a UK company. The process of applying for the Tier 2 visa is an employer led process and the company themselves must apply on behalf of the candidate they are interested in employing.

In all the Tier systems, applicants will need to be assessed against a Points based system, with regards to the Tier 2 work permit, the minimum pass mark required is 50 points.

Tier 2 Visa – Benefits Of Work Permit

One of the benefits of the Tier 2 system is that it offers the possibility of permanent residency in the United Kingdom.

Once the candidate has completed a total of five years on their Tier 2 Work Permit they may then be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR).

Once successfully obtained they may later become eligible to apply for UK Citizenship under the UK Naturalisation process.

Tier 2 Visa - Work Permits for employers

The Points Based System was put in place to add greater responsibility and accountability on the sponsoring company who are selecting non EEA nationals to bring to the UK.

Under the Tier 2 rules of immigration to UK, the employer must take responsibility and ensure that the candidate is eligible and suitable to work in the company for the position they require. The company may be undergoing compliance checks with or without any prior notice.

Once employers are successful with their applications they would be granted either an A or B level sponsorship licence in accordance with the UK Border Agency's risk assessment.

An ideal case would be that the successful candidate is approved for an A rating, however if they feel the employer does not or will not sufficiently fulfil their responsibility they can be downgraded to a B rating or even have their licence revoked altogether.

When a company is issuing a certificate of sponsorship, they must show the position within the company is a genuine vacancy as well as showing the salary that would be offered would be equivalent of a UK nationals salary if they were to be employed for the same position.

Tier 2 Visa - Work Permits for employees

Candidates will be assessed on their qualifications and their prospective earnings.

Tier 2 Visa – Qualifications For Work Permit

A PhD qualification = 15 points

A Master's Degree = 15 points

A Bachelor's Degree = 10 points

An NVQ level 3 qualification = 5 points

Tier 2 Visa - Prospective Earnings

In Excess of £32,000+ = 20 Points

£24,000 - £27,999 =15 points

£20,000 - £23.999 = 10 points

Below £20,000 = 0 points

Shortage positions automatically receive 50 points and non shortage positions are worth 30 points. Any candidates who are applying for Intra Company Transfer (ICT) will get 25 points.

Tier 2 Visa - Intra-company transfer (ICT)

Intra Company transfers also known as ICT's allow multi national companies to transfer overseas employees to fill a particular position which they may have been unable to fill with employees within the UK workforce, this could be for a variety of reasons.

Tier 2 Intra Company Transfers put more emphasis on the employer to prove that the candidate is eligible for the process, as they must prove that they have relevant experience or qualifications for the position in question and also that no UK resident could fill the position.

Tier 2 Visa - Spouse and dependent immigration

As previously mentioned a Tier 2 visa can lead to permanent residency in the UK if the candidate continues to live and work in the UK and completes five years on the visa. A candidates spouse/unmarried partner would be eligible to join them on a dependency visa, but it is important to note that the dependent must cohabit with the Tier 2 Work Permit Visa holder. In regards to an unmarried partner, evidence will need to be provided to prove that they have been living together continuously for a minimum of two years prior to making an application for a Tier 2 Work Permit.

Capital Visas can assist you

We have assisted many individuals in moving to the UK on a variety of visas. Our immigration consultants and caseworkers have a wide range of immigration expertise and experience to assist you to find the right route into the UK and the best option for yourself from amongst the variety of work permits and UK visas available.

Capital Visas being a leading specialist in UK immigration we can assist you in every aspect of your relocation to the UK, from advice on the initial application process to a range of services to assist you once you have arrived in the UK. Feel free to contact us directly on 0207 100 1919 and speak to one of our Immigration consultants or fill in one of our enquiry forms for further information.