Points Based System
- Tier 1 General
- Tier 1 Investor
- Tier 1 Post Study Work
- Tier 2 General
- Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer
- Tier 4 Students
- Sponsorship Licence
Tier 1 General
The Tier 1 General category is aimed at migrants who wish to engage in highly skilled employment in the UK. Successful applicants will be free to seek employment without having a sponsor or to take up self-employment/business opportunities in the UK. The successful applicant must score 75 points in age, education, UK experience and past earnings categories. In addition, the successful applicant must comply with English language and maintenance requirements. Once approved initially leave is granted for three years and then can be extended for further two years. After a continuous period of five years, the applicant can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. For more information please contact one of our consultants.
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Tier 1 Investor
The Tier 1 Investor category is for high net worth individuals making a substantial financial investment in the UK. In order to obtain entry clearance or leave to remain within this category an applicant must score enough points and send supporting evidence where appropriate. Under Tier 1 Investor, an applicant must score 75 points for attributes. Applicants will not need to meet the separate English language requirement that applies to most other applicants under the points based system. This is because, while they are allowed to work in the UK if they wish to, they should not need to work. Applicants will not need to meet the separate requirements for maintenance that applies to most other applicants under the points based system. This is because they will have met the attributes for this category shown their ability to support themselves in the UK without needing help from public funds.
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Tier 1 Post-Study Work
The Tier 1 Post-Study Work category aims to retain the most able international graduates who have studied in the UK. It will also enhance the UK's overall offer to international students. Successful applicants will be free to seek employment without having a sponsor for the duration of their Tier 1 Post-Study Work leave. This category provides a bridge to highly skilled or skilled work. Individuals with Tier 1 Post Study Work leave will be expected to switch into another part of the points based system as soon as they are able to do so.
In order to qualify under this category the successful applicant must complete the degree course or above at the recognised educational establishment in the UK within the twelve month period preceding the application. In addition, the successful applicant must meet maintenance requirements. For more information please contact one of our consultants.
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Tier 2 General
This category permits companies in the UK to employ migrants. The applicants can apply under this category if they have an offer of a skilled job that cannot be filled by a British or EU national. This category includes applicants coming to fill the shortage occupations. The successful applicant must have a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from an organisation that is a licensed sponsor in the UK. (For further information on applying for a sponsorship licence please read below). The employing company must meet the requirements for this category and accept certain responsibilities to help with immigration control. The successful candidate must score fifty points in prospective earnings, education and skilled job categories. In addition, the successful candidate must score points in English language and maintenance categories. For more information please contact one of our consultants.
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Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer
This category permits companies in the UK to employ migrants who are transferring from one of their offices abroad. The successful applicant must score fifty points for previous experience at one of the employing company's offices abroad. In addition, the successful candidate must comply with maintenance requirements. The employing company must have a sponsorship licence before they can employ migrants under this category. For more information please contact one of our consultants.
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Tier 4 Students
Overseas students coming to the UK to study can apply under this category only if their educational provider is approved by the UK Border Agency and has been given a licence to bring students to the UK under this category. This can be as an adult or child categories, or both. The courses must be at an acceptable level. The successful student must provide a visa letter issued by his/her educational provider for their leave to remain application to be successful. In addition, the successful applicant must meet maintenance requirements. For more information please contact one of our consultants.
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Sponsorship Licence
The principle of sponsorship licence is for the UK Border Agency to ensure that those applying to come to the UK to do a job or to study are eligible to do so and that a reputable employer or educational provider genuinely wishes to take them on. To obtain a licence a prospective sponsor must apply to the UK Border Agency, supplying documentation to demonstrate that it is eligible. Once licensed under Tier 2 the sponsor will be able to assign certificates of sponsorship to migrants who wish to come to or stay in the UK to work. There will be a limit on the number of certificates of sponsorship each sponsor under Tier 2 may assign. Once licensed under Tier 4 the sponsor will be able to issue visa letters to migrants who wish to come to the UK to study.
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