united kingdom
UK Tier 2 Visa: What Is It?
One sort of work visa for the UK that is included in the British Points-Based System is the Tier 2 General Work visa. Highly qualified people with job offers for skilled positions or positions on the Shortage List who are located outside of the European Economic Area and Switzerland are qualified to accept them.
To be eligible for this visa, you must have an employment offer from a UK sponsor that has been approved. You will need to provide an employer-issued sponsorship certificate as proof.
You are allowed to leave the UK while in possession of a Tier 2 General Work Visa. You are allowed to travel to the UK with dependents if you have a Tier 2 Dependent Visa.
A UK Tier 2 Visa Is Needed for Whom?
To be eligible for a UK General Work Visa, you need to meet several qualifying requirements. The following criteria must be met:
You have to get over the common causes of rejection.
To be considered for a professional job or a spot on the Shortage List, you must be employed by a UK-based company and have sponsorship.
A minimum annual income of £25,600 to qualify for a Tier 2 visa.
Because the visa is based on the Point Based System, the applicant must also fulfil the requirements stated below and be able to accrue points in each of the following categories:
Have fifty attribute points.
Earn a minimum of 10 points for your ability to speak English.
Have a minimum age of 16 years.
10% of the total shares of the company, if the sponsor is a limited company. This rule is suspended for candidates who make at least £159,600 annually.
Cannot take in any kind of government assistance.
Must only accept the post with the Certificate of Sponsorship Verification Service; no other employment in the UK is permitted. Volunteering and side jobs are not included in this.
Satisfies the conditions necessary to obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate.
When Is It Best To Apply For A Tier 2 General Work Visa For The UK?
The earliest you can apply for a UK General Work Visa is three months before the date you wish to start working in the country. This date is on your sponsorship certificate.
What Kind Of Documents Are Needed To Apply For A Tier 2 Visa?
To be considered for a Tier 2 visa, you must submit the required documentation for any UK visa application in addition to the following records that are specific to Tier 2 visa applications
An official document from the company offering (CoS) a Tier 2 Visa:
The certificate must be given by a sponsor employer in the UK who has been given A-rate approval and whose job salary is accepted. To be employed in the UK, it must also have a registration number.
Certificate of criminal history:
If you are applying from outside the UK and you work in the: You will need to present a criminal record certificate.
Education:
educators include instructors, counsellors for education, school inspectors, childminders, and teaching assistants.
Healthcare
professionals include nurses, physicians, paramedics, managers, chemists, dental nurses, and ophthalmic opticians.
Therapy professionals
include psychologists, speech therapists, and counsellors. • Social Services: social workers, managers, welfare and housing officers, probation officers, etc.
Test results for tuberculosis:
Only required if you are a citizen of a country that mandates the exam.
Certificate of Police Registration.
Evidence that you are financially stable enough to live in the UK.
Application Process for Tier 2 Visa
The first step in the application process for a Tier 2 General Work Visa must be completed outside of the UK, specifically from your place of residence. You must first finish the online application on the UK government's official website. Your purpose for visiting the UK and some basic information are the topics covered in the online application form. Secondly, gather all the paperwork needed to apply for a UK General work visa. Keep in mind that, depending on your country of residence, you might also need to get a criminal record certificate and take a tuberculosis test. A health surcharge must also be paid. Finally, if this is your first time visiting the UK, you must make an appointment to submit biometrics and a photo at the UK embassy or consulate that is closest to you in your home country.
Switching From Tier 4 Visa To Tier 2 Visa
To transfer to a Tier 2 visa, you need to have a valid Tier 4 child or student visa. However, the following requirements also need to be fulfilled:
They completed their studies at a UK university that grants degrees and holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence.
They have graduated from a UK university with an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Maintenance Funds for General Work Visas Tier 2
The absolute minimum amount of savings that is required to cover your living expenses and any dependents must be available. For any dependents, the absolute minimum required is £630; for you, it is £945. If the sponsoring employer pays for your living expenses, you are exempt from this requirement. The official document from the sponsor should be shown as proof in this case.
Validity of UK Tier 2 Visa
With a defined validity period, a Tier 2 General Work Visa enables you to stay in the UK for a maximum of five years, one month, or two weeks following the termination of your employment contract (as verified by the Certification of Sponsorship Verification Service), whichever comes first.
Processing Time for UK Tier 2 Visa Applications
You have three months to apply for this visa before you begin work in the UK. The start date will be on the sponsorship certificate that your UK employer will provide to you. You will receive information about the status of your visa application three weeks after you submit it. The UK government has added new professions to the Shortage Occupation List, so many applicants should anticipate shorter processing times.
Sponsorship Certificate for Tier 2 Visa
Provide a Certificate of Sponsorship if the hiring organisation or company is permitted to sponsor applicants. This digital document has all the details about you, the company, the position being offered, the compensation, and any relevant dates on it. It only has a reference number. The certificate is only good for one visa application. For new applications, a fresh certificate is required.
Extension of UK Tier 2 Visa
If you wish to continue working in the UK after your current visa expires in order to pursue a skilled job, you can apply for an extension. This visa may be extended for an extra five years as long as the total duration of stay is not greater than six years.
To be eligible to request an extension, you need to:
Employ with the same organisation that granted the sponsorship certificate and authorised your initial application.
Make at least £25,600 a year, or the pay and benefits that are suitable for the role.
Relocating to the UK and obtaining a Tier 2 Visa
Take up residence in the UK with a Tier 2 visa.
If you have held a Tier 2 General Work visa (ILR) and have been in the UK for at least five years consecutively, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. You must meet the requirements listed below:
Fulfil the preliminary conditions to obtain a Tier 2 General Work visa.
Send in supporting documentation for your absences from the UK. There is a maximum of 180 days of leave allowed for every year of full-time employment.
A sponsorship letter from a Tier 2 Sponsor with authorization. The sponsors must be waiting on the result of their renewal application, or they must still possess their Tier 2 Sponsor Licence for the applicable category. The document must attest to the sponsor's intention to pay you a specific salary for a predetermined period.
Familiarity with British culture and the English language.
Not have a track record of staying longer in the UK.
Fees for Tier 2 General Visas
As different fees are assessed to citizens of Turkey and North Macedonia, the cost of a Tier 2 General visa varies based on your citizenship and whether you are applying from within or outside the UK. Keep in mind that the cost of applying for a UK visa could vary almost daily.
Jobs Approved For The Tier 2 Visa
The Tier 2 General visa covers the fourth and sixth tiers of the RQF employment levels.