For
Businesses we can:
- Provide information, guidance and process work permit applications
for your prospective employee to work in the UK.
- Provide the most efficient ways for your staff to remain in
the UK.
- Assist with the set up of new companies in the UK and any associated
'Sole Representative' visas.
For Migrants / Individuals we can: We
process visa applications such as students, visitors, marriage,
Investors, Innovators, Highly Skilled Migrants, Business persons,
Commonwealth Working Holidaymakers, permanent residency, British
Nationality and all the applications under the Point Based System
recently launched.
We can provide detailed legal advice and
guidance on all of the following:
- Tier 1 (General)
- Tier 1 (Post Study Work)
- Tier 2 applications (Work Permits, Extensions & Changes
of Employment)
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
- Visitor Visas
- Spouse / Dependent Visas
- Student Visas
The Points Based System
The new PBS system has 5 categories:
- Tier 1: Highly skilled individuals.
- Tier 2: Skilled workers with a job offer
- Tier 3: Low skilled workers (to fill temporary labour shortages)
- Tier 4: Students
- Tier 5: Youth mobility and temporary workers
For each Tier, applicants will
have to score enough points to qualify. Points will be given for
attributes such as qualifications, age, earnings, etc. The system
will be introduced gradually. Tier 1 was launched on 29th February
2008 and Tier 2 was launched on 27th November 2008.
TIER 1 – HIGHLY SKILLED
MIGRANTS
This category does not require a company
sponsorship and an applicant can qualify based on his / her own
merits. The process will involve filing only one application whether
the applicant is applying in or out of the UK. Applicants, except
for post study, will be granted 3 years extendable for a further
2 years.
Tier 1 has 4 subcategories which are:
- General (Highly Skilled): this is very similar to the old HSMP
scheme.
- Entrepreneurs: applicants will have to prove that they have
access to at least £200,000.
-
Investors: applicants will have to prove
that they have a minimum of £1million in their possession
– successful applicants will not be able to work whilst
in the UK under this subcategory.
-
Post-Study Work: this subcategory has replaced
the International Graduates Scheme (IGS) – successful
applicants will be able to remain in the UK for 2 years –
the time spent in the UK under this subcategory will not count
towards Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Applicants applying under Tier
1 will need to prove sufficient knowledge of the English language
and they have enough funds to maintain themselves and their family
in the UK without having recourse to public funds.
TIER 2 SKILLED WORKERS WITH A JOB OFFER
To qualify applicants will be required to
score 50 points. Points will be awarded based on a combination of
the following attributes:
Tier 2 Required Attributes:
- Qualifications
- Prospective earnings
- and whether the role is on the shortage list or passed the resident
labour market test or the applicant is an intra company transferee.
Tier 2 is a job led category which
has replaced the work permit scheme. To qualify the applicant will
need to show that he has a job offer from a UK employer registered
with the UKBA. The role will need to be on the shortage list. If
it is not, the employer will need to have advertised it and satisfied
that there were no resident workers available to fill the position
(this is often referred to as the resident labour market test).
The applicant will need to be able to show that he has the relevant
qualifications and experience to carry out the tasks required by
the role. The salary will have to be in line with market rates.
The applicant will also have to demonstrate that he has sufficient
knowledge of the English Language.
The role will not need to be on the shortage list or to have been
advertised when the applicant qualifies as an intra company transferee.
To qualify the applicant will need to show that he has worked for
the employer abroad for at least 6 months, the role requires someone
with at least NVQ Level 3 qualification/or equivalent experience
and that the salary offered is in line with UK market rates.
Applicants will be allowed to come to the UK for the duration of
their contract up to a maximum of 3 years. This may be extendable
to a further 2 years
TIER 3 – LOW SKILLED
MIGRANT
This Tier is not expected to be introduced
until the end of 2008. It is likely that there will be a quota in
place and that it will be limited to certain countries with which
the UK has arrangements with. It will only apply to temporary shortages.
TIER 4 – STUDENTS
Under this Tier the educational institutions
will have to sponsor the students. Only institutions on the list
of approved sponsors will be able to sponsor students.
TIER 5 – YOUTH MOBILITY
AND TEMPORAY WORKERS
This Tier will replace the current schemes
(Working Holidaymaker, BUNAC, au pairs etc.) This route will allow
applicants to come to the UK for a period of 2 years. Applicants
will not be able to extend their leave in the UK or switch into
a different category.
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