Who Can Apply For Tier 2 Visa

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The UK Tier 2 visa system is designed to bring skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to work in the UK. It’s an important part of the UK’s immigration policy as it helps to fill skills gaps in various industries. But not everyone can apply for this visa. There are specific criteria and conditions that applicants must meet. Let’s take a closer look at who is eligible to apply for a Tier 2 visa.

The Tier 2 General Work visa is for skilled workers who have a job offer from a UK – based employer with a valid sponsor license. This visa is suitable for those with specific skills and qualifications that are in demand in the UK. For example, if you’re a software engineer with several years of experience and a UK tech company offers you a job, you might be eligible for this visa.

To apply for the Tier 2 General Work visa, your employer must first assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This is a unique reference number that your employer gets from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after demonstrating that they couldn’t find a suitable worker from within the EEA or Switzerland. The employer also needs to prove that they can pay you the appropriate salary for the job.

The Tier 2 Intra – Company Transfer visa is for employees of an international company who are being transferred to a UK branch, subsidiary, or associated company. This could be someone who has worked for a multinational corporation’s office in another country for a certain period and is now being moved to the UK to take on a role. For instance, a marketing manager working for a US – based company might be transferred to their UK office to head a new project.

There are different sub – categories within the Tier 2 Intra – Company Transfer visa. One is for long – term staff transfers. To be eligible for this, you must have worked for your company outside the UK for at least 12 months in the last 24 months before the date of application. Another sub – category is for graduate trainees. For this, you need to be a recent graduate of the company’s graduate training program outside the UK and be transferred to the UK to continue your training.

The Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa is for people who are coming to the UK to work as a minister of religion or for a religious order. This could include priests, pastors, imams, rabbis, etc. If you’re a religious leader and have been invited to work in a UK – based religious institution, you may be eligible for this visa.

To apply, you need to have a job offer from a UK – based religious organization that has been approved by the UKVI. The organization must also provide evidence of your religious training and qualifications. You’ll need to show that you meet the requirements of the relevant religious denomination or organization.

The Tier 2 Sportsperson visa is for professional sportspeople and their coaches who are coming to the UK to work in their field. This could be a footballer from another country joining a UK football club, a tennis player participating in UK tournaments, or a coach coming to train a UK – based sports team.

For professional sportspeople, you need to be at a high – level in your sport and have a job offer from a UK – based sports organization. You may also need to provide evidence of your international sporting achievements, such as tournament wins or appearances in major competitions. Coaches need to have relevant coaching qualifications and experience and a job offer from a UK sports team or organization.

General Work Visa: For the Tier 2 General Work visa, you need to have the right skills and qualifications for the job you’ve been offered. This usually means having a relevant degree or equivalent vocational qualifications. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a civil engineer, you should have a degree in civil engineering or a related field. Your qualifications should match the requirements of the job as specified by the employer and the UK’s National Occupation Classification (NOC).

Intra – Company Transfer Visa: If you’re applying for an intra – company transfer, you need to have the skills and experience relevant to the role you’ll be taking on in the UK. For long – term staff transfers, your skills and experience should be in line with the position you held in your home country and the requirements of the UK job. For graduate trainees, you should have completed a relevant graduate training program.

Minister of Religion Visa: For the minister of religion visa, you need to have the appropriate religious training and qualifications. This could include a seminary degree, ordination, or other recognized religious credentials depending on your faith.

Sportsperson Visa: As a sportsperson, you need to have the skills and abilities to perform at a high level in your sport. This is demonstrated through your past performances, achievements in competitions, and your current fitness level. Coaches should have relevant coaching certifications and experience in training athletes.

General Work Visa: All Tier 2 visa applicants, except for those from majority English – speaking countries, need to prove their English language proficiency. You can do this by taking an approved English language test, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for UKVI. You generally need to achieve a minimum score of B1 (Intermediate) in all four components – listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

Intra – Company Transfer Visa: The English language requirement is the same as for the General Work visa, unless you’re coming from a majority English – speaking country. This ensures that you can communicate effectively in the UK workplace.

Minister of Religion Visa: English language proficiency is also required for minister of religion visa applicants. You need to be able to communicate with the congregation and other members of the religious community.

Sportsperson Visa: Sportsperson visa applicants also need to meet the English language requirement. This helps in team communication, interacting with coaches, and dealing with the media.

General Work Visa: You need to show that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK. The exact amount depends on where you’ll be living. If you’re living in London, you generally need to have at least £1,270 in savings. If you’re living outside London, the amount is £1,020. However, if your employer is paying for your travel and accommodation in the UK, you may not need to show this amount of savings.

Intra – Company Transfer Visa: The financial requirements are similar to those of the General Work visa. You need to demonstrate that you can support yourself during your stay in the UK. But if your company is providing you with financial support, such as covering your accommodation and living expenses, you may be exempt from showing large amounts of personal savings.

Minister of Religion Visa: Minister of religion visa applicants also need to meet the financial requirements. You should be able to support yourself and any dependents during your time in the UK.

Sportsperson Visa: Sportspersons and their coaches need to show that they can support themselves in the UK. If the sports organization is providing financial support, it can be taken into account, but you may still need to show some personal savings.

General Work Visa: The first step in applying for a Tier 2 General Work visa is for your employer to obtain a sponsor license from the UKVI. Once they have the license, they can assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Your employer will need to advertise the job widely in the UK and prove that there are no suitable EEA or Swiss workers available.

Intra – Company Transfer Visa: For an intra – company transfer, your employer’s UK branch, subsidiary, or associated company needs to have a valid sponsor license. They will then assign you a CoS. The company also needs to show that the transfer is in the interest of the business and that you have the necessary skills and experience.

Minister of Religion Visa: The UK – based religious organization that has invited you needs to have a sponsor license. They will then provide you with a CoS. The organization also needs to demonstrate that they have a genuine need for your services.

Sportsperson Visa: The UK – based sports organization that has offered you a job needs to have a sponsor license. They will assign you a CoS. The organization needs to show that they couldn’t find a suitable EEA or Swiss sportsperson or coach for the role.

General Work Visa: After your employer has assigned you a CoS, you can submit your visa application. You’ll need to fill out the online application form and provide supporting documents. These include your passport, evidence of your skills and qualifications, English language test results, and proof of your financial means. You may also need to attend a visa application center to provide your biometric information, such as fingerprints and a photograph.

Intra – Company Transfer Visa: The application process for an intra – company transfer visa is similar. You fill out the online application form, provide the necessary documents, and attend a visa application center for biometrics. You need to show your employment history with the company outside the UK and your transfer details.

Minister of Religion Visa: For the minister of religion visa, you submit your application online, attaching documents such as your religious training certificates, job offer letter from the UK religious organization, and proof of your English language proficiency. You’ll also need to go to a visa application center for biometrics.

Sportsperson Visa: Sportsperson visa applicants fill out the online application form and submit documents like their sports achievements, job offer from the UK sports organization, and English language test results. Biometric information is also required at a visa application center.

General Work Visa: The processing time for a Tier 2 General Work visa can vary. Usually, it takes around 3 weeks to process an application. But during peak times, it could take longer. You can also pay for the priority service, which usually guarantees a decision within 5 working days, or the super – priority service, which gives a decision within 24 hours (but this is only available at certain visa application centers).

Intra – Company Transfer Visa: The processing times for intra – company transfer visas are similar to those of the General Work visa. The standard processing time is around 3 weeks, and you can choose priority or super – priority services if available.

Minister of Religion Visa: Minister of religion visa applications also take around 3 weeks to process under normal circumstances. The priority and super – priority services can speed up the process.

Sportsperson Visa: Sportsperson visa applications typically have a processing time of about 3 weeks. The priority and super – priority services can be used to get a quicker decision.

If you’re applying for a Tier 2 visa, your dependents, such as your spouse or unmarried partner and children under 18, may also be eligible to apply for a visa to join you in the UK. They will need to meet certain requirements, such as the financial requirements. Your dependents will need to apply for a Tier 2 Dependent visa. They’ll need to provide evidence of their relationship with you, such as marriage certificates or birth certificates for children. They also need to show that they can support themselves in the UK, although this requirement may be waived if you can prove that you can support them.

General Work Visa: If you have a Tier 2 General Work visa and want to change jobs, your new employer will need to have a sponsor license and assign you a new CoS. You’ll then need to apply for a new visa or a variation of your existing visa. If you want to extend your visa, you need to apply before your current visa expires. You’ll need to show that you’re still meeting the eligibility criteria, such as having a valid job offer and sufficient funds.

Intra – Company Transfer Visa: For intra – company transfer visa holders, if you want to change your role within the UK company, you may need to apply for a variation of your visa. If you want to extend your visa, you need to meet the relevant requirements, such as having continued employment with the company.

Minister of Religion Visa: If you’re a minister of religion and want to change the religious organization you’re working for, you’ll need to apply for a new visa. Visa extensions require you to show that you’re still actively involved in your religious work and meet the ongoing requirements.

Sportsperson Visa: Sportspersons who want to change sports organizations or extend their visas need to follow the appropriate procedures. This may involve the new organization obtaining a sponsor license and providing a new CoS, and for extensions, showing continued high – level performance in the sport.

The UK Tier 2 visa offers opportunities for skilled workers from outside the EEA and Switzerland to work in the UK. However, the eligibility criteria are strict, and the application process requires careful attention to detail. Whether you’re a software engineer, a religious leader, or a professional sportsperson, you need to meet the specific requirements for your visa category. By understanding who can apply, the eligibility criteria, and the application process, you can increase your chances of a successful visa application. It’s also important to keep in mind any special considerations, such as bringing dependents or changing jobs. If you’re considering applying for a Tier 2 visa, it may be beneficial to seek advice from a qualified immigration advisor to ensure that you navigate the process smoothly.