Tier 2 General Skilled Workers

Tier 2: General Skilled Workers

If you have been offered a skilled job in the UK by a Home Office licensed employer, you may qualify to live and work in the UK as a Tier 2 General migrant. The Tier 2 General visa is designed for skilled workers migrating to the UK. Before your employer can offer you a job they will have to show that they have been unable to recruit anyone locally.

You must first obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer which confirms that your job is at NQF level 6 or higher, and that they have met the criteria of the Resident Labour Market test, or that the job is exempt from this requirement. You must also be paid at the appropriate salary, as set out for your particular job.

You can switch into the Tier 2 General immigration category if you are already in the UK under Tier 1, 2, 4 or Tier 5 Temporary Worker of the point-based system. Your family members may accompany you as your dependents.

  • Initial applications: entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 2 General skilled worker

    In order to qualify for a Tier 2 General visa for the UK, you will need to show that:

    • You have obtained a job offer in the UK;
    • The job offer is from a licensed UK employer (i.e. an employer holding a Tier 2 Sponsor License);
    • You do not own more than 10% of the shares of the company sponsoring you, unless your gross salary is £155,300 or more;
    • The job offer passes the Resident Labour Market test (or a Resident Labour Market test exemption applies);
    • You have been issued with a valid certificate of sponsorship by your employer;
    • Your job title appears on the list of occupations skilled to NQF level 6 or above as stated in the Codes of Practice;
    • You will be paid at an appropriate salary rate and your annual gross salary will be above the minimum salary threshold of £20,800;
    • You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1/B2 (CEFR level B1 is equivalent to IELTS 4.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking);
    • You have enough money to support yourself i.e. you must hold £945 in an account in your name for 90 days before your application. You need to show an additional £630 per dependant held for 90 days in an account in your name or that of your dependant. If your employer is an A rated sponsor and confirms that they will provide maintenance should you need it, you do not have to show money in your personal account.

    You will also need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that the job offer is a genuine vacancy and you are appropriately qualified or registered to do the job.

    If you are currently in the UK as a Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer (ICT) migrant, you will only be able to switch into the Tier 2 General category if your Tier 2 ICT visa was granted before 6th April 2010 and you are applying to change sponsor, or you have leave under the Tier 2 ICT: Established staff category granted before 6th April 2011 and are applying to change sponsor.

    If you are currently in the UK as a Tier 4 General Student, you will need to complete and pass your degree level course before you are eligible to switch into the Tier 2 General category.

  • Extension Applications: further leave to remain as a Tier 2 General Skilled Worker

    In order to extend your stay as a Tier 2 General migrant, you will need to show that:

    • You are still working for the same employer, who last sponsored your Tier 2 General application, in the same occupation;
    • You have been issued with a valid certificate of sponsorship by that employer;
    • You do not own more than 10% of the shares of the company sponsoring you, unless your gross salary is £155,300 or more;
    • You will be paid at an appropriate salary rate and your annual gross salary is at or above the minimum salary threshold of £20,800.

    You can change your sponsor during your stay in the Tier 2 General category. However, you will need to apply for a fresh grant of leave to remain as a Tier 2 General migrant each time that you do so and satisfy the requirements set out under ‘initial applications’ above.

  • Settlement in the UK: Indefinite leave to remain as a Tier 2 General Skilled Worker

    For those who first applied under the category before 06 April 2011, to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a Tier 2 General migrant, you will need to show that:

    • You have spent a continuous period of 5 years lawfully in the UK as a Tier 2 General migrant or in any combinations of the relevant categories as set out in Paragraph 245HF(c) of the Immigration Rules; and
    • You have not spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any of the five consecutive 12 calendar month periods preceding the date of application and provide specified documents to evidence the reasons for the absences, which must be in connection with the employment or for a serious or compelling reason; and
    • You are not in the UK in breach of immigration laws except that any period of overstaying for a period of 28 days or less will be disregarded;
    • You are still required for the employment in question, as certified by your employer; and
    • You are paid at or above the appropriate rate for the job as stated in the Codes of Practice;
    • You have demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the English language and life in the UK.

    For those who first applied under the category on or after 06 April 2011, and therefore making their ILR application after 06 April 2016 you will only be eligible for settlement if you are in a shortage occupation job, an occupation skilled to PhD level, or you have a gross annual salary of at least £35,000 (this gross sum increases every two years).

  • Cooling Off Period

    For those who first applied under the category before 06 April 2011, to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a Tier 2 General migrant, you will need to show that:

    • You have spent a continuous period of 5 years lawfully in the UK as a Tier 2 General migrant or in any combinations of the relevant categories as set out in Paragraph 245HF(c) of the Immigration Rules; and
    • You have not spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any of the five consecutive 12 calendar month periods preceding the date of application and provide specified documents to evidence the reasons for the absences, which must be in connection with the employment or for a serious or compelling reason; and
    • You are not in the UK in breach of immigration laws except that any period of overstaying for a period of 28 days or less will be disregarded;
    • You are still required for the employment in question, as certified by your employer; and
    • You are paid at or above the appropriate rate for the job as stated in the Codes of Practice;
    • You have demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the English language and life in the UK.

    For those who first applied under the category on or after 06 April 2011, and therefore making their ILR application after 06 April 2016 you will only be eligible for settlement if you are in a shortage occupation job, an occupation skilled to PhD level, or you have a gross annual salary of at least £35,000 (this gross sum increases every two years).

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