Obtaining A Tier 2 Visa For The Uk

By Author: Dhody David
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UK Tier 2 visas are designed for people who are looking to come to the country as a result of receiving an offer of employment in a skilled job. Usually, Tier 2 visas are granted to individuals who can fill a gap within the labour market which cannot be filled by residents of the UK. There are four categories of Tier 2 visa, as follows:

Tier 2 General skill worker, for people coming to the United Kingdom with a job offer
Tier 2 Intra company transfer, for employees of multi-national companies who are being transferred by an overseas employer to a skilled job
Tier 2 Sportsperson, for elite sportspeople and coaches whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport
Tier 2 Minister of religion, for individuals coming to fill a vacancy as a Minister of Religion, Missionary, or Member of a Religious Order.

The Tier 2 General work permit is given to individuals who are highly skilled in their field of industry or trade, who reside as citizens beyond the European Economic area (EEU). In order to be granted a visa under these circumstances, the applicant needs ...
... to demonstrate that they have a valid offer of work, in addition to being able to fulfill a number of requirements based upon their skills and abilities.

The advantages of obtaining a Tier 2 visa for the UK

Similar to the Tier 1 certificate, the Tier 2 visa offers individuals the potential to take up permanent residency within the United Kingdom. The visa enables global and multinational organizations the opportunity to transfer new and existing staff with strong skills to the UK to swell the workforce. The work permit granted through a Tier 2 visa application can vary in length from a single day right through to five years, depending upon the time frame specified by the company which is sponsoring the individual's application to work within the country.

While the Tier 2 visa does not constitute a permanent residency certificate, people who both live and work within the UK for five years are able to apply to be considered for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR). If an individual subsequently wishes to remain in the country, they are able to apply for British Naturalization to become a permanent resident and citizen of the UK.

Assessing eligibility for Tier 2 visas

People applying for a Tier 2 visa are assessed according to a points test, and require a minimum of fifty points to be eligible for the document. Attributes which are assessed include qualifications, agreed earnings, and the demand for their skills within the UK. A PhD is worth 15 points, Masters is 10 points, and Bachelors degree is worth 10 points. NVQ qualifications provide 5 points to the holder.

People applying for roles which are not in short supply in the UK can accrue 30 points for their application, whereas high-demand positions are worth 50 points. Individuals applying for an ICT (Intra Company Transfer) will also receive 50 points. Further points are granted based upon ability to speak English, available and future income, and the shortage of roles within the UK for the position which you are being sponsored for.

The responsibility of employers in the Tier 2 visa process

When an individual applies for a Tier 2 visa, employers are held accountable for the individual whom they are sponsoring. This means that they need to be satisfied of the eligibility of the candidate, and are allocated either an A or B level sponsorship license according to the UK Border Agency's risk assessment.

For more information on UK Visa application, visit the site.