Skilled Worker Visa to ILR
You can become eligible to switch from a Skilled Worker Visa to ILR after you have lived in the UK continuously with sponsored status for 5 years. Skilled worker visas are granted for a period of up to 5 years. At the end of this visa period, you apply to extend your visa or you […]
Skilled Occupations: Which SOC Code?
Matching the role you are recruiting for with the relevant occupation code, or SOC code, is a crucial step when hiring a new sponsored worker. It will be important for the sponsor to allocate the correct occupation code to avoid issues with the Home Office and potential refusal of the visa application. Caseworkers do investigate […]
Skilled Worker Visa Going Rate
One of the eligibility requirements under the Skilled Worker Visa route is that the role being recruited for pays at or above the relevant minimum salary threshold. In most cases, the threshold will be £25,600 per year, unless the ‘going rate’ for the particular role is higher. Each job eligible for the Skilled Worker visa is assigned a […]
Skilled Worker Minimum Salary 2022
One of the more complex requirements for sponsoring individuals under the Skilled Worker visa is the minimum salary threshold. There is no single, universal Skilled Worker minimum salary threshold. Rather, the relevant level must be determined by applying the immigration rules and Home Office guidance, and ensuring the correct salary level is calculated. Skilled Worker […]
Skilled Worker Visa Change of Employment
If you are a Skilled Worker or old Tier 2 General visa holder and you are changing employment, you will need to make an application to the Home Office to update your visa. Relevant changes in employment include: Changing job and changing employer Changing job from a role that was on the Shortage Occupation List […]
Tier 2 Cooling Off Period: New Rules 2021
With the Skilled Worker visa now open, replacing the Tier 2 (General) visa, a number of changes have taken effect impacting points-based skilled workers and their sponsors. One significant area of change is in relation to the Tier 2 cooling off period. Tier 2 cooling off period abolished for skilled workers Under the UK’s […]
Student to Skilled Worker Visa Switching (Sponsor Guide)
If your organisation is hiring international graduates, immigration will be a key part of the recruitment and onboarding stage. For applicants, switching from the Student to Skilled Worker visa is rarely straightforward, but the process can be made easier and more certain if the sponsor and applicant work together on the application. In this article we […]
Tier 2 Visa Extension (How to Apply)
What are the rules on making a Tier 2 visa extension? If you are employed in the UK under the Tier 2 (General) visa, your permission to remain and work in the UK will be time-limited. If you intend to remain in the UK, you will need to apply for further leave to remain before […]
Appendix Skilled Worker (Sponsor Guide)
Appendix Skilled Worker sets out the rules for skilled migrant workers to be sponsored under the UK’s Immigration Rules. The Appendix details specific eligibility, suitability, validity requirements which must be met for an individual to be approved for a Skilled Worker visa, well as the rules for dependants and for sponsored workers to become eligible for ILR. […]
Tier 2 ICT to Skilled Worker Visa Switching
Tier 2 ICT visa holders are allowed to switch into the new Skilled Worker route, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Under previous rules, it was not possible to switch from ICT to Tier 2 General without triggering the cooling-off period. The cooling-off requirement no longer applies for ICT switchers under the UK’s points-based immigration […]
