Highly Skilled Worker UK Visa

Since the abolition of the Tier 1 (general) visa, the Tier 2 (general) visa has become the most commonly used and most important of all UK visa types. This is generally considered to be the most viable route into the country for migrants that are highly skilled and are willing to use those skills to benefit the UK. Completing the application yourself, and waiting for appropriate responses, can take months; however, the process can be sped up by using a qualified and experienced immigration law professional.

The UK visa system works on a points basis, and you must achieve a certain number of points, in order for your application to be successful. There are certain requirements that you must meet, as well, however. For example, you must have a job offer, and you must have a sponsorship from a company with a tier 2 Sponsorship licence. Without both of these, your visa application will not be successful and you will not receive a tier 2 visa.

Skilled workers that are entering the country because there are no settled workers that are able to fill the role are generally accepted under tier 2 visas, but there is an annual cap on the number of people that are accepted this way. If the cap is reached, then no further applications will be accepted until the following year. If your salary is more than £150,000, then this cap does not apply.

The length of time that a Tier 2 (general) visa is granted for will often depend on the details of the job that you have been offered, and fees do apply for all types of visa. Fees are typically lower for any jobs that appear on the current shortages list; a list of jobs that are high in demand, and that do not have enough skilled workers to fill the post in the UK.

There are many types of visa available to migrants that are looking to travel to, and work, live, study, or invest in the UK. Seeking professional guidance and advice can help ensure that you complete the appropriate application, apply for the right type of visa, and have the best possible chance of a successful application.