New Scheme

Tier 1

This tier has replaced the Highly Skilled Migrant visa and is designed to allow highly skilled people to come to the United Kingdom to look for work or self-employment opportunities. This application process is undertaken by the employee themselves as it is not linked to one employer and the individual can work for any employer throughout the duration of the visa without the need to apply for an additional visa. Applicants are awarded points based on their qualifications, previous earnings, experience, age, English language skills and available maintenance funds.

Please note that this route is now closed for new entrants to the United Kingdom.

• Further information is available on the Home Office website

Tier 2

Tier 2 was introduced on 27 November 2008 and replaces the previous Work Permit scheme for workers coming to the UK with a job offer. To make an application under this category an individual must have a sponsor (the employer) and a valid certificate of sponsorship granted by the employer. As under the previous work permit scheme, there is a 2 stage process replacing the work permit and leave to remain with the Certificate of Sponsorship and Tier 2 visa.

Certificate of Sponsorship

The University has been granted a Licence to act as a Tier 2 Sponsor and therefore is permitted to sponsor recruited employees with a Certificate of Sponsorship to undertake work in the UK.

The Certificate of Sponsorship replaces the work permit and as we apply for it online it is issued immediately compared to the 2-3 weeks previously required to be granted a work permit. It is not a paper document but simply a unique reference number which the employee then uses to make their application for a visa or entry clearance.

As a Sponsor we have had to stipulate how many Certificates we are likely to issue per year and therefore to ensure that none are wasted we must be comfortable that an individual meets the points criteria before we grant a certificate.

Visa

When applying for the Tier 2 visa points are awarded based on qualifications; future expected earnings; sponsorship; English language skills and available maintenance funds. Before an application will be considered you must have a minimum of 70 points, the allocation of points is detailed on the UKBA Points Calculator.

Sponsorship Requirements

The Points Based Immigration System came into effect on 27 November 2008 and at this time a number of audit requirements were introduced to ensure that Sponsors comply with the immigration processes.

The University is therefore required to:

• Carry out appropriate pre-employment immigration and nationality checks on all employees
• Maintain up to date contact details for all migrant workers
• Be able to demonstrate good HR practice in respect of recruiting and employing migrant workers
• Report to the UK Border Agency the following:
  • non-appearance of a foreign national
  • absence from work for 10 days
  • changes to the migrant worker's employment conditions
  • if the worker stops working for the University
  • any suspicions that the worker is breaching the terms of their visa
• Provide proof of professional accreditations required by the migrant worker to undertake their job, and their renewal