There are various routes to working in the UK, some requiring an employer to sponsor you, and others not. There is a route for high value migrants including entrepreneurs and investors, routes for those with a job offer, a route for young people from various specific countries, one for charity workers, religious workers, sportspersons and entertainers…it’s just a case of knowing what your specific options are!
If you are wondering which routes could apply to you simply contact us with an outline of your circumstances and what work you are wanting to do in the UK, and we’ll talk you through your options.
The Points Based System
In 2007 and 2008 the UK rolled out a new five-tier Points Based System for work and study visa applications:
- Tier 1 – High Value Migrants
- Tier 2 – Workers who have a Job Offer in the UK
- Tier 3 – Currently not in use
- Tier 4 – Students
- Tier 5 – Temporary Workers
For specific details on each of the Tiers please see UK Visas in our menu.
How the Points Based System works
The points:
To obtain a visa under the Points Based System you must score a minimum number of points. Each tier has various ‘attributes’ under which you can gain points. Each tier also has a number of ‘controls’, including proof of your English Language ability and your ability to finance yourself to a certain level. You must pass all of the controls.
How your application is assessed:
The Points Based System was introduced to eliminate discretion being exercised by the immigration officers (Entry Clearance Officers), thereby making the process transparent and uniform regardless of which country you apply for your visa in.
Although this principle is of benefit to applicants as it eliminates Entry Clearance Officers’ discretion, refusal rates in certain countries have dramatically increased – not because applicants couldn’t qualify but simply because they have not provided the paperwork required in the exact format necessary.
The requirements for the format of supporting documents are so specific that, when working for a British Consulate, our lead consultant would have to refuse dozens of applications a week just because of incorrectly completed forms or documentation.
Even though the Entry Clearance Officers want to issue visas for people who qualify for them, their hands are 100% tied by the highly technical rules and quality of the paperwork you submit.
No second chances:
The Points Based System does not allow for you to submit new or additional documents at a later date – the decision will be made on the documents presented with your initial visa application package, and those alone.
Your best asset:
Having seen many visa applicants apply two, three, or sometimes four times before getting it right, wasting hundreds of pounds in application fees, weeks of their time and suffering the ensuing stress, we highly recommend that you use an immigration consultant to get it right first time around.
Whether you use us or another immigration professional, the Points Based System is one area where it can be unwise to go it alone.
Administrative Review:
If you have already been refused a visa under the Points Based System whilst applying outside the UK, we can also prepare an Administrative Review for you if we deem it warranted. An Administrative Review is a free re-assessment of your case by an independent Entry Clearance Manager. No new documentation can be submitted, and therefore Administrative Review should only be used where you believe the decision-maker has made an error in calculating your points.
As an ex-Entry Clearance Manager, our lead consultant conducted these re-assessments, and knows when they succeed and when they don’t. As always with us, if we think you will not qualify for a visa we will tell you immediately.