Work visa for UK graduates
Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) allows those who have studied in the UK to then get permission to work for two years without having to have an employer sponsor them.
They are free to work in any capacity (except as a ‘Doctor or Dentist in Training’ except in certain circumstances). Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) is intended as a bridge to highly skilled or skilled work, and successful applicants will be expected to move into another part of the Points Based System as soon as they are able to do so.
Note: the Government have announced that this visa route will be abolished in April 2012 with no immediate replacement.
Under Tier 1, applicants must accrue the necessary points to qualify for immigration to the UK. There are a number of areas where points can be gained (under ‘Attributes’ and ‘Controls’).
‘Attributes’
To qualify for Tier 1 you must gain sufficient points under the ‘attributes’ section. To check if you are eligible for a Tier 1 visa, go to the points-based calculator where you can add up your own points.
There are four areas where points must be gained for a Tier 1 (Post-Study Work):
Level of qualification (20 points):
You must have a UK recognised degree (Bachelor’s or Postgraduate), a PGCE, a PCDE or an HND from a Scottish institution.
Institution (20 points):
You must have studied at a UK institution that is a recognised or listed body, or holds a Tier 4 sponsor license with the UK Border Agency; or, if an HND, that it is a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education, or a bona fide private institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance.
Immigration status (20 points):
You must have had legal permission to study in the UK for the duration of your course.
One year timeframe (15 points):
You must make the application for Entry Clearance within 12 months of receiving the eligible award.
‘Controls’:
To qualify for Tier 1 you must get 10 points for each of the controls (20 points in total).
English (10 points):
As English is the most widely spoken language in the UK you must demonstrate sufficient competence in the language to gain the 10 points. If you are successful obtaining 75 points in ‘attributes’, above, you will automatically be granted the 10 points for English.
Maintenance (10 points):
You must demonstrate your ability to support yourself in the UK until you have income. To do this you must show that you have £2800 (or £800 for renewal applications for those already in the UK). You must have held this amount for 90 days prior to applying, and not have dipped below that amount at any time during the 90 days.
Requirements
The documentary evidence of your points must meet specific requirements. These are laid out in the Policy Guidance for the relevant type of Tier 1 visa.
The immigration officers assessing the applications do not have authority to exercise discretion – if the documentary evidence is not exactly as specified in the Policy Guidance the immigration application can be refused, with no refund!
Tier 1 is difficult to get right on your own. Many people apply multiple times before getting it right. Why not use our expertise and inside knowledge, and get it right first time? We’d love to work with you!
If you need to expedite your visa let us know!
Other types of Tier 1 immigration application: