Navigating the Application for a UK Skilled Worker Visa: Our Solicitor Services

Embarking on the journey to secure a UK Skilled Worker visa can be a meticulous and complex endeavour, especially when applying from outside the UK. Our dedicated solicitor services are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth transition. Once you have a job offer in hand, received your Certificate of Sponsorship, and gathered the necessary supporting documents, you are ready to initiate the application process, and we are here to assist.
Here’s a breakdown of the process and how we can facilitate each step:

• Eligibility Verification: We will help ascertain your eligibility for a Skilled Worker Visa, ensuring all prerequisites are met.
  
• Job Offer Acquisition: Secure a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor. Our network may aid in connecting you with potential employers.
• Certificate of Sponsorship: After obtaining a job offer, we’ll ensure you receive your Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer promptly.
• Document Preparation: We will aid in organising all necessary documents to prove your eligibility, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
• Online Application Submission: Guide you in filling out and submitting the online application form. The specific form depends on whether you are applying from outside the UK or transitioning from another visa type within the UK.
• Fee Processing: Assist in processing the payment for the application fee, biometric fee, and healthcare surcharge, ensuring timely submission.
• Document Upload: We’ll help you upload all required documents to support your application, adhering to the specified format and requirements.
• Biometric Appointment Scheduling: Arrange your biometric appointment for fingerprints and photo capture, at your convenience.

Expect a response on your application within about three weeks if applying from abroad. Should the UKVI require additional information to process your application, we will liaise with them on your behalf, ensuring all queries are addressed promptly and accurately.

Our solicitor services aim to simplify the application process, providing professional legal advice to enhance the likelihood of a favourable outcome. With our expertise in immigration law and procedure, we are well-equipped to help you navigate any challenges that may arise, keeping you informed and supported throughout your Skilled Worker visa application journey. For advice on your Skilled Worker visa, contact us on 0203 959 9123, or email your enquiry to info@nwsolicitors.co.uk.

What is the UK Skilled Worker Visa?

The UK Skilled Worker Visa serves as a gateway for international professionals with the necessary skills to work in the United Kingdom, specifically under the employment of licensed UK employers. Individuals possessing skills at or above RQF Level 3 (equivalent to A-level in the UK) in the specified eligible occupations can avail themselves of this visa.

This visa, granting long-term work permission, is initially issued for up to five years, depending on the validity of your Certificate of Sponsorship. It’s important to remember that the visa remains valid as long as you continue in the same job role with the sponsoring employer. If there’s a change in your job role or employer, a fresh Skilled Worker visa application will be required.

The Skilled Worker route provides an option to extend your visa before its expiration. After a qualifying tenure of five years, you may apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), and a year later, you may seek British citizenship. To initiate the application for a UK Skilled Worker visa, securing a job offer and adhering to the defined eligibility criteria is essential.

A key aspect of the UK Skilled Worker Visa eligibility is the Points System, which will be explored in detail in the following section. This system sets a structured criterion, allocating points for various mandatory and ‘tradeable’ factors, such as having a job offer, English language proficiency, and the relevant skill level for the job, among others. Achieving a total of 70 points under this system is necessary for visa qualification.

Skilled Worker Visa and Tier 2 Work Visa Comparison

The advent of the Skilled Worker visa unveils several advantages and distinctions when compared to the earlier Tier 2 (General) work visa, in place before 2021:

• The skill level prerequisite has been eased from RQF level 6 down to RQF level 3, thereby enlarging the array of qualified occupations under this channel.
  
• The minimum salary benchmark has been reduced from £30,000 to £26,200 (plus, in numerous situations, a lower salary still maintains eligibility for a Skilled Worker Visa, as detailed below).
• The Skilled Worker visa route is now welcoming to individuals newly entering the job market, like recent graduates.
• There’s no limitation on the quantity of Skilled Worker visas allocated in the UK.
• The requirement for a Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) has been omitted for the Skilled Worker visa, streamlining and hastening the engagement of skilled foreign employees.
• The former cooling-off duration, which required international workers departing the UK to bide a year prior to applying for a new work visa, has been nullified.

Skilled Worker Visa Point System Explained

The Skilled Worker visa in the UK operates on a point system outlined in a document called Appendix Skilled Worker. To qualify for this visa, you need to score 70 points. You can earn 50 points by meeting mandatory requirements such as having a job offer, speaking English, and having the right skill level for the job you’re offered. The remaining 20 points can be earned through optional or ‘tradeable’ criteria like earning a higher salary or having a PhD in a field related to the job. This system is structured to help the UK attract and admit workers who meet the country’s employment needs.

Skilled Worker Requirement:

• Genuine job offer from a licensed sponsor: 20 points (Mandatory)
  
• Speak English to the required standard: 10 points (Mandatory)
• Job offer at skill level of RQF3 or above: 20 points (Mandatory)
• Salary: £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate: 0 points (Tradeable)
• Salary: £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate: 10 points (Tradeable)
• Salary: £26,200 or above or at least the going rate: 20 points (Tradeable)
• Job in a shortage occupation: 20 points (Tradeable)
• Education: PhD relevant to the job: 10 points (Tradeable)
• Education: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job: 20 points (Tradeable)

Our skilled solicitors can provide invaluable assistance in this process. They have a thorough understanding of the points system and can help ensure you meet the necessary criteria. With their guidance, the application process can be simplified, making your pathway to working in the UK much smoother.

UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirements

To qualify for the UK Skilled Worker Visa, there are specific rules and requirements laid out to ensure that you are properly qualified for the job you’re being offered and that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the UK. These requirements are set to make sure that only eligible individuals are granted the visa. The criteria for eligibility are listed as follows:

• Have a job offer from a UK employer
  
• Your employer must be on the list of licenced sponsors approved by the Home Office
• Your employer must have issued you with a valid “Certificate of Sponsorship”
• The job for which you are being employed must be on the list of eligible occupations
• You must meet the skill level requirement: at least equivalent to RQF level 3
• You must meet the minimum salary requirements: £26,200 per year
• You must meet the English language requirements
• You must have £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK

Below, our immigration solicitors have included more information on each of these eligibility criteria. We will go over what each point means, what you will need to show to meet each requirement, and how to check if you qualify. This will help you understand better what is needed for the UK Skilled Worker Visa application.

1. A Job Offer from a Licensed UK Employer for Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility

To apply for the UK Skilled Worker Visa, you first need a job offer from a UK employer who is approved by the government. This job should be in a certain type of work that is allowed for this visa, and it should pay at least £26,200 per year. Your employer will also need to give you a special document called a “Certificate of Sponsorship” to show that they are offering you a job.

2. Your Employer Must Be Among the Licenced Sponsors Approved by the Home Office

Your job offer needs to come from an employer who is on the Home Office’s list of licensed sponsors. It’s crucial to verify that your employer has the licence to hire international workers under the Skilled Worker Route, as licences vary based on the visa type required. Employers are rated either A or B; only A-rated employers can issue new Certificates of Sponsorship. B-rated employers can’t issue new Certificates of Sponsorship until they meet the Home Office’s standards and get upgraded to an A-rating. It’s wise to check your employer’s rating before applying to prevent any delays or refusals in your visa process.

3. Your employer Must Issue You a Valid “Certificate of Sponsorship”

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a key document you need for the Skilled Worker visa in the UK. Your UK employer gives you this digital document which has important details about the job you are being sponsored for. It lists your job title and type, when your job starts and ends, how much you will be paid, your employer’s licence number, and when the document will expire. The CoS shows that your employer is supporting your visa application for the job, helping you with the visa process.

4. Your job Must Be on the UK’s List of Approved Jobs

For a Skilled Worker visa, the job you are offered in the UK must be on a specific list of eligible occupations. Also, you should have the right skills or experience to do the job you are hired for. To check if your job is on the eligible list, you can ask your employer for a special code called the standard occupation code (SOC).

5. Your job Must Be on the UK’s List of Approved Jobs

Those applying for a Skilled Worker role and visa need to have skills that match or exceed the RQF level 3 (which is similar to having A-level qualifications in the UK). This doesn’t mean you must hold a specific qualification, but your skills should be on par with or beyond RQF level 3.

6. Minimum Salary Requirements

Before, the minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa was £25,600 per year or £10.10 per hour, whichever was higher. But from 12 April 2023, it has gone up to £26,200 per year. However, some jobs have a higher “going rate”, which means the average amount usually paid for that job. If your job has a higher “going rate”, your salary should match or be more than this amount. The Home Office has a list of these “going rates” for different jobs. If you work in healthcare or education, your “going rate” will follow the UK’s national pay scales.

There are also some exceptions to this rule, so you might still be eligible even if you earn less than £26,200, but not less than £20,960 per year or £10.75 per hour. You can be paid less if:

• Your job is listed as a shortage occupation, or;
  
• You are under 26, still studying, a recent graduate, or in professional training, or;
• You have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD that is related to your job, or;
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.

These exceptions help more skilled people to come work in the UK, making sure there are different kinds of skilled workers in the country.

7. Hold £1,270 in Your Bank Account to Demonstrate Self-Sufficiency in the UK

It’s essential to furnish proof, typically a bank statement, demonstrating that you have a minimum of £1,270 for your initial month in the UK. In certain scenarios, your employer might provide a letter affirming that they will shoulder this financial requirement on your behalf.

8. Proving You Know English

If you’re applying for a Skilled Worker visa, you need to show you know English well enough. You can do this in four ways:

• Pass an English Test: If you pass an English test from a place that’s approved to give the test, and you get at least a B1 level in reading, understanding, talking, and writing, you’re good.
  
• Show Your Schooling: If you have a degree or some other school award and you learned it in English, that works too.
• Certain Countries are Exempt: If you come from certain countries, you don’t have to prove your English. These countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA.
• Pass a Work-Related English Test: If you’ve passed a special English test related to your job, and it’s approved by the right professional group, you also meet the requirement.

Navigating the visa application process can be complex, but our experienced immigration team is here to provide the guidance you need. With a thorough understanding of the UK immigration laws and the Points System, we can help simplify the process, ensuring you meet all the necessary criteria for the Skilled Worker Visa. Your journey towards working and settling in the UK is a call or email away. Dial 0203 959 9123 to connect with our immigration team for personalised assistance. Alternatively, you can email your enquiry to info@nwsolicitors.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Required Documents for UK Skilled Worker Visa Application

Here’s a list of documents and information that might be necessary when applying for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK:

• Passport (ensure it has a blank page)
  
• Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• Job title and yearly salary
• Occupation code of your job
• Employer’s name and sponsor licence number (as mentioned on your Certificate of Sponsorship)
  
• Evidence of adequate personal savings
• Documentation verifying relationships to spouse/partner and children (like marriage and birth certificates)
• Criminal record certificate (only for specific jobs dealing with vulnerable populations such as in healthcare or education)
• English language proficiency proof
  
• TB test outcomes (applicable if you are from certain countries)
• UK PhD certificate or Ecctis reference for non-UK PhD holders

You’ll be guided on how to verify your identity and provide your biometrics (fingerprint and photo) for the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). This can be done at a visa application centre in your country or via the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ mobile app by the Home Office, which lets you scan and upload your ID documents.

Due to the intricate nature of the Skilled Worker visa document requirements, it’s advisable to consult with an employment immigration solicitor before submission. Our team can assist in ensuring all necessary documentation is accurately provided to UKVI, correcting any mistakes or missing details. For advice on your Skilled Worker visa, contact us on 0203 959 9123, or email your enquiry to info@nwsolicitors.co.uk.

Navigating the Application for a UK Skilled Worker Visa: Our Solicitor Services

Embarking on the journey to secure a UK Skilled Worker visa can be a meticulous and complex endeavour, especially when applying from outside the UK. Our dedicated solicitor services are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth transition. Once you have a job offer in hand, received your Certificate of Sponsorship, and gathered the necessary supporting documents, you are ready to initiate the application process, and we are here to assist.
Here’s a breakdown of the process and how we can facilitate each step:

• Eligibility Verification: We will help ascertain your eligibility for a Skilled Worker Visa, ensuring all prerequisites are met.
  
• Job Offer Acquisition: Secure a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor. Our network may aid in connecting you with potential employers.
• Certificate of Sponsorship: After obtaining a job offer, we’ll ensure you receive your Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer promptly.
• Document Preparation: We will aid in organising all necessary documents to prove your eligibility, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
• Online Application Submission: Guide you in filling out and submitting the online application form. The specific form depends on whether you are applying from outside the UK or transitioning from another visa type within the UK.
  
• Fee Processing: Assist in processing the payment for the application fee, biometric fee, and healthcare surcharge, ensuring timely submission.
• Document Upload: We’ll help you upload all required documents to support your application, adhering to the specified format and requirements.
• Biometric Appointment Scheduling: Arrange your biometric appointment for fingerprints and photo capture, at your convenience.

Expect a response on your application within about three weeks if applying from abroad. Should the UKVI require additional information to process your application, we will liaise with them on your behalf, ensuring all queries are addressed promptly and accurately.

Our solicitor services aim to simplify the application process, providing professional legal advice to enhance the likelihood of a favourable outcome. With our expertise in immigration law and procedure, we are well-equipped to help you navigate any challenges that may arise, keeping you informed and supported throughout your Skilled Worker visa application journey. For advice on your Skilled Worker visa, contact us on 0203 959 9123, or email your enquiry to info@nwsolicitors.co.uk.

Benefits of Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is a significant step towards establishing a long-term connection with the UK. It offers numerous benefits that can enhance your living and working experience in the country:

• Permanent Home: ILR provides you with a stable residency in the UK, eliminating the hassle of regular visa renewals and eligibility checks.
• Work Flexibility: Enjoy the liberty to work in any capacity or industry without the need for employer-sponsored visas.
• Travel Freedom: Experience the convenience of unrestricted travel in and out of the UK.
• Bring Your Family: ILR allows you to invite and settle specific family members in the UK with you.

If you’re still seeking clarity or have more questions, our team has compiled a list of common queries from our clients to provide further insights and guidance.

Indefinite Indefinite Leave to Remain Commonly Asked Questions:

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) grants individuals the privilege of permanent residency in the UK, enabling them to live and work without time constraints. It represents a commitment to making the UK one’s enduring residence and offers a range of benefits, including education and healthcare.

Who is eligible to apply for ILR in the UK?

Eligibility for ILR varies based on factors such as the type of visa you hold, the duration of your legal residence in the UK, financial stability, and other personal circumstances. Most applicants can apply for ILR after residing lawfully in the UK for a specific period, typically five years, but this duration can vary depending on your visa category.

Do I need to pass the ‘Life in the UK’ test for ILR?

Yes, individuals applying for ILR must pass the ‘Life in the UK’ test, which assesses your knowledge of British culture, history, and government. Passing this test is a requirement, and we can assist you in preparing for it, including helping you locate the appropriate test center.

Can you help with ILR refusals and appeals?

Absolutely. If your ILR application is refused, our experienced immigration lawyers can guide you through the options available. This includes submitting a new application to rectify previous mistakes, pursuing a Judicial Review if procedural errors occurred during the application process, or making an appeal if your case relates to protection or human rights claims.

How long does the ILR application process take?

The processing time for ILR applications can vary depending on your circumstances and the route you choose. On average, it may take up to six months. It’s important to apply before your current visa expires to ensure you can legally stay and work in the UK while your application is being processed. Our team can help expedite the process by ensuring your application is complete and accurate.

How can I get in contact?