Skilled migration to UK (tier 1 general)

The highly skilled worker category is designed to allow highly skilled people to come to the United Kingdom to look for work or self-employment opportunities. You do not need a job offer to apply under the highly skilled worker category. When you apply, you are awarded points based on your qualifications, previous earnings, United Kingdom experience, age, English language skills and available maintenance (money). You must score:

-      75 points for your attributes (age, qualifications, previous earnings, and experience in the United Kingdom); and 

-      10 points for English language; and 

-      10 points for available maintenance (funds).

The points can be awarded based on the following factors;

Age

Qualifications

Important note: The minimum requirement for initial applications is a Mater's degree

Previous Earnings

This factor is a major factor in determining if you can migrate to the UK or not. You should prove that you have previous yearly salaries that you gained during 12 months out of the last 15 months. In simple terms, the salaries that you claim you earned should have been transferred to the bank or a financial institution. The salaries are calculated before any deductions and including any bonuses that you received. 

Multipliers

After you calculate your salary for a period of 12 continuous months you should multiply it by the multipliers based on which countries those salaries were earned.

United Kingdom experience

You can score five points for United Kingdom experience if:

-      you have successfully scored points under previous earnings and those earnings were made in the United Kingdom; or 

-      you have been in full-time study in the United Kingdom for at least one full academic year, and have been awarded a qualification at bachelor's degree level or above. The qualification should have been awarded within the last five years.

English language requirement

You must score 10 points in English. You can obtain the 10 points in one of the following instances;

- Be a national of a majority English speaking country; or

- Pass an English language test (6.5/9 in the IELTS test)  or 
 
- Hold a degree taught in English and is equivalent to a United Kingdom bachelor's degree or above.

Maintenance

Your must score 10 points for maintenance. You can obtain the 10 points if you have £2,800 in your bank account for at least three months before you apply.

What happens after you get the initial immigration visa?

After you obtain the visa you should seek employment in the UK so that the visa can be renewed after 3 years. The salary from your employment from the UK should meet the standards for extension purposes. This should happen during the first three years. After three years you will be eligible to extend you visa for another 2 years after which you will obtain the indefinite leave to stay in the UK. Following one year after obtaining the indefinite leave to stay in the UK you will be eligible to apply for UK citizenship.

Facts about the Skilled Migration to the UK

• Fast processing – 1 months (likely to increase)
• Low application fees -600 pounds
• Open to employed and self employed individuals
• Special provision for applicants below 28 years of age
• No requirement of job offer
• Work permit valid for 36 months which allows you to seek employment or set up a business.
• At the end of 36 months, you can apply for a 2 year extension
• At the end of 5 years, you qualify for permanent residence and then for citizenship
• Even your spouse can legally work
• Free Education for children
• Public health insurance

If you want to know about your eligibility to migrate to the UK under this program please contact us at general@livevisa.com