UK Skilled Worker Visa Tier 2 General Visa: Complete guide to the Tier 2 General Visa, including who is qualified, qualifications, the types of jobs you can work on, fees, and other information.
The Tier 2 General Work visa is a British Points-Based System work visa. It is provided to highly trained individuals from countries outside the European Union and Switzerland who have a job offer for a skilled position or a job on the Shortage List.
To apply for this visa, you must have a work offer from a licensed sponsor in the UK. As verification, you should produce a certificate of sponsorship provided by the employer.
You will be able to travel outside the UK as a holder of a Tier 2 General Work Visa while on this visa. A Tier 2 Dependent Visa allows you to bring dependents to the UK.
Who Needs a UK Tier 2 Visa?
To be eligible to apply for a UK General Work Visa, you must meet a number of requirements. The following are the criteria:
- You must overcome the general grounds for denial.
- You must have a job in the UK from a sponsoring employer for a skilled position or a job on the Shortage List.
- A Tier 2 Visa with a minimum salary of £30,000 per year is available.
Furthermore, because the visa is part of the Point Based System, the applicant must meet the following criteria and be able to acquire points in each of the conditions stated below:
- Have 50 attribute points.
- Have at least 10 points for English language knowledge.
- You must be at least 16 years old.
- A maximum of 10% of the company’s shares when their sponsor is a Limited Company – an exception is made when the candidate has a minimum yearly income of £159,600.
- No public funds may be accepted.
- Other than the job in the certificate of sponsorship checking service, you must not work in the UK. This includes extra employment and voluntary work.
- Fulfills the requirement for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate.
When to Apply for a UK General Work Visa (Tier 2)?
The earliest you can apply for a UK General Work Visa is three months before the start date of your employment in the UK. This date is shown on your sponsorship certificate.
What are the Document Requirements for a Tier 2 Visa?
To apply for a Tier 2 visa, you must submit the documents required for any UK visa as well as these documents that are only required for Tier 2 visa applications:
- Tier 2 Visa sponsorship letter from the employer. A reference number for a job in the UK provided by an A-rate accredited sponsor employer in the UK with an acceptable Job Salary must be included on the certificate.
- Criminal record certificate. This paper displays if you have broken the law in the last several years. You should receive it from your home country’s authorized authorities.
- Tuberculosis test results. Only if you are a resident of a country are required to take the test.
- Police registration certificate.
- Proof you have the necessary funds to financially support yourself in the UK.
Tier 2 Visa Application
You will need to start your application for a Tier 2 General Work Visa from outside the UK, namely from your home country.
To begin, you must fill out an online application on the UK government’s official website. The online application form includes questions about your personal information as well as your reason for visiting the UK.
Second, gather all of the documentation required for a UK General to work visa application. You may also be required to take a TB test and get a criminal background certificate, depending on your country of residence.A health surcharge is also required.
Finally, if this is your first visit to the UK, you must make an appointment at the nearest application center, UK embassy, or consulate in your home country, where you must submit biometrics and a photograph.
Switching from Tier 4 to Tier 2
To convert from a Tier 4 to a Tier 2 visa, you must be the holder of a Tier 4 student or child visa. However, the following conditions must be met as well:
- They have a degree from a UK educational institution, either undergraduate or postgraduate.
- Have studied in a UK education institution that awards degrees and is a Tier 4 sponsor.
Tier 2 General Work Visa Maintenance Funds
You must have the bare minimum of saved funds available to pay your own and your dependents’ living and lodging expenses. The bare minimum is:
- £945 – for you
- £630 – for any dependent
If your sponsoring employer covers your living and lodging expenses, you are excused from this requirement. In this instance, you must give verification in the form of an official document from the sponsor.
How Long is the Tier 2 General Visa Valid?
A Tier 2 General Work Visa has a limited validity period, which means you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years and 1 month, or 2 weeks after the conclusion of the job contract (as specified in the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service), whichever is shorter.
Tier 2 Visa Certificate of Sponsorship
A Certificate of Sponsorship should be received from an employer or a corporation that is authorized to sponsor candidates. This is an electronic record with a reference number that contains information on you, the employer, the job provided, the wage, and all relevant dates.
The certificate can only be used once for a single visa application. A new certificate is required for new applications.
Tier 2 Visa Extension
You can apply for an extension if you want to stay in the UK longer to work in a skilled job than the current visa allows. This visa can be renewed for a further 5 years if the total stay does not exceed 6 years.
To be eligible for an extension, you must:
- Work for the same company that provided the sponsorship certificate in your initial application.
- Have a minimum annual income of £30,000 or the applicable compensation and allowances for the job.
- As a Tier 2 Visa holder, you can settle in the UK.
Settle in the UK as a Tier 2 Visa Holder
You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you have lived in the UK for at least five years on a Tier 2 General Work visa. You must meet the following requirements:
Comply with the first Tier 2 General Work visa requirements.
- Provide documentation to prove absences from the United Kingdom. Each year during the entire duration, a maximum of 180 days of absence is permitted.
- Sponsorship certificate from a recognized Tier 2 Sponsor. The sponsor must either still hold the Tier 2 Sponsor license for the relevant category or be awaiting a decision on their renewal application. The certificate must demonstrate a sponsor’s willingness to keep you working for a specified period of time and at a specific wage.
- Understanding of the English language and of life in the United Kingdom.
- There must be no history of overstaying in the UK.
Tier 2 General Visa Fees
Visa prices for a Tier 2 General visa vary depending on whether you apply from within or outside the UK, as well as your citizenship since citizens of Turkey and North Macedonia pay different rates.
Recognized Jobs Under the Tier 2 Visa
The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) was launched in October 2015 with the sole purpose of assisting people in understanding all of the qualifications that the UK Home Office regulates, which are general and vocational in England, and vocational in Northern Ireland. These levels are classified based on their difficulty. The Tier 2 General visa includes the RQF employment levels 4th and 6th.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How Long is the Tier 2 General Visa Valid?
A Tier 2 General Work Visa has a limited validity period, which means you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years and 1 month, or 2 weeks after the conclusion of the job contract (as specified in the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service), whichever is shorter.
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What are the Document Requirements for a Tier 2 Visa?
Tier 2 Visa sponsorship letter from the employer. A reference number for a job in the UK provided by an A-rate accredited sponsor employer in the UK with an acceptable Job Salary must be included on the certificate.
Criminal record certificate. This paper displays if you have broken the law in the last several years. You should receive it from your home country’s authorized authorities.
Tuberculosis test results. Only if you are a resident of a country are required to take the test.
Police registration certificate.
Proof you have the necessary funds to financially support yourself in the UK.
