Application Package

Tier 1 (Highly Skilled) Migrants

Tier 1 (Investor)

A Tier 1 Investor visa is for individuals who want to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK. You will need to show that your funds are held in one or more regulated financial institutions and are disposable in the UK. You must be able to prove that the investment funds belong to either you as the applicant or your partner (spouse, unmarried or same-sex partner). A Tier 1 Investor visa will initially be granted for 3 years and 4 months with the possibility for extending.  The requirements for extending your stay in the UK will depend on whether you were first granted your investor visa before or after the rule change that occurred on the 6th November 2014.

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

A Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is for individuals or qualifying entrepreneurial teams of 2 people who wish to set up or run a business in the UK or take over an existing business.  In most cases, you will need to show that you have access to £200,000 in investment funds. In certain, limited cases however, you may be able to apply with just £50,000 of investment funds. English Language and maintenance requirements will also need to be met. You will not be allowed to undertake any work in the UK outside of your own business.  A Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa will initially be granted for 3 years and 4 months with the possibility for extending. Further Leave to Remain in this category will be dependent upon proving that you have managed to create at least 2 full time jobs for the UK workforce which have existed for at least 12 months.

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)

A Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa is for graduates who have been officially endorsed by either UK Trade & Investment or your authorised Higher Education Institution as having a genuine, credible business idea. Different eligibility requirements apply depending on whether you are endorsed by UKTI or by an authorised UK Higher Education Institution and in both cases you will also need to meet the English Language and maintenance requirements.  This visa will initially be granted for 12 months with the option to extend for a further 12 months.

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)

A Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa is for individuals who have been endorsed as world leaders or potential world leaders in the fields of digital technology, engineering, humanities, medicine, science or the arts. You will first need to apply to the Home Office for endorsement by the relevant designated competent body (Arts Council England, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society or Tech City UK) and then apply for your visa.  A Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa will initially be granted for 3 years and 4 months with the possibility for extending.

 

Tier 2 (Skilled Workers)

Tier 2 (General)

A Tier 2 General Visa is for skilled workers who have been offered a graduate level position in the UK for a role which cannot be filled by a settled worker.  You will need to have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer before applying. Your CoS must show that a Resident Labour Market Test has been conducted for the position or that the position is exempt from the Resident Labour Market Test. You must also meet the minimum salary, English Language and maintenance requirements.  A Tier 2 General visa will be issued for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days with the option of extending to take your total leave in the UK to a maximum of 6 years.

Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer)

A Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer (ICT) Visa is for skilled workers who are transferring from an overseas branch of a company to the UK branch. Your sponsor does not need to satisfy the requirements of the Resident Labour Market Test for your position but they must issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before you apply for your visa.  There are 4 sub-categories of Tier 2 ICT Visas.  Each one has different eligibility requirements and conditions of stay:

Tier 2 (ICT - Long Term Staff)

In most cases, you must have worked for your employer overseas for at least 12 months prior to applying and must meet the minimum salary requirement of £41,500. Maintenance and skill level requirements will also apply. In most cases, with a Tier 2 ICT Long Term Staff visa you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days.

Tier 2 (ICT - Graduate Trainee)

A Graduate Trainee Visa is for overseas employees who are on Graduate Trainee Programs for Specialist Roles. You must have worked for your employer overseas for at least 3 months prior to applying and must meet the minimum salary requirement of £23,000.  Maintenance and skill level requirements will also apply.  With a Tier 2 ICT Graduate Trainee visa you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 12 months.

Tier 2 (Sportsperson)

A Tier 2 Sportsperson visa is for internationally established and elite sportspersons or coaches who will base themselves in the UK and make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK. You must be endorsed by your sport’s governing body and have been issued a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by your UK sponsor.  English Language and maintenance requirements will also apply.  A Tier 2 Sportspersons visa will allow you to work in the UK for up to 3 years with the possibility of extending.

Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)

A Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa is for a Minister of Religion, Missionary or a Member of a Religious Order who has been offered a job within a faith community in the UK. You must have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by your UK sponsor and it must show that a Resident Labour Market Test has been carried out for the position or that an exemption applies. English Language and maintenance requirements will also apply. A Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa will allow you to work in the UK for up to 3 years and 1 month with the possibility of extending.

 

Tier 5 (Temporary Workers)

Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme)

Nationals of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea or Taiwan can apply for a Tier 5 (YMS) visa to come to the UK to live and work for up to 2 years. You must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old and meet the maintenance requirements. *Restrictions apply.

Tier 5 (Charity Worker)

A Tier 5 Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa will allow you to do unpaid, voluntary work for a charity for up to 12 months. You must have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor and meet the maintenance requirements.

Tier 5 (Creative & Sporting)

A Tier 5 Temporary Worker – Creative & Sporting visa will allow you to work as a sportsperson or creative worker for up to 12 months. You must have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor and meet the maintenance requirements.

Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange)

A Tier 5 Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange visa will allow you to work or do training in the UK which aims to share knowledge and skills between countries through an approved government worker exchange scheme. This visa will allow you to stay in the UK for up to 24 months. You must have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor and meet the maintenance requirements.

Tier 5 (International Agreement)

A Tier 5 Temporary Worker – International Agreement visa will allow you to work in the UK as an employee of an overseas government or international organisation or as staff in a diplomatic household for up to 24 months. If you are working under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) or similar trade agreement, you will be allowed to stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 months in any 12 month period. You must have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor and meet the maintenance requirements.

Tier 5 (Religious Worker)

A Tier 5 Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visa will allow you to work in a religious order or carry out preaching work for up to 24 months. You must have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor and meet the maintenance requirements.

 

Other Work Visas - Non Points-Based System

UK Ancestry

You can apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you are 17 or over, a citizen of a Commonwealth Country and can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK.  You must have the intention of working in the UK and be able to meet the maintenance requirements.  This visa will allow you to work in the UK for up to 5 years with the possibility of extending your stay.

Representative of an Overseas Business

A Representative of an Overseas Business visa will allow a sole representative of an overseas company to set up a UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary of the overseas company.  You must meet the eligibility requirements which include holding a senior position with the overseas company and not being a majority shareholder.  Maintenance and English Language requirements also apply.  With this visa, you will be allowed to stay in the UK for an initial period of 3 years with the opportunity to extend.

Registration Certificate as a Croatian national

As a Croatian National you will have restricted access to the UK labour market and may need to apply for a registration certificate in order to work in the UK and show that you are exercising a treaty right.  If you have been offered a specific job in the UK, you will need to have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor and apply for a Purple Registration Certificate.  However, if you are exempt from worker’s authorisation, or have a degree from a UK institution, you may apply for a Blue Registration Certificate.  If you are a student or self-employed, you may wish to apply for a Yellow Registration Certificate.

Dependants

Certain categories of work visas will allow for you to bring qualifying family members with you to the UK.  A qualifying family member is a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner or child under 18 years old.  Your family member will need to show evidence of their relationship to you as well as adequate funds to support them in the UK.

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Additional Hours

Consultations are normally conducted between 9am and 5pm Monday – Friday.  However, if required, evening consultations may be available. Please contact us for further information.

In Person Consultation

Consultations are normally provided via Skype or telephone.  In-person consultations can be arranged at IQA Immigration’s offices in Edinburgh.  Time slots for in-person consultations are limited and subject to availability.

In Person Representaion (Premium Service in Scotland)

If a client is eligible for and wishes to book an in-person appointment at the UKVI Premium Service Centre in Glasgow, IQA Immigration can provide in-person representation for an additional fee.