Tier 2 Workers Visa

In order to sustain growth, British businesses continue to seek and retain the most talented and skilled employees to enhance their workforce from across the global marketplace. To enable companies to employ workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) there exists a category of workers visas, the Tier 2 (General) Visa, that allows foreign individuals with skills in a particular profession to take up employment in skilled positions within UK-based firms.

The Immigration Solicitors at Wilford Smith are experts when it comes to providing legal support and guidance to workers seeking to enter the UK to take up employment under a Tier 2 (General) Visa. Our solicitors can provide valuable advice when it comes to demonstrating your suitability for such a visa and to help negotiate UK Visas & Immigration's (UKVI) complex system of regulations and policies. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your application.

What is the Tier 2 (General) Visa?

The Tier 2 (General) Visa allows foreign workers who have received the offer of a job in the UK to take a position that cannot otherwise be filled by someone already in the country. This type of visa can often lead to an individual being granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and as such provisions are in place that allow spouses, partners and dependent children to move alongside the visa applicant.

What are the eligibility criteria for a Tier 2 (General) Visa?

To be eligible to apply for the Tier 2 (General) Visa, you must first have an offer of employment from a UK employer. Your prospective employer must hold a sponsorship licence issued by UKVI and have issued you with a valid certificate of sponsorship for your job. You will also need to be able to score 70 points as part of the UK's points-based immigration system.

What do applicants need to show to be issued with a Tier 2 (General) Visa?

When it comes to applying for your Tier 2 (General) Visa you will need to be able to demonstrate that:

• You are suitable for the role that you have been offered by your prospective employer
• You have a certificate of sponsorship reference number
• You will be paid an ‘appropriate’ salary for your role, whichever is higher – the Home Office provides guidance on the appropriate rates for different jobs in the UK
• You have the required level of English – this may be shown by completing an approved English language test or by showing that you have an academic qualification that was taught in English
• You have savings to support yourself when you arrive in the UK

In addition to these requirements, you must be able to show that you can travel, and evidence your travel history from the past five years. You will also need to provide a criminal record certificate from any country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years if your job involves working with vulnerable people, and applicants from certain listed countries will have to show tuberculosis test results.

How can the Immigration Solicitors at Wilford Smith support me with my Tier 2 (General) Visa application?

Whatever sector you intend to work in, our immigration teams at Wilford Smith can work with you from the earliest stage of your application to make sure that you and your family satisfy all of UKVI's requirements so that your application is processed as quickly as possible. We will assist you in obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship as well as helping you to negotiate the UK's points-based application system. With a comprehensive knowledge of the legal requirements associated with working in the UK under a Tier 2 (General) Visa, we can offer much-needed advice on supplying documents to evidence your compliance with these requirements. Once your application has been submitted, our lawyers will oversee any ongoing correspondence with immigration authorities and keep you up-to-date with any developments.

Contact our Immigration Lawyers in Sheffield

Wilford Smith's experienced Immigration Solicitors are based in Sheffield and advise clients throughout England and Wales. Find out more information on our fees here. Whatever your circumstances, you can be sure that we will provide you with the best possible legal advice in a clear, straight-forward, jargon-free manner. Contact us today on 0808 164 1349 to find out how we can help.