Requirements for Visa application for migrants issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship
The following are the current requirements for the Visa application for migrants issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship, when a migrant applies for leave to enter the UK to work (a visa application) and are in addition to the visa application fee, having a current valid passport and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship number.
Any documents mentioned below must be the originals (not copies) unless stated otherwise. HMVI will only accept the documents as specified. They will not consider unrelated evidence.
Applying outside of the UK
Migrants applying from outside the UK must apply online for a Tier 2 (General) visa.
Biometric Residence Permits (BRP)
These are compulsory identity cards. All non-EEA migrants who want to stay in the UK for over 6 months must apply. To get a BRP the migrant must submit fingerprints and a facial image.
Under current legislation, employers have a responsibility to check the entitlement of prospective employees to work in the UK. Employers should undertake checks on everyone they wish to employ. This will enable employers to establish a statutory defence against payment of a civil penalty for employing a person with no right to work in the UK, shows their recruitment process is open and transparent, and ensures their recruitment practices do not discriminate against anyone because of their race.
If they fail to enrol their biometrics or refuse to provide their biometrics then their application to the Home Office may be rejected.
They will need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of their visa application.
They will have to collect their biometric residence permit within 10 days of when they said they would arrive in the UK.
The migrant may be able to get their visa faster or get other services (like translation) depending on what country they are in – they should check with their visa application centre.
Timing
Migrants can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the date they travel to the UK. They should get a decision on their visa application within 3 weeks.
Their stay in the UK must start no more than 14 days before the start date on their Certificate of Sponsorship.
Visa fee
The current (November 2015) visa application fee is £564, if applying from outside the UK for a visa for less than 3 years in the Tier 2 (General) category. Different fees are payable for longer stay visas and different categories or Tiers.
There is an additional fee of £564 per dependent accompanying the migrant. There is also an additional health surcharge payable (see below).
Health surcharge
Since 6 April 2015, all nationals from outside of Europe coming to live in the UK for longer than six months will be have to pay a health surcharge of £200 a year (or £150 for students) to be able to use the NHS. The health surcharge will be payable up-front when the individual submits their visa application on-line and for the total period of their visa.
English Language
This must be met in one of three ways:
- Being a national of a prescribed list of English language-speaking countries: Antigua and Barbados, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago or USA (but not South Africa).
- By holding a degree taught in English and equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree as assessed by UK body NARIC: it is assumed to have been taught in English if the degree is from: Antigua and Barbados, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, USA or UK (but not Canada)
A points-based calculator also assesses whether a degree has been verified as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree by NARIC. The relevant link is here.
- By passing an English language test
If the migrant is a national of the prescribed list of English language-speaking countries he must show a passport. If they hold an equivalent degree or the points-based calculator confirms it is equivalent (with an original letter from the university on headed paper must confirm the degree was taught in English), they must show the degree certificate. Alternatively, they must show an English language test certificate.
Tuberculosis test results
Any migrant coming to the UK for more than 6 months, and who is currently resident in any of the countries listed here, will need to have a tuberculosis (TB) test.
This list includes the Philippines. Further details are given here: https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa
If the migrant’s test shows that they don’t have TB, they will be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months. They should include this certificate with their UK visa application.
Who doesn’t need to be tested:
Migrants won’t need a TB test if any of the following apply:
- They are a diplomat accredited to the UK
- They are a returning UK resident and haven’t been away for more than 2 years
- They have lived for at least 6 months in a country where TB screening is not required by the UK, and they’ve been away from that country for no more than 6 months
Documents the migrant must provide when applying for a visa
When the migrant applies for a visa they will need to provide:
- A current passport or other valid travel identification
- A passport-sized colour photograph
- Bank statements showing they’ve had at least £945 in savings continuously over the last 90 days, or their sponsor’s certification that they can support and accommodate them for the first month they are employed
- Proof that they meet the English requirement
- Their tuberculosis test results if they are from a country where they have to take the test.
All documents provided must be original copies. Photocopies will not be accepted.
They will need to provide a certified translation of any documents that aren’t in English or Welsh.
They will also need a page in their passport that’s blank on both sides for their visa.
