Skilled Worker Route
Essential Information Regarding Skilled Worker Route
The United Kingdom is a place filled with possibilities! The Home Office made adjustments to the new points-based immigration system towards the end of 2020. The Skilled Worker route, which superseded the Tier 2 (General Work Visa) route, is now accepting applications. This is basically a pathway for qualified individuals with a job offer from an approved company sponsor to be included in the new points-based system.
While the Tier 2 (General) and Skilled Worker routes have certain similarities, modifications have been made to allow firms to sponsor a larger workforce from outside the UK. These changes appear to make the system considerably more flexible, which might encourage migrants to consider the UK as a more enticing option.
Students and aspirants from all over the world pick the United Kingdom as their preferred study abroad as well as work overseas location. Whether you want to study in the United Kingdom or find your dream job, you should only consult with authorised specialists. At Global Talent Visas, you will find guidance from the right people on your journey to avail visa through the Skilled Worker Route.
Baseline skill level
Migrants seeking a Skilled Worker visa will not need formal credentials, unlike its predecessor, which needed RQF6 skill level with a few exceptions where the skill level was lower, such as nurses and cooks. The Skilled Worker Visa is intended for foreign skilled employees who have been offered a job in a UK firm that has a sponsorship licence. Starting in January 2021, every job offered to an international worker must have a necessary skill level of RQF3 or above (this is equal to A level). However, whether or not the criterion is fulfilled will be determined by the skill level of the work they would be undertaking. To be considered, applicants must receive at least 70 points on a point-based system.
Lowering the salary threshold
Unlike the Tier 2 (General) visa, which required a minimum salary of £30,000 to sponsor from abroad, the Skilled Worker visa requires a salary of at least £25,600. Companies who want to hire a skilled worker through the Skilled Worker route must give them a wage that meets or surpasses this salary criterion, as well as the "going rate" for the profession (as defined by the Standard Occupational Classification system), whichever is greater.
Those who take the Skilled Worker route, on the other hand, may be paid less than the new general income because they will be granted more "tradeable points" for other traits. This is a new and distinct route from the existing Tier 2 General route. The following are some examples of low-paid skilled workers:
An applicant who is offered a position on the scarcity occupations list may be given a pay that is equal to or greater than the general salary of £20,480 per year and 80 per cent of the market rate for the appropriate SOC code.
Under the applicable SOC code, an applicant who is deemed a new entrant may be given an annual wage that equals or surpasses both £20,480 and 70% of the going rate.
A PhD candidate may be paid an annual salary equal to or greater than £23,040 and 90% of the market rate for the applicable SOC code.
Often, the procedure of availing a Visa through the Skilled Worker Route is not as simple as you may expect. Application forms can be complicated and time-consuming. If you believe you can fill it out on your own and don't require professional help, think again; visa applications are frequently refused due to minor errors, and you'll have to pay again to reapply for the same visa. The appeals and administrative review processes are equally costly and time-consuming. At Global Talent Visas, we will provide effective guidance from scratch for the hassle-free processing of UK visas through the Skilled Worker Route.
Mandatory job specifications
You must satisfy specific prerequisites for the job you want to do. In most cases, the employment function requires at least an RFQ level 3 qualification, which is roughly similar to A-levels. The employer will establish your skill level, and you will not be required to have a formal qualification.
Each employment that qualifies for the Skilled Worker route has an employment number, and your potential employer must select one that is appropriate for your position. You must demonstrate to the Home Office that you are being sponsored to fill a real vacancy and that you are competent in completing the position as part of the application procedure. The existence of a shortage occupation list is not a condition for the job. If the position to be hired is on the scarcity occupation list, however, the minimum pay level is decreased.
The fresh entrant to the labour market
There are several ways to meet the so-called "new entrant" criterion. Applicants should be under the age of 26 at the time of applying, be recent graduates or about to graduate, be funded in postdoctoral research roles, or be working toward professional credentials, registration, or chartered status. The new entrant position will help learners who were on Tier 4 at any point in the two years prior to applying via the Skilled Worker route. Because the quota on the number of migrants permitted into the UK has been lifted, there is no defined number of migrants who should be accepted through the Skilled Worker route.
The Process Of Skilled Worker Visa Application
A Skilled Worker Visa must be applied for online. If you are moving from an eligible visa or extending an existing work visa, you can apply for the visa outside of the UK. You have up to three months to apply for the visa before you start your new work. You should expect a decision within three weeks if you apply from outside the UK. Those applying from within the United Kingdom may have to wait up to eight weeks for a response.
You will be required to establish your identity as part of the application process. Either enter your biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) or scan your proof of identity with the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app. When you finish the registration, you will be told what you need to do. If you give inadequate papers and information, the application procedure may take longer. You may also be requested to verify papers or participate in an interview.
Many UK visa applications include minor errors and – in certain cases – missing details. Your visa application may be declined as a result of this. An immigration consultant ensures that your application is thorough and presented to the authorities in a professional manner. At Global Talent Visas, our immigration expert is available at all times and gives you individual attention. It's possible that you aren't aware of the pitfalls in the application procedure. When your personal circumstances change – for example, you marry or divorce, have a child, or change your profession or vocation - our immigration consultant may assess your position and advise you on how these changes may affect your application.
Perks of the skilled worker visa route
Employers will have a better opportunity to acquire talent from all around the world.
The number of skilled employees that can come to the UK will be unlimited.
The new method eliminates the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT), which allowed permanent people to seek jobs before they were offered to migrants.
In contrast to the traditional Tier 2 (General) visa path, where skilled employees could apply for up to six-year renewals, skilled workers can now apply for limitless visa extensions.
Switching visa paths from within the UK is now possible thanks to more lenient provisions.
After five years of living, working, and establishing oneself in the UK, applicants can apply for ILR.
New recruits have lower minimum salary criteria (who are starting their career). They must earn at least 70% of the average wage for their occupation code or £20,480, whichever is higher.
The Stay Allowance Duration Of Skilled Worker Visa
Under the previous system, a migrant might stay in Tier 2 for up to six years. However, under the Skilled Worker route, this restriction has been lifted, indicating that a migrant can stay on the new visa for as long as he or she meets the requirements.
What are the Financial Prerequisites for a Skilled Worker Visa?
You must demonstrate to the Home Office that you can afford to support yourself while in the United Kingdom. If you are being funded by an A-rated sponsor who has pledged to cover the cost of maintenance of at least £1,270 until the conclusion of the first days of work, you will be excluded from the financial requirement. On your sponsorship certificate, your company must affirm that they will financially assist you. Otherwise, you must show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account and that you have kept the money for at least 28 days, ending no more than 31 days before the application deadline.
The minimum level of English Skills necessary for the Skilled Worker visa
Candidates who want to apply for the Skilled Worker visa can use their GCSE/A level or Scottish Highers certificates to meet the English language requirement. Current ways of demonstrating English language proficiency, such as a degree taught in English or a SELT, will remain in effect. It's worth mentioning that if you're being sponsored to practise medicine, dentist, nurse, or midwife, you won't have to verify your English skills if you've already completed an evaluation recognised by the appropriate governed competent authority.
What are the requirements for obtaining a Skilled Worker visa?
To apply for the Skilled Worker route, an applicant will require the following documents:
A valid passport is required.
A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is a document that the employer issues.
The employment offer must specify a skill level of RQF3 or above (A level equivalent)
Proof of achieving the requisite level of English language proficiency
If your nation is mentioned in Appendix T, evidence that the candidate satisfies the maintenance requirement, either by demonstrating evidence of their funds or an undertaking from their employer TB test.
What are the requirements for obtaining a Skilled Worker visa?
To qualify for the Skilled Worker path, a candidate must have a minimum of 70 points.
10 points if you can speak English at the appropriate level.
20 points if you have a job offer from a sponsor who has been authorised.
20 points for relevant skill level for the applied job
Salary ranges from £20,480 to £23,039 per year. At least 80% of the minimum pay standards for the individual occupation must be met (whichever is higher) – 0 marks
Salary ranges from £23,040 to £25,599. At least 90% of the minimum pay criteria for the specific occupation must be met (whichever is higher) – 10 marks
A salary of £25,600 or more is required. At the very least, you must satisfy the basic requirements for your chosen job (whichever is higher) – 20 marks
20 points if you work in a shortage occupation as determined by the Migration Advisory Committee.
Qualifications in education-
10 points if you have a PhD in a topic related to your present employment.
20 points if you have a PhD in a STEM field linked to your present work.
Have a job listing in a health or education occupation/new entrant in the labour market, and the applicant's wage reaches or surpasses both £20,480 per year and the SOC code going rate – 20 points
Is a Skilled Worker Visa Extension Possible?
Yes, if you match the following conditions, you can apply for a Skilled Worker Visa extension:
You're still working at the same job you were when you applied for your first visa.
Your occupation is the same as it was when you were granted an earlier immigration permit.
You operate for the same company that issued your existing sponsorship certificate.
The following are the current fees for an extension:
£704 per person for a maximum of a three-year extension
More than a 3-year extension costs £1,408 per person.
As part of the application procedure, you will be required to supply the Home Office with specific information and paperwork.
Within 8 weeks after submitting your application, you should receive a response.
Choose Global Talent Visas for top-notch consultation help for Skilled Worker visa application
Our qualified business and personal immigration consultants have been consistently successful in bringing skilled and talented people to the UK to further their professions, create enterprises, or start a new life with their families.
If you apply for a visa incorrectly or in the wrong visa category, your application will be delayed for months. Even slight errors might result in your visa being reissued, requiring you to repay the money and re-start the application procedure. Choosing an experienced, trustworthy, and knowledgeable immigration counsel at Global Talent Visa can help you succeed with your application.
We are professionals in Skilled Worker visa applications processing and provide focused and effective help for your registration process from start to end. We'll also work with you to assist your family members in joining you in the UK as dependents. As a legally recognised company with thousands of satisfied customers, you can rest confident that your visa application will go easily with our assistance. Speak to our consultant today!