UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

UK Tier 2 and Tier 5 Visas Launch

Friday, 28 November 2008

As of the 27th of November, migrants can start applying for immigration to the UK under the Tier 2 and Tier 5 visa systems.

If you are a skilled worker and have a job offer from a licensed employer, you can now apply under tier 2 of the points-based system. You must have a valid certificate of sponsorship and pass the points-based system to be eligible to apply.

There are four categories of tier 2:

• Skilled workers (General)
• Intra-company transfers
• Ministers of religion
• Sportsperson

The work permit route was closed on 26 November 2008 and is now available for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals only.

If you are a temporary worker and have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, you can now apply under tier 5 of the points-based system. You must have a valid certificate of sponsorship and pass the points-based system to be able to apply.

There are five categories of tier 5 temporary workers:

• Creative and sporting workers
• Charity workers
• Religious workers
• Government authorised exchange workers
• International agreement workers

The youth mobility scheme has different requirements.

The schemes listed below closed on 26 November 2008.

• Au pairs
• Gap year
• Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme
• Ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders
• Overseas government employees
• Voluntary workers
• Working holiday makers

The UK Border Agency has launched the sponsorship management system for licensed sponsors which allows sponsors to bring and manage migrants under tiers 2 and 5 of the points-based system. In order to obtain a license, employers should ensure that they have in place a carefully thought out strategy for dealing with the possibility of illegal working in their organisation. This is particularly the case in the light of the criminal and civil penalties that are imposed under the new immigration regime.

If you are interested in UK Visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the UK.