The Tier 2 visa allows you to live, work, and study in the UK for as long as you want, as well as seek benefits if you are qualified. It can be used to apply for British citizenship. ‘T2’ visas have replaced ‘Tier 2’ visas.
You need a job offer from a recognised employer in the UK in order to be qualified to apply for this visa. A sponsorship certificate from the employer should be presented as proof.
You will be able to leave the UK as a holder of a Tier 2 General Work Visa during the validity of this visa. A Tier 2 Dependent Visa allows you to bring family members to the UK as well.
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Who Needs a Tier 2 Visa in the UK?
There are a number of requirements you must complete in order to be eligible to apply for a UK general work visa. The following are the minimum requirements:
- You must pass the general grounds for refusal.
- You must have a job and from a sponsoring employer in the UK, for a skilled job or a job on the Shortage List.
- Have a Tier 2 Visa minimum salary offered of £30,000/year.
In addition, the applicant must meet the following criteria and be able to accrue points for each of them since the visa is part of the point-based system, which is detailed below:
- Have 50 points in attributes.
- Have at least 10 points for knowledge of the English Language.
- Be older than 16 years.
- A maximum of 10% of shares of the company when their sponsor is a Limited Company – An exception of this makes the case when the candidate has a minimum yearly salary £159,600.
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- Must not take any type of public funds.
- Must not get any other job in the UK apart from the job in the certificate of sponsorship checking service – Not including supplementary employment and voluntary work.
- Meets the Condition to hold an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate.
The earliest that you can apply for a UK General work Visa is 3 months before the date you are scheduled to start working in the UK. This date is indicated in your certificate of sponsorship.
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What are the documents required for a UK Tier 2 visa?
You must provide all the general documents required for UK visa applications as well as the following documents, which are necessary only for Tier 2 visa applications:
- your certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this
- proof of your knowledge of English
- a valid passport or other documents that shows your identity and nationality
- your job title and annual salary
- your job’s occupation code
- the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship
- Criminal record certificate: This document details any recent legal violations you may have committed. It should be obtained from the appropriate authorities in your country of residence. How To Apply For Police Clearance Certificate in Ghana 2023
- Tuberculosis test results. Required only if you are a resident of a country that has to take the test.
- Proof you have the necessary funds to financially support yourself in the UK.
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Tier 2 Visa Application
Your initial application for a Tier 2 General Work Visa must be submitted from outside the UK, more specifically from your home nation.
- You must first complete the online application on the UK government’s official website. Your basic information and the reason(s) for your trip to the UK are questioned on the online application form.
- In addition, gather all the paperwork needed to apply for a general work visa in the UK. Keep in mind that, depending on your country of residence, you might also be required to get a criminal background certificate and do a TB test. A health surcharge must also be paid.
- The next step is to make an appointment at the closest application centre, UK embassy, or consulate in your home country if this is your first time in the UK. There, you should submit biometrics and a photo of yourself.
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Tier 2 General Work Visa Maintenance Funds
You must provide the minimum required saved money in disposition to cover your own and your dependents’ living and accommodation costs. The minimum required is:
- £945 – for you
- £630 – for any dependent
This rule does not apply to you if your sponsoring employer pays for your travel and housing. You must present proof in the form of an official document from the sponsor in this situation.
How Long is the Tier 2 General Visa Valid?
A Tier 2 General Work Visa has a limited validity period, which means you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years and 1 month, or 2 weeks after the conclusion of the job contract (as specified in the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service), whichever is shorter.
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Tier 2 Visa Certificate of Sponsorship
A Certificate of Sponsorship should be obtained from an employing organization or a company that is licensed to sponsor candidates. This is an electronic document with a reference number with all the details about you, the company, the job offered and the salary, as well as all related dates.
The certificate can be used only once for one visa application. For new applications, a new certificate is required.
If you wish to remain longer in the UK in order to engage in a skilful job beyond the period of the existing visa, you can apply for an extension. This visa can be extended to an additional period of 5 years considering the total stay is no longer than 6 years.
To be eligible to apply for an extension you should:
- Work for the same employer that has issued the sponsorship certificate in the initial application.
- Have a salary minimum of £30,000/year or the appropriate salary and allowances for the job.
- Settle in the UK as a Tier 2 Visa Holder
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Settle in the UK as a Tier 2 Visa Holder
If you have lived in the UK for at least five continuous years on a Tier 2 General Work visa, you can apply to get an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). You need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Fulfil initial Tier 2 General Work visa requirements
- Provide documents to prove absences from the UK Maximum 180 days absence per 1 year, each year of the entire period allowed.
- Certificate of sponsorship by a valid Tier 2 Sponsor. The sponsor must either still have the license as a Tier 2 Sponsor for the related category, or is waiting to get the decision on their application to renew it. The certificate must display a sponsor’s readiness to continue keeping you employed for a specific period, with a specific salary.
- Understanding of the English language and life in the UK.
- Must not have any history of overstaying in the UK.
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Taking on additional work
You can do additional paid work on this visa as long as you’re still doing the job you’re being sponsored for. You can also do unpaid voluntary work.
You can work up to 20 hours a week in a job that’s either:
- in the same occupation code and at the same level as your main job
- in a shortage of occupation
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