Tier 2 (general)

To be eligible to work in the UK under Tier 2, you will need to have the following:

  • a job offer from the University
  • a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by the University; and
  • 70 points under the Points Based System (PBS) categories

There are generally 5 categories in which points are awarded under PBS

Sponsorship

Points are awarded based on shortage or the employer’s completion of the Resident Market Labour Test during the recruitment process. If the University has provided you with a Certificate of Sponsorship, we will have completed the Resident Market Labour Test.

Qualifications

You can claim points based on the level of your education/certifications.

Prospective earnings

You can claim points according to the amount of the prospective earnings offered by your sponsor.

Maintenance

You must be able to demonstrate that you have funds to support yourself and any dependants.  For the main applicant this is £800 and you will need a further £533 for each dependant accompanying you.

These amounts must be held in your personal bank account for a minimum period of 3 months for which you must show bank statements/other evidence immediately preceding and dated no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application. The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.

If you have received a Certificate of Sponsorship from the University and are unable to meet this requirement, the University can sponsor your maintenance for the first month.  For further information, please contact your HR Business Partner.

English language skills

The ability to meet the English standard is a mandatory requirement. If you cannot do so, your application will be refused regardless of any points you may have scored from the categories outlined above.

You must provide documentation proving your qualification for the categories you wish to claim points under. A full list of supporting documents required can be found on the Border Agency website, if you are applying from inside the UK. If you are applying from outside the UK, a full list of supporting documentation can be found on the UK Visa website.

Supporting documents

A full list of required supporting documents can be found on the UK Visas’ Tier 2 webpage.

It is important to ensure that you provide all supporting documents and information required by the Border Agency. Failure to do so will lead to your visa being denied.