Did you know that, upon arrival, as a student, you can convert to a skilled worker visa? The new regulations allow overseas students to convert their student visa status to a visa for skilled workers if they are able to obtain a job offer from a company who has been approved by the Home Office.
Applications for the skilled worker visa program in the UK are no longer restricted to those with a degree. Compared to the graduate route, obtaining full-time employment in the UK is quicker and less expensive with this path.
By taking this method, students can work in the UK without having to finish their degrees. Many students in the nation transfer to Tier 2, or the Skilled Worker Visa, as a result.
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How To Be Eligible For A Visa For Skilled Workers
You need to be paid a minimum salary and work for a UK firm that has been approved by the Home Office. You also need to receive a “certificate of sponsorship” from your employer detailing the role you have been given in the UK. At least £10.10 per hour, or £25,600 per year, must be paid to you.
Complete an employment from the list of qualified professions. Additionally, you need to be able to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.
If you are presently in the United Kingdom, you are not eligible to seek to switch:
- On a student visa for parents of children
- On a visitation visa
- On immigration bail
- On a short-term student visa
- On a seasonal worker visa
- On a domestic worker on a private household visa
How much does a skilled worker visa cost?
You must:
- Pay the application fee. Depending on your situation, the normal price might range from £625 to £1,423.
- Make the £624 annual healthcare surcharge payment.
- However, if an applicant’s employment is listed as a shortage occupation, they will only have to pay a reduced application cost.
Individuals in the UK are able to renew, change, or extend their visa to a skilled worker visa. But the usual charge varies based on whether you’ll be in the UK for:
- Three years or less (£719 per person)
- Over three years (£1,423 per person)
Applicants who have lived in the UK for less than a year are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves (at least £1,270 in bank accounts) and that they have had money accessible for at least 28 days straight. Day 28 must occur within 31 days of the visa application.
Due to increasing demand, the Home Office presently recommends an average wait period of 11 weeks to receive a decision on skilled worker visas. Candidates who are accepted can work in the UK for a maximum of five years after applying for permanent residency or to extend their visa.