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Tier 1 (General) Visa Applications
Are you Highly Skilled? Do you possess a Masters Qualification or higher? Would you like to build a career in the UK? If so Tier 1 General (formerly the HSMP) may be ideal! At Commonwealth Contractors we partner with OISC immigration firms that specialise in Tier 1 Applications & Extensions!
Healthcare & IT Consultants often face unique challenges when applying for or extending a Tier 1 (General) visa. At Commonwealth Contractors we understand these issues and can help you avoid them.
By bringing together OISC Immigration Services & Professional Consulting Solutions we can provide a comprehensive solution that will allow you to concentrate on consulting rather than worrying about your right to work!
At Commonwealth Contractors we deal with:
- Tier 1 (General) Visa Applications & Extensions
- UK Consulting Solutions for those on Tier 1 Visas
- European Solutions for Germany, Ireland, Belgium & the Netherlands
To find out more call now on 0800 294 4388 or Submit your Details and we will get back to you!
What is Tier 1 (General)?
Tier 1 is the highest level of the Government’s 5 Tier Points Based Immigration System (PBS). It is designed for highly skilled individuals & is broken down into 4 sub-categories;- General
- Entrepreneurs
- Investors
- Post Study Workers
The ‘General’ subcategory of Tier 1 was formerly the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP).
A Tier 1 (General) visa will allow you to work in the UK on an unrestricted basis for a period of up the 3 years initially & then a further 2 years on extension. To qualify you must gain 75 points from 4 points scoring categories and satisfy the English Language & Maintenance Requirements.
Qualifying for a Tier 1 (General) Visa
Qualifications (Maximum 50 Points)
Points are awarded for academic or equivalent professional qualifications. Please note that; You can only claim points for your highest qualification, Qualifications must be recognised by the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC), Original certificates must be provided.
Note: In April 2009 the minimum qualification requirement was increased from a Bachelors Degree to a Masters Degree. If you do not possess a Masters please see our Tier 2 (Work Permit) section.
| Qualification | Tier 1 General Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| PHD | 50 Points |
| Masters Degree | 35 Points |
Previous Earnings (Maximum 45 Points)
Tier 1 (General) points are awarded for earnings generated in any single 12 month period in the 15 months immediately prior to application. Please be aware that if you are applying from outside the UK currency conversions & ratios apply in order to take into affect regional differences in currencies.| Earnings Band | Tier 1 General Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| £40,000 + | 45 Points |
| £35,000 - £39,999 | 40 Points |
| £32,000 - £34,999 | 35 Points |
| £29,000 - £31,999 | 30 Points |
| £26,000 - £28,999 | 25 Points |
| £23,000 - £25,999 | 20 Points |
| £20,000 - £22,999 | 15 Points |
Age (Maximum 20 Points)
Under Tier 1 (General) applicants are awarded points for their age at the time of application.| Age | Tier 1 General Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| 32+ | 0 Points |
| 30 or 31 | 5 Points |
| 28 or 29 | 10 Points |
| Under 28 | 20 Points |
UK Experience (Maximum 5 Points)
5 Points are awarded if you can prove you have generated earnings or gained a qualification whilst being in the United Kingdom.English Language Requirement (10 Points Required)
In order to apply under Tier 1 (General) you must prove that you can speak English to a satisfactory level. To do this you must either:- Come from a country in which English is the main language
- Have successfully completed a Masters qualification (or better) which was taught in English
- Have passed an English Language Test equal to or exceeding level C1 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework for Language Learning
Maintenance Requirement (10 Points Required)
Applicants must be able to support themselves and their dependents without requiring access to public funds.To do this you must show satisfactory available funds in your account for the 90 days immediately prior to application. Please be aware that if funds drop even £1 below the required amount in the period the application will be refused.
- Funds required for the Main Applicant = £2,800 GBP
- Funds required for the First Dependent (e.g. Wife / Husband) = 2/3 of £2,800 GBP
- Funds required for the Second Dependent (e.g. Child) = 1/3 or £2,800 GBP
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