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Tier 1 Extensions
Once you have completed 2 or 3 years on a Tier 1 General Visa you can submit a Tier 1 extension application in order to secure a further 2 or 3 years. Following 5 full unbroken years on Tier 1 General you can apply for
Permanent Residence in the UK (otherwise known as
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)).At Commonwealth Contractors we understand just how important a Tier 1 extension is. If you fail to gain an approval you will lose your visa status in the UK and with it your job! If you lose your status you may find it difficult to re-qualify due to ever changing Tier 1 application criteria and the Tier 1 Immigration Cap.
Benefits of using Commonwealth Contractors for Tier 1 Extensions:
- Professionally Represented Tier 1 General Visa Extensions
- Comprehensive Tier 1 Extension Assessments
- Professionally prepared supporting letters & documents
- Full UK Border Agency representation
- Dedicated Immigration Caseworkers
- Fully Integrated Solution for Contractors
- Immigration Updates
- Tier 1 Extension application planning
If you wish to apply for a Tier 1 General Extension one of our professional caseworkers will be happy to conduct an assessment to see whether you qualify. To start your assessment call now on 0800 294 4388 or Submit your Details and we will get right back to you.
Qualifying for a Tier 1 General Extension
To qualify for a Tier 1 Extension you need to score 80 points from 4 points scoring categories (Qualifications, Previous Earnings, Age, UK Experience) and satisfy the mandatory English Language and Maintenance requirements (combined 20 points). Therefore in order to fully qualify for an extension you must score at least 100 points.Tier 1 Extension criteria depends upon the date on which the initial application was submitted, therefore the following points scoring areas have been broken down into application criteria based on initial application dates.
Please note that Tier 1 Extensions do not fall under the Tier 1 Immigration Cap.
Qualifications
If you were previously awarded permission to stay in the UK under Tier 1 General following an application which included points for qualifications you will not need to resubmit evidence of the qualification (e.g. Degree Certificate).Tier 1 General or HSMP applications approved before the 31st March 2009
| Qualification | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| PHD | 50 Points |
| Master’s Degree | 35 Points |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30 Points |
| None of the above | 0 Points |
Tier 1 General applications approved between the 31st March 2009 & the 5th April 2010
| Qualification | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| PHD | 50 Points |
| Master’s Degree | 35 Points |
| None of the above | 0 Points |
Tier 1 General applications approved after the 5th April 2010
| Qualification | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| PHD | 45 Points |
| Master’s Degree | 35 Points |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30 Points |
| None of the above | 0 Points |
Previous Earnings
The previous earnings category is probably the most important scoring area for those submitting a Tier 1 Extension. If you are a Contractor you may find it difficult to satisfy the criteria due to the billing structure used (i.e. Contractor Limited Company, Umbrella Company or Offshore Billing Structure). For this reason Commonwealth Contractors has developed a solution specifically for Contractors on Tier 1 General Visas. Click here to find out more.Tier 1 General or HSMP applications approved before the 31st March 2009
| Previous Earnings | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| £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 |
| £18,000 - £19,999 | 10 Points |
| £16,000 - £17,999 | 5 Points |
Tier 1 General applications approved between the 31st March 2009 & the 5th April 2010
| Previous Earnings | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| £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 |
Tier 1 General applications approved after the 5th April 2010
| Previous Earnings | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| £150,000 or more | 80 Points |
| £75,000 - £149,999 | 45 Points |
| £65,000 - £74,999 | 40 Points |
| £55,000 - £64,999 | 35 Points |
| £50,000 - £54,999 | 30 Points |
| £40,000 - £49,999 | 25 Points |
| £35,000 - £39,999 | 20 Points |
| £30,000 - £34,999 | 15 Points |
| £25,000 - £29,999 | 5 Points |
Age
Extensions for current HSMP Visa Holders| Age at time of application | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | 20 Points |
| 30 or 31 | 10 Points |
| 32 or 33 | 5 Points |
| 34 or older | 5 Points |
Extensions for current Tier 1 General Visa Holders – Before 6th April 2010
| Age at time of application | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| Under 31 | 20 Points |
| 31 or 32 | 10 Points |
| 33 or 34 | 5 Points |
| 35 or older | 0 Points |
Extensions for current Tier 1 General Visa Holders – After 5th April 2010
| Age at time of application | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| Under 32 | 20 Points |
| 32 to 36 | 10 Points |
| 37 to 41 | 5 Points |
| 42 or over | 0 Points |
UK Experience
If you scored points for previous earnings and those earnings were generated in the UK you can claim a further 5 points for UK experience.English Language
Being able to speak English to a satisfactory level is a mandatory requirement of applying for a highly skilled Tier 1 Visa. In order to apply you must prove that you either:- Come from a country in which English is the main language, OR
- Have successfully completed a Degree qualification (or better) which was taught entirely in English, OR
- 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
You must be able to support you & your dependents without requiring access to public funds. To prove maintenance you need to 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.| Applying from Inside the UK | £800 at all times in last 3 months |
|---|---|
| Applying from outside the UK | £2,800 at all times in last 3 months |
