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Tier 1 General Visa Applications
If you are a highly skilled professional a Tier 1 General Visa will allow you to live and work in the UK for a period of up to 5 years without any form of employment or travel restriction. This highly popular visa is ideal for IT Consultants & Medical Professionals who are interested in building a long term career in the UK. At Commonwealth Contractors we specialise in dealing with:
- Initial Tier 1 General Visa Applications
- Tier 1 Extension Applications
- Tier 1 ‘Switching’ Applications
We can also advise on the Tier 1 Immigration Cap and help those interested in Contracting in the UK or in mainland Europe.
If you wish to apply under Tier 1 General 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 try our free Tier 1 Calculator.
Qualifying under Tier 1 General & the Immigration Cap
To qualify under Tier 1 General you need to score at least 80 points from 4 points scoring areas (i.e. Qualifications, Previous Earnings, Age, UK Experience) and satisfy the mandatory English Language & Maintenance requirements. In total you will need to score at least 100 points to submit an application.If you are applying from outside the UK your application will be processed further to theTier 1 Immigration Cap. However, if you are extending your visa or applying to ‘switch’ into Tier 1 General from another qualifying visa (e.g. Tier 2 (Work Permit) Sponsorship) you will not need to worry about the Immigration Cap.
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.| 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 (Maximum 80 Points)
Points are awarded for earnings generated in any single 12 month period in the 15 months immediately prior to the application. Please be aware that if you are applying from outside the UK currency conversions & uplift ratios apply in order to take into account regional differences in currencies.| 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 (Maximum 20 Points)
Under Tier 1 General applicants are awarded points for their age at the time of application.| Age at time of application | Tier 1 General Points Available |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | 20 Points |
| 30 to 34 | 10 Points |
| 35 to 39 | 5 Points |
| 40 or over | 0 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 (subject to specific requirements).English Language Requirement (10 Mandatory Points Required)
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 Requirement (10 Mandatory Points Required)
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.| In Country Tier 1 General Applications | £800 at all times in last 3 months |
|---|---|
| Out of Country Tier 1 General Applications | £2,800 at all times in last 3 months |
