The UK Tier 2 visa is a highly popular immigration visa for those applicants who have been offered a place to live in the UK and are being sponsored by the UKVI authorized employers. It is the main immigration pathway for the skilled worker's immigration who wish to be employed in the United Kingdom.

You can apply for a Tire 2 Visa (General) and it is for those outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland and also have been offered a skilled job in the UK from an employer in the UK with a valid Tier 2 sponsorship license.

The employer who is offering you the position should have a UK identity and should hold the UKVI sponsorship license. The list of all the sponsor license holders can be found here. If the prospective employers do not have a sponsorship license, the applicant can apply for one.

It is important that the appellant is issued a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) by the employer. The certificate should carry the information of the Immigrant and also of the proposed Job. The period of the Job should be mentioned in the certificate, and it needs to confirm that the applicant will be paid adequate salary along with the Job passing the Residence Labor Market Test (RLMT) unless there is a switch made the applicant in from Tier 2 to tier 4 (General student visa).

The applicant is allowed to bring a dependent to the UK with a Tier 2 visa.

What are the requirements for the Tier 2 visa – General?

There are different requirements for the UK Tier 2 work visa, and only when those who meet the requirements can immigrate to the UK. The general requirements that an aspiring candidate is expected to fill are-

• The skilled applicant should have a job offer from a UK employer
• The UK employer who is offering the Job should have a valid Tier 2 Sponsor license form UKVI
• The applicant should have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship COS) signed document and should be assigned a Number from the employer
• The applicant needs to pass the Resident labor market test (which is undertaken by the employer). There are very few cases in which RLMT is an exception.
• The applicant should be promised the minimum salary for the Job, which has a minimum threshold of 20,800 Pounds. There is a salary exception for certain groups like religious workers
• The applicant needs to meet the minimum English language test score requirement of CEFR level 1, which conducts the test of reading, listening, writing and speaking
• The appellant needs to show the maintenance fund of at least 945 pounds to support oneself. These maintenance funds are to cover the period of 90 days.

To be selected, the applicants need to meet the point score threshold as well. The Point scores for selection are 70, and they are calculated on the following parameters –

Understanding the Certificate of sponsorship for Tier 2 UK visa

A certificate of Sponsorship (COS) for the Tier 2 visa applicant is an application record that has personal and Job information. It is important to understand that COS is not a certificate; rather, it is a digital certificate reference number that the appellant is given.

The employer needs to give the Certificate number to the applicant so that the candidate can apply for a Tier 2 UK visa

The certificate of sponsorship number is valid for three months from the date of issue, and it can be used only time for one application. The employer also needs to confirm that you will be paid the appropriate salary as per the job description for the position that you intend to be filled.

The aspiring candidate can check the appropriate rate for your job category in the UKVI official codes of Practice for skilled Work document.

When an applicant leaves the UK before the expiry of the tier 2 Visa period, then there are 12 months cooling-off period that is given to the appellant with some exceptions, the applicant will not be able to enter the UK again via the Tier 2 route again toll; these 12 months have passed from the time that the applicant left the UK.

How proficient the appellant needs to be in the English language?

The appellant should be able to speak, write, read and comprehend easily in the English language. There are three ways through which the point score for the English language are calculated –

• The applicant is a national of an English Speaking country.
• The applicant should have passed the English language test from an English language test provided.
• The applicant should have a degree that was taught in English or should have a bachelors or an equivalent degree from the UK.

What is the processing time for a Tier 2 visa and also the cost of the application?

The general time of the Tier 2 Visa processing is around three weeks for the UKVI to make the decision on the appellation outside the UK. The time will depend on the applicant's credentials and also the current UK scenarios as well.

The fees will depend on the type of application that the candidate is making, which includes the nature of the Job and also the duration of the Job. If your application is for a shortage occupation, then the processing will be fast, and the fee will be less.

The validity of the Tire 2 Visa is for Five years after that; the appellant needs to extend it or apply for another visa. You can change your employer or Job if your visa expires. After five years of stay in the UK, you can also apply to settle (It is also called Indefinite leave to remain). This provides the applicant with the right to live, work and study in the UK. You need to apply for British nationality in such a case which can be 12 Months after being settled.