Tier 2 or Work Permits enable British companies to sponsor foreign workers to come and take up employment in the country. This requires the applicants to have a confirmed offer of employment or a Certificate of Sponsorship with a British company.

The Tier 4 or Student Visa allows foreign students to study in the country and has no time limit. If the course of study lasts only for six months, the applicant may enter the country on a UK visit visa. Apart from student visas, the country offers the Post Study Work Programme and Youth Mobility Scheme. These allow foreign students to work during their stay, but for a limited time only.

Anyone who wishes to travel and stay in the UK for more than six months must obtain a Tourist Visa. This includes those coming for business trips, medical treatment and passing through the country. Anyone entering the country for medical treatment can renew and extend their stay if required.

With a validity of two years, the Business Visitor Visa can be granted for either single or multiple entries, in order to free the applicants from having to constantly renew their visa every time they wish to travel.

There are several types of visas, which are designed to suit the needs and purposes of potential UK immigrants. To work, a foreign individual must obtain a Tier 1 visa or a Tier 2 work permit. Investors who wish to live and work in the UK should apply for the Entrepreneur visa. This is also required for anyone intending to invest capital and start a business under the UK visa rules. UK visas of this type provide the holder with the potential to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR), which is commonly known as permanent residency in the country.

For students who wish to study in the UK, the Tier 4 Student visa is required. The Post Study Work Programme and Youth Mobility Scheme, however, should be applied for if the student has already graduated, but then wishes to remain in the country to work for a limited time.

The UK Marriage visa and UK Fiancé visa, De Facto visa or the Unmarried Partner visa, are categories of family-based visas offered by UK immigration. A UK Marriage visa permits the husband, wife or civil partner of a person who is already present and settled in the UK to live permanently in the country. The UK Fiancé visa permits a person who is already present and settled in the country to petition for their fiancé to join them in the UK.

Other employees under the Tier 2 Work Permits are still being properly finalised.  These employees will be evaluated on qualifications and potential earning power.  A table of the required qualifications according to the Tier 2 points system is as follows:

NVQ Level 3 – 5 points
BA – 10 points
Master’s – 10 points
PHD – 15 points
A table of potential earnings according to the Tier 2 system is as follows:
GBP 17 000 to 19 999 – 5 points
GBP 20 000 to 21 999 – 10 points
GBP 22 000 to 23 999 – 15 points
GBP over 24 000 – 20 points

If a position is in short supply then fifty points is immediately allocated.  An Intra Company Transfer also gets an immediate fifty points.  If a position is not in short supply then thirty points are given.

If a Tier 2 employee wants to change his or her job it is allowed.  But the whole procedure must be done again.  The employee will have to be reassessed.

The Tier 2 Work Permit must show that the position that is offered cannot be filled with a UK citizen.  This can be shown in a number of ways based on the type of employment. The more specific the job function and the more education and experience necessary to perform the job the more likely it will be to get a Tier 1 Visa.  In most cases the company must prove that they have advertised for at least a month to fill the position with no results.  The advertisement must have been made recently – within the past 6 months. The applicant for the Tier 2 Work Permit must submit the application along with the substantiating documentation for approval.  Tier 2 Work Permits approval process typically takes about a month.