Working in the UK after your studies Louise Saunderson International Student Support Manager December 2018
Tier 4 (General) visa Once you have completed your studies, you should have 4 months left on your Tier 4 (General) visa, or 6 months if you are studying a taught Masters, from the course completion date During this 4 or 6 months you may work full time, temporarily, subject to the usual student visa restrictions (not self-employed, not a professional sports person or entertainer, not a permanent vacancy) When the visa is due to expire, you must either leave the UK or apply for another visa If you apply for another visa, you may continue to work full time while the UKVI processes the application
Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme This is a visa for one year s work experience after a PhD has been completed. You must: Have a current Tier 4 (General) visa you cannot apply after it has expired Apply up to 60 days before your course completion date (the date when viva and all corrections are finished and the final bound thesis is submitted). You cannot apply after this date. Apply within the UK Have a new CAS with the final course completion date
Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme To get a new course completion date, email Student Services after you have taken your viva and it is confirmed whether you have major or minor corrections: tier4@york.ac.uk You will be sponsored by the University and must meet certain contact points (but you do not have to stay in York) You should apply using the usual Tier 4 online student application form You must show 2030 maintenance in a bank account for at least 28 days with a statement which is no more than one month old If you have already had a Tier 1 (PSW) visa you cannot apply There are still issues with the Immigration Health Surcharge. If you pay an incorrect fee the Home Office will contact you.
Tier 2 (General) Most students looking for permanent employment use the Tier 2 (General) visa if they wish to work in the UK The requirements of Tier 2 are more flexible for those applying in the UK with a valid Tier 4 visa who have studied during their last grant of leave Your employer does not have to search the UK and EU for more suitable candidates (the Resident Labour Market Test), it will not affect their capped numbers, nor do they pay the Immigration Skills Charge, provided you apply in the UK with a valid student visa PhD students can switch to Tier 2 if they have completed one year of their course. Other Tier 4 students need to have completed their course to apply (previously they had to complete and pass the course) The requirements are also more flexible for those applying for a PhD level job, or earning at least 155,300: www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-j-codes-of-practice-forskilled-work
Tier 2 (General) Requirements for Tier 2 are: An employer who will offer you a job and sponsor you. The employer must be licensed to the Home Office, and must issue you with a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) As well as an employer with a Tier 2 licence, the job must qualify for Tier 2 A wage of at least 20,800 per year, but it is usually around 30,000 minimum or higher (depending on the type of job). See UKCISA overview: www.ukcisa.org.uk/information--advice/working/working-after-studies A Bachelor s, Master s or PhD certificate, or completion of the first year of a PhD. Postgraduate diplomas (unless PGDE or PGCE teaching qualifications) will not be accepted 945 in a bank account for a minimum of 90 days
Tier 2 (General) Once you have submitted a Tier 2 application, you can take a permanent full time job while waiting for the visa to be processed. You can apply for a Tier 2 up to 3 or 5 years in length depending on the CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) from your employer. You can renew the visa up to a maximum of 6 years. Application fees vary. You can apply for settlement after 5 years provided you are earning at least 35,000 per year or if the job is on the Shortage Occupation list, is a PhD level job, or if you have Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) leave: www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-k The University Immigration Advice Service is not able to give detailed advice on work visas, so questions should be directed to the HR (Human Resources) department of your employer.
Tier 2 (General) According to the Home Office most Tier 2 jobs are in the following areas: Information and Communication Professional, Scientific and Technical Human Health and Social Work Financial and Insurance Education Approximately 56,000 people in the UK are on a Tier 2 visa
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Aimed at students who have completed their degree and wish to set up a business in the UK. The Home Office describes it as a visa for applicants with Genuine and credible business ideas and entrepreneurial skills To apply to be endorsed (sponsored) by the University of York you must have a business plan. Your Department should support you and indicate to HR that you wish to apply. The University must issue you with an endorsement letter and, if your application is successful, monitor your progress You must apply within 3 months of the date of the endorsement letter Institutions are limited to 20 Graduate Entrepreneurs per year. However, you can be endorsed by a different institution to the one you studied with.
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) You cannot apply if you have previously held Tier 1 (Post-study Work) leave If you are successful, you will be granted 1 year to develop business plans with the University You can apply inside or outside the UK. If applying inside the UK, you must apply by post in person applications are not permitted. To apply you must have 945 in your bank account for at least 90 days, if applying in the UK or 1890 if applying outside the UK (plus additional amounts if you have dependants)
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) You may work as many hours as you like while developing your business plan (but you cannot work as a doctor or dentist in training or as a professional sportsperson or sports coach) Leave can be extended for a further 12 months You cannot switch to another visa in the UK apart from Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 2 You may also wish to see information on the Sirius Programme endorsed by UK Trade and Investment for teams of up to 3 people. The UKCISA website has an overview and you should also check information at www.siriusprogramme.com
Tier 5 Temporary Worker (Government Authorised Exchange) This is a category of the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa. It is aimed at graduates who require work experience or professional training for their field of work, but is limited to organisations offering these schemes and/or research projects You can switch to Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) in the UK if: You have current Tier 4 leave You have completed a UK degree with this Tier 4 leave You will be sponsored under Government Authorised Exchange for professional training, research or an internship directly related to your degree Your employer does not intend to offer you full time permanent employment
Tier 5 Temporary Worker (Government Authorised Exchange) The visa is for a maximum of 12 months for work experience or 24 months for research or training Once the scheme is completed, you can switch from this visa to Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) only. Requirements are: Funds of 945 for at least 90 days If switching from Tier 4, a UK recognised degree or at least 12 months completion of a PhD course A certificate of sponsorship from the employer/sponsoring body/institution For details of schemes and licensed sponsors please visit: www.gov.uk/tier-5-government-authorised-exchange
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) This visa provides the opportunity to work for up to two years but is limited to certain nationalities only. You can apply if from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan or if a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen or British National (Overseas) You cannot apply from the UK so must return to your home country You must be aged between 18 and 30 1890 is required in your bank account on the date of application You cannot apply if you have already had a visa for the Working Holidaymakers scheme You can work and study on this scheme but if self-employed you must work from home You cannot apply if you have a dependant child aged under 18
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) How to apply, and restrictions on the number of applications, depends on the country you apply from. Hong Kong (SAR) passport holders must apply to the Labour Department for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) South Koreans need a CoS from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwanese nationals must register their interest in obtaining a CoS with the National Youth Commission. The registration periods and number of CoS available are limited A new system has just started in Japan expression of interest must be registered and those who receive a CoS will be selected at random Other nationalities do not need a CoS but if applying from Australia, Canada, Monaco and New Zealand places are limited to a certain number each year
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) UKCISA have information at: www.ukcisa.org.uk/information--advice/working/working-after-studies See also Home Office information at: www.gov.uk/tier-5-youth-mobility
Useful links Further information UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs). Visit www.ukcisa.org.uk Includes a telephone advice line. Check the Gov.UK website as new information could be posted at any time. See: www.gov.uk/visas-immigration If you require further specialist advice, and your employer is unable to help, find an immigration solicitor on the ILPA (Immigration Law Practitioners Association) at www.ilpa.org.uk