Tier 1
- General
- Post Study Work
- Entrepreneur
- Investor
Tier 1 General – Guidelines for Application
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Applicants need to score a minimum of 75 points. These are awarded for:
- Age
- Qualifications
- Previous earnings and
- UK experience.
Separate points are given for English language ability (10 points) and the availability of funds for maintenance (10 points).
How are Points Scored?
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Categories
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Criteria
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Points Allocated
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Age
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Under 29 years
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20 points
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30 – 34 years
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10 points
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35 – 39 years
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5 points
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40 years and over
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0 points
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Qualifications
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PHD |
50 points
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Masters degree
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35 points
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Bachelor degree
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30 points
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Previous Earnings **
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£150,000+
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75 points
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£75,000 - £149,999
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45 points
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£65,000 - £74,999
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40 points
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£55,000 - £64,999
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35 points
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£50,000 - £54,999
£40,000 - £49,999
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30 points
25 points
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£35,000 - £39,999
£30,000 - £34,999
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20 points
15 points
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£25,000 - £29,999
Under £25,000
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5 points
0
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UK Experience
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Worked or studied in the UK
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5 points
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Maintenance (Funds)*
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£2,800 + £1,600 for each dependant
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10 points
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English
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IELTS 6.5
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10 points
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If applicant is from English Speaking Country
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Degree taught in English
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* These amounts must be held in their personal bank account for a minimum period of 3 months for which they must show bank statements/other evidence immediately preceding and dated no more than 1 month prior to the date they submit their application. The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period
** Conversion from resident country earnings – in this example India.
Conversion from local currency - India
As the earning capacity of countries vary, slabs to award points for UK immigration also vary accordingly. Given below is the table (interpreted in the Indian context) that elaborates the demand of annual income of applicants by the UK immigration authorities to reward points under the UK Tier 1 (General) category.
While the global slab column illustrates the general salary demands (in pounds), the Indian slab column presents the annual salary requirement (in pounds) that applies to Indians who wish to immigrate to UK under this category. This amount is calculated by dividing the amount given in the global slab by 5.3, as given in the guidelines by UK immigration authorities for India. Further, the converted currency represents the annual salary that a UK pursuant in India must be earning, in order to obtain the points that are allocated in that row
| Global Slab |
Indian slab (in pounds) (divided by 5.3) |
Converted currency (in Rs.) (exchange rate: INR 75 = 1 pound) |
Points awarded |
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£20,000 - 22,999
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3774 |
283050 |
15 |
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£23,000 - 25,999
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4340 |
325500 |
20 |
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£26,000 - 28,999
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4906 |
367950 |
25 |
| £29,000 - 31,999 |
5472 |
410400 |
30 |
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£32,000 - 34,999
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6038 |
452850 |
35 |
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£35,000 - 39,999
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6604 |
495300 |
40 |
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£40,000
|
7547 |
566025 |
45 |
Documents and Supporting Evidence required for Application:
1. Passport
2. Qualifications
Original certificate of award showing:
- applicants name;
- title of the award;
- date of award;
- name of the awarding institution
3. Attributes: Previous earnings
Applicants should provide at least two pieces of evidence covering the full period for which they are claiming. The evidence must be from separate sources and support all of the other evidence.
Applicants should not send payslips with a letter from their employer, because both of these documents will be considered as from the same source.
- personal bank statements showing salary received – these should be on official bank stationery and show each of the payments they are claiming. Electronic statements should be accompanied by a supporting letter from the bank on company headed paper confirming the documents’ authenticity or each page of the statement should be stamped by the bank
- payslips – either formal payslips or on company-headed paper. If payslips are not on headed paper or are received online they should be authenticated by the employer with signature and stamp. They must provide payslips for each month claimed
- a letter from their employer (previous and/or present) employer(s) on company-headed paper clearly stating their earnings during the chosen period of up to 12 months, and the date and amount of each payment. The letter should be dated after the period for which earnings are being claimed and show gross and net pay.
- official tax documents – must cover the entire period for which they are claiming previous earnings. Acceptable documents are those produced by a tax authority showing details of declarable tax income (for example a tax refund letter or tax demand) and/or document produced by an employer as an official return to a tax authority showing details of earnings on which tax has been paid in a tax year;
- dividend vouchers – if they were paid through a combination of salary and dividends and the dividend details are not included on the wage slips. These should confirm both the gross and net dividend paid. They should provide a separate dividend voucher (or payment advice slip if shown there) for each dividend payment to cover the whole period claimed.
4. Attributes: UK experience
Documentary evidence for those claiming points for previous earnings in the UK
The same evidence supplied for their Previous Earnings will be used to establish whether these relate to employment in the UK.
Documentary evidence for those claiming points for previous full time study in the UK
An original letter from the UK institution/UK based overseas institution at which they studied. This should be on the official letter-headed paper of the institution, bearing its official stamp. It must have been issued by an authorised official of that institution and must confirm the following details:
- name;
- title of the qualification;
- confirmation of full time study equivalent to at least one full academic year or three consecutive academic terms;
- date of award of qualification;
- start and end dates of the period of study in the UK.
5. English Language
Documentary evidence for English language tests
Only tests that have been assessed as meeting UK Border Agency visas requirements will be accepted as evidence that applicants meet the standard required. This is equivalent to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for Language Learning report at level C1 or above (approximately equivalent to IELTS 6.5, GCSE Grade C). In order to meet the requirement they will need to produce an original test result certificate showing:
- name;
- the qualification obtained;
- the date of the award.
6. Maintenance
Evidence must be in the form of cash funds. Other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, pension funds, etc., regardless of the notice period are not acceptable. Applicants should provide one or more of the following:
- personal bank or building society statements covering a period of 3 months, dated no more than 1 month prior to the date they submit their application. The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period;
- building society/savings account pass book/s covering a period of 3 months ending with a date no more than 1 month prior to the date they submit their application. The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period;
- letter from their bank confirming level of funds and that they have been held in the bank account for at least 3 months ending with a date no more than 1 month prior to the date they submit their application. The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period. This must be an original document, on the official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation;
- letter from a financial institution regulated by the home regulator (official regulatory body for the country in which the institution operates and the funds are located) confirming funds.
Personal bank or building society statements
These should clearly show:
- name;
- account number;
- the date of the statement (dated no more than 1 month prior to the date they submit the application);
- the financial institution’s name and logo;
- transactions covering the three month period;
- that there are sufficient funds present in the account (the balance must always be at least £2,800). The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.
Letters from a bank or regulated financial institution
These should clearly show:
- name;
- account number;
- the date of the letter;
- the financial institution’s name and logo;
- the amount of funds held in the account;
- that the funds have been in bank for at least 3 months, ending with a date no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application. The balance should not fall below £2800 at any time during the 3 month period.
Letters which state simply the balance in the account on a particular day are not sufficient
Visas will be issued for a maximum of 2 years.
For more information on applying under this visa category, please contact one of our immigration consultants.
Introduction
This category is for an overseas company wishing to open a new branch or subsidiary in the UK. Your first employee, or "sole representative", would be given a two year visa during which they must register and establish the company. This type of visa is only for companies with an established overseas operation.
Does my company qualify to send a Sole Representative to the UK?
Your company should be well established and trading, normally for at least a year overseas. An application will not normally be approved for an organisation that has been trading for less than a year.
The main purpose of this visa is to provide for a company wishing to expand it's operations into the UK. It it is not, for example, intended to allow a company to relocate its main business or main operation to this country. You will usually be required to provide a statement to show that the company has allocated sufficient funds for this investment. The financial statement should also predict trading activity and profitability.
Who can be sent to the UK as a Sole Representative?
The Sole Representative should be a senior employee of your company recruited outside the UK. Ideally they should have been employed by you for some time and be fully aware of your business processes and procedures. If the person has been hired specifically to fulfil the role you should show that they have relevant previous working experience. They should not have a significant or major shareholding.
If you own the company overseas, or you wish to invest in or establish a UK business, the Sole Representative visa would not be appropriate. You should consider the immigration categories, such as Entrepreneur or Investor.
What about the spouse / children of the Sole Representative?
The candidates spouse and children may accompany them to the UK as their dependants.
How can a UK Sole Representative visa be extended?
The visa will normally be issued for a period of 24 months. After 24 months the Sole Representative may apply for a visa extension for 3 further years. Once 5 year period is completed applicant may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, which may lead to British Naturalisation.
For more information on applying under this visa category, please contact one of our immigration consultants.
Tier 1 Post Study Work – Guidelines for Application
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This visa category is for people who have completed a period of study in the United Kingdom within the last 12 months and want to continue to work there for a limited period. Applicants can switch to another category once allowed permission in this category after the two year period is up.
Applicants need to score a minimum of 75 points. In order to score these points you must meet the following requirements:
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Categories
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Criteria
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Points Awarded
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Qualifications and Study
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Awarded a UK recognised Bachelors or Postgraduate Degree, a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma or a HND from a Scottish Institution
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20 points
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Applicants have studied for the award at a United Kingdom recognised or listed body; a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education or acceptable private education institution (if HND is from a Scottish institution) or is on the Tier 4 Sponsors Register.
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20 points
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Period of study was in the UK with entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain as a student or as a dependant of someone in this category
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20 points
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Application has been made within 12 months of obtaining the qualification
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15 points
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English Language
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No English language is required if 75 points reached in the previous category.
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Maintenance(Funds)*
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£2,800 and £1,600 for each dependant if outside the UK
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10 points
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£800 if inside the UK and £533 for each dependant
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* Even if applicants have attained the pass mark of 75 in the Attributes section and have the required standard of English, applications will be refused if they do not pass the Maintenance (Funds) requirement. Funds must be held in applicant’s bank accounts for a minimum period of 3 months immediately preceding and dated no more than 1 month prior to the date they submit their application. The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.
For more information on applying under this visa category, please contact one of our immigration consultants.
Tier 1 Entrepreneur – Guidelines for Application
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This visa category is for people wishing to take over or start a new business in the United Kingdom.
Applicants need to score a minimum of 75 points. In order to score these points you must meet the following requirements:
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Categories
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Criteria
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Points Awarded
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Attributes
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Applicants must have access to a minimum of £200,000
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25 points
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The money is held in one or more regulated financial institutions
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25 points
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The money is held in one or more regulated financial institutions
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25 points
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English Language
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IELTS 6.5
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10 Points
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From and English speaking country
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Degree taught in English
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Maintenance(Funds)*
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£2,800 and £1,600 per dependant
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10 points
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* Even if applicants have attained the pass mark of 75 in the Attributes section and have the required standard of English, applications will be refused if they do not pass the Maintenance (Funds) requirement. Funds must be held in applicants bank accounts for a minimum period of 3 months immediately preceding and dated no more than 1 month prior to the date they submit their application. The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.
For more information on applying under this visa category, please contact one of our immigration consultants.
Tier 1 Investor – Guidelines for Application
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This visa category is for people wishing to make a substantial investment in the United Kingdom.
Applicants need to score a minimum of 75 points. In order to score these points you must meet the following requirements:
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Criteria
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Points Awarded
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Applicants must have money of their own held in a regulated financial institution which is disposable in the United Kingdom amounting to more than £1 million
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75 points
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OR
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Personal assets, taking into account any liabilities, which are more than £2 million.
and
Money under your control held in a regulated financial institution which is disposable in the United Kingdom amounting more than £1 million which has been loaned to you by a financial institution regulation by the UK Financial Services Authority
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75 points
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The English Language requirement and Maintenance is not required in this category.
For more information on applying under this visa category, please contact one of our immigration consultants.
