www.swansea.ac.uk

Overview of Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), Tier 2 and Tier 4 (Doctorate Extension Scheme) and Tier 5

visa categories

International Student Advisory Service (ISAS)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Visa categories

• Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)

• Tier 2 (General)

• Tier 4 (Doctorate Extension Scheme)

• Tier 5 (Temporary Worker)

www.swansea.ac.uk

What is Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur (GE)

• Not to be mistaken for Tier 1 Entrepreneur

• A visa that enables you to run your own

business (for one year initially). Your

business plan is endorsed by the University

• All students (undergraduate or postgraduate)

eligible

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur (GE)

Types of endorsement

1.General1900 places April 2014 - April 2015. Swansea has 20 places

2.Global100 places April 2014 – April 2015. For overseas graduates endorsed by UKTI.

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur (GE)

Graduate can switch to T1(GE) if:1. a) Has valid visa or last granted visa under T4 or pre-T4

student visa, inc resitting exams, writing up thesis or b) Has valid Tier 2 visa for postdoctoral work

2. Has not previously had T1(PSW), SEGS/IGS, Fresh Talent

3. Has genuine and credible business idea (University must judge)

4. From 06/04/2014 can be endorsed by other institutions on the list of endorsing bodies (unless on T2, then endorsed by current

employer). Degree must still be awarded by institution on list of endorsing bodies

5. Has official sponsor’s written consent, if was sponsored for study

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur (GE)

Qualification (25 points)

1. a) Awarded Bachelor’s, Master’s (including MBA) or PhD

From 06/04/2014, no time limit on when applicant was

awarded degree OR

b) Degree deemed by NARIC to be equivalent of UK degree

(Global Endorsement) OR

2. If on T2, or last on T2, endorsed by T2 employer who must

confirm has UK degree. Degree can have been awarded by

another HEI and can be awarded more than 12 months

before application.

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 1 GE – How much money

Maintenance (10 points)• If applying in UK, balance of £945 held every day for

90 days & maintained until visa application submitted• If applying outside UK, balance of £1,890 held every

day for 90 days & maintained until visa application submitted

• For dependants, balance of £1,260 per dependant held every day for 90 days if the Tier 1 GE migrant is outside the UK or has been in the UK for under 12 months, £630 per dependant otherwise

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur (GE) - Conditions

• Visa granted for 12 months initially• Total (maximum) time allowed on this visa is 2 years• Regular meetings with University who will continue to

monitor and review progress• Police registration requirement (where applicable)• No recourse to public funds• Can take employment outside of setting up own business.

Number of work hours unrestricted

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 1 GE – How to apply

• Start planning your business early. See Careers to start!• Apply after getting your degree• Deadline to apply in UK, before visa expires• Applies for visa within 3 months of being endorsed by HEI

(University)• Complete paper application form + documents• ISAS will check and post your application• Cost of application £422 + £19.20 postal application (around

2 months)• Can apply in UK or overseas

www.swansea.ac.uk

What is Tier 2 (General)

• Replaced the “work permit” scheme

• This visa enables the visa-holder to undertake a job in UK

that would not normally be possible for certain nationals

• The visa ties you to the job and the employer

• Employer must be on Home Office (UK Visas and

Immigration/UKVI) list of Tier 2 licensed sponsors

• Employer offers you a job and must give you a Certificate of

Sponsorship (C of S)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General) – how to qualify

• Your job must have a particular skills level

• There is a minimum wage level of £20,500, though this

depends on the job and can be higher

• Usually the job must have been advertised as required by the

Home Office, but most Tier 4 students who have graduated

recently are exempt from this advertising requirement (resident

labour market test - RLMT)

• Shortage occupation list or PhD level jobs – easier to qualify

(see Appendix K immigration rules – subject to change)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General) – how to qualify

• You have to prove that you have English language skills,

which you meet if you have a UK degree, and meet

maintenance requirements (all students eligible to apply)

• If you want to, or must, apply outside the UK, or if you apply

in the UK and you have immigration permission as a Tier 4

partner, your job must score a minimum number of points

(Restricted C of S)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General) – Certificates of Sponsorship

Restricted /unrestricted C of S

• Restricted (subject to annual cap)

• Tier 2(G) – outside UK, salary under £153,500

• Tier 4 Dependant switching in country to T2(G)

Unrestricted (not subject to annual cap)

• Tier 2 (ICT)

• Tier 2 (G) salary package £153,500+

• Tier 2 (G) – T4 students already in UK switching/extending

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General)

Unrestricted Certificate of Sponsorship (C of S)

• No limit on C of S

• Sponsor (employer) must establish whether worker falls

under restricted/unrestricted

• Those with Tier 4 visas applying in UK qualify more easily

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General)

Restricted C of S

• Annual limit then allocated equally across months (currently

20,700)

• Allocation in order of highest points

• Shortage occupation list, PhD Level = high points

• Higher salary = more points

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General) – Resident Labour Market Test

What is RLMT?

In order to pass the resident labour market test, an

employer must have advertised the job in an

appropriate way for the sector and be able to show

that no suitably skilled settled worker (e.g.

British/European national) can do the job. 

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General) – Resident Labour Market Test

RLMT exemption - special provisions for students

• Has valid Tier 4 or pre-Tier 4 student visa

• Completed and passed UK degree, PGCE, PGDE OR

• Completed 12 months of PhD

• Minimum salary £20,500 (or SOC code salary if higher)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General) – Resident Labour Market Test

Other exemptions

• Post on shortage occupation list

• Pay £153,500 +

• Tier 1 (PSW), T1 GE (from 1 Oct 2013) or Tier 4/student who

meets special provisions

• Doctor/dentist in training

• Extending T2 working in same job (any break in employment must

solely due to period of academic leave)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 – What else?

• Leave can be granted for up to 5 years for first application

• Those who have or had leave under T1 PSW or T1 GE meet

the English language requirement

• New resident labour market test (RLMT) exemption for staff at

HEI (universities) returning to the same employer after a period

of academic research. Those with T1 GE switching to T2 are

exempt

• How much money - £945 held every day for 90 days (£630 for

dependants)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 2 (General) – Points scoring

Points scoring

• Certificate of sponsorship 30

• Salary compliant with SOC 20

• English language (min B1) 10

• Maintenance 10

£945 + £630 per dependant

for 90 days,

or certified by A-rated sponsor

• Total 70

www.swansea.ac.uk

What is Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES)

• For PhD students only

• Enables PhD students to stay for an

extra year to look for jobs

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES)

Requirements

• Must apply in UK before visa expiresCannot apply overseas

• Must have valid T4 visa only (not pre-T4 student visa)• Apply within 60 days before expected end date, i.e.

date when PhD will be awarded• ATAS – not required if apply for DES 28 days before

expected end date on CAS

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 4 DES – How much money

• £1,640 in student’s bank, plus £920 for each dependant, held for 28 days

• Official sponsor’s written consent, if previously sponsored for study

• If student will not complete doctorate before current visa expires, may need CAS for further T4 visa where possible, then second CAS for DES (subject to change). Discuss options with an International Student Adviser.

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 4 DES – How to apply

• Apply BEFORE degree awarded• Complete online Tier 4 application• ISAS will check and post your application• Documents – CAS, bank statements, photos,

passport, police registration certificate

Cost of application• Postal £422 + £19.20 postal application (2 months)• Premium Cardiff £822 (2 weeks)

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES)

Conditions of visa• Valid for 12 months only, no extension• Not eligible for public funds• Police registration if required• Can take any work at any level, except doctor or dentist

in training or professional sportsperson/coach• Contact with T4 sponsor at least twice in 12 months• T4 sponsor to report unexplained missed contact to

UKVI• Student to inform sponsor if leaves UK for good, or

changes visa

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 5 Temporary Worker

Different categories

• creative and sporting

• charity workers  (voluntary work)

• religious workers

• government authorised exchange (GAE)

• international agreement

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 5 Temporary Worker (GAE)

• Look at Home Office list – Register of Sponsors (Tier 2 and Tier 5)

• Separate list for Tier 5 GAE• Maximum 12 months• Can only apply in UK if – internship, training, work

experience directly relating to qualification• For Chinese students only - International Student

Internship Scheme (ISIS) http://www.ukisis.org • How much money? £945 for 90 days

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 5 Temporary Worker (GAE)

International Student Internship Scheme:

This internship scheme will offer supernumerary work

placements to: Chinese students from the top 211

universities; Chinese graduates from UK universities (who

will transfer from Tier 4 to Tier 5 GAE) and Chinese

nationals (students and graduates) applying direct from

China.

Interns will spend time with large UK businesses looking to

expand their Chinese presence and to grow their trade links

with China.

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 5 – AIESEC option

www.swansea.ac.uk

Tier 5 – AIESEC option

www.swansea.ac.uk

Useful websites

This ISAS presentation gives a brief overview,

see websites below for full details:

www.ukcisa.org.uk (The Next Stage)

www.swansea.ac.uk/isas (Work)

www.gov.uk

www.swansea.ac.uk

Where can I get advice?

The International Student Advisers are the only people in the

University qualified to give immigration advice.

The International Student Advisory Service (ISAS) is based in

Student Support Services, Keir Hardie Building (opposite library).

Monday – Friday 09:20 – 16:00