Tier 1 (General)
UK Work Permits Ltd has been preparing successful HSMP / Tier 1 (General) applications since 2003, and in that time has helped thousands of satisfied clients to obtain approval. Following a free initial assessment of any case, and if we believe that an application will be viable, we normally offer our unique 110% refund guarantee.
For a free initial assessment of your potential application under the new Tier 1 (General) rules, please contact our expert consultants now on 0845 226 4030. Alternatively send a CV to info@uk-wp.com including a month by month breakdown of your earnings in the past 15 months (or the 1 5 months prior to any recent period of maternity or adoption leave), as well as confirmation of your highest qualification, and date of birth. Alternatively, contact us here with any questions.
Please see below for some basic background information regarding the Tier 1 (General) category.
Important notes:
Tier 1 (General) is now being affected by the coalition government’s interim limit on skilled migration (between July 2010 and March 2011). In support of the governments aims of reducing migration under this route, the qualifying points threshold has been increased for most applicants.
Significant changes to Tier 1 (General) were also implemented on 6th April 2010. Key changes included awarding points for bachelor’s degrees, and making it more difficult to score points through previous earnings (higher earnings are required in relation to the number of points claimed), while raising the highest potential points for earnings, so that people can potentially qualify without relying on qualifications.
Introduction
Tier 1 (General) was introduced on the 30th June 2008, and was based on the established and well known Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. Under the Tier 1 (General) category, an applicant can gain points in key areas including age, qualifications, earnings, and previous experience in the UK (working or studying). The Tier 1 (General) category does not require the involvement of any employer to “sponsor” the application – Instead the application is completely driven by the individual, who, if successful, will have the right to work freely within the UK.
Assessment
To assess your eligibility, we must ask current that you please begin by contacting us as per the instructions above.
Aims and purpose
The purpose of this category is to allow highly skilled migrants to live and work in the UK, without restriction as to the nature of their work.
Criteria
Like the HSMP, points are awarded to applicants based upon their attributes. These attributes are split into 4 different sections:
- Age
- Qualifications
- Previous earnings
- UK Experience
Applicants must gain at least 75 points in these 4 categories. In addition, applicants must also be able to show that they meet the “English Language” requirement and that they have enough funds to maintain both themselves and any dependants.
Replaces…….
The Tier 1 (General) category replaced the HSMP as of 30th June 2008. When participants of the HSMP come to renew their visa, they will need to do so under the Tier 1 (General) category. The above requirements will still need to be met, although applicants applying in this manner will benefit from raised age thresholds.
Necessary Documentation
Applicants need to evidence the points they gain by providing original documents. The Border Agency are very strict about documentation in terms of the format and information that it contains, and whether the documents correlate with each other. In most situation, The Border Agency will only accept original documents. The typical documents that an applicant would need to submit might include:
- Passport (current and previous);
- Original degree certificates;
- A letter from the awarding institution;
- Original payslips;
- A letter from the employer;
- Original bank statements.
Period of Stay
Successful applicants will be granted leave to remain for a period of 3 years. Towards the end of this period, Tier 1 (General) migrants will be able to apply to extend their stay by a further 2 years, bringing the total to 5 years. After 5 years of continuous residence under this category, Tier 1 migrants will generally qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Other Useful Information
An applicant may apply for his/her dependents (husband/wife and dependent children under 18) to be granted leave on the basis of his/her Tier 1 (General) visa.
Our services
Tier 1 (General) Consultancy Service
UK Work Permits Ltd offer professional, specialist assistance to individuals wishing to make Tier 1 (General) applications. Our consultants are experienced in preparing successful applications for individuals in a wide variety of professions as well as for entrepreneurs and business people. We operate on the basis of our “110% Refund Guarantee” (subject to initial assessment) and take full responsibility for the success of each application we undertake. Our service for Tier 1 (General) applications is in accordance with our normal process.
Document Checking Service
Our Document Checking Service (DCS) includes a full pre-application study and report of all supporting documentation relevant to a potential Tier 1 (General) application. It will provide a potential applicant with a breakdown of whether the documentation they possess will be enough to support a successful application. Any areas of potential concern will be highlighted in a full report. Following receipt of the report, an individual can make a confident and informed decision about whether to proceed with a HSMP application, either directly, or with the assistance of UK Work Permits Ltd. If a person wishes to use our services following a positive DCS Report, they will be able to “upgrade” to our full Tier 1 (General) application service, by paying only the difference between the costs for the two services. For more information on our Document Checking Service, please refer to the FAQs below.
Document Checking Service FAQs
What do I receive from using the Document Checking Service?
You will receive a full pre-application study and report of all supporting documentation relevant to your potential application by one of our expert consultants. The report will be comprehensive and will cover all individual scoring areas, separate mandatory requirements, and will identify any relevant contradictions or inadequacies. If there are inadequacies or problems with your documentation, you will receive proposals regarding suitable solutions. The consultant will explain or clarify any issues if necessary.
How long will it take you to complete the Document Checking Service Report?
The study will be competed and the report will be provided within a 48 hour timeframe as standard. Depending on workload, we may be able to work more quickly than this.
If the report is positive what guarantee do I have of a successful application?
If a person submits their own application, we cannot be held liable for the result of the application under any circumstances. However, following a positive DCS report, we will offer to provide our full Tier 1 (General) application service, which includes a refund of 110% of our entire fees in the event of a refusal. At the stage of receiving a positive DCS report therefore, the client can be assured that UK Work Permits Ltd are certain that a positive outcome is feasible, based on the supporting documents available.
If problems are identified, where does that leave me?
If any problems or inadequacies are identified with the documentation that is sent to us, the DCS Report will include clear explanations of the issues, and will offer suggestions regarding potential solutions. Your consultant will clarify anything you are unsure of.
Must I send original documents for the DCS Report?
We strongly recommend that clients send through original documents, because we are then able to comment on precisely what the Border Agency, or Visa Application Centre are going to consider. If a client prefers, or needs, to provide us with copies, we can provide a DCS Report, but this will be on the assumption of accurate or authentic documents. We may also be unable to identify where documents are defaced or have an unusual or problematic appearance.
How does the DCS Report differ from the free initial assessment?
The free initial assessment is an initial check on eligibility resting on information provided by the prospective client on the facts relating to the potential application. It confirms whether a person should be eligible for the Tier 1 (General) category based on claims made by the individual relating to the scoring areas and an assumption that they will be able to provide the relevant evidence. It does not include a thorough study of the evidence available to support the claim. The DCS Report is a thorough and reliable report on the documentation available to support a potential Tier 1 (General) application.
How does it differ from the full Tier 1 (General) consultancy service?
The DCS Report provides an individual with professional feedback on their supporting documentation. It does not include assistance with the preparation or submission of an application. With the Document Checking Service, no work is carried out on the application form, covering letters, explanatory charts or other guidance documents, and no liaison with the authorities is included or provided. Following a positive DCS Report, a client may wish to entrust UK Work Permits Ltd with the preparation and presentation of the application.
