A Guide to the Tier 1 Visa
Highly skilled migrant visa
Several sub-categories make up Tier 1. These subcategories will be:
- highly skilled individual;
- entrepreneur;
- investor; and
- post-graduate.
Highly skilled migrants who desire to come to the UK no longer have the option of applying for a visa under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). Instead, they can apply for a highly skilled migrant visa, which is a subcategory in Tier 1.
The criterion to obtain a visa in this subcategory is similar to the former HSMP. The applicant needs to accumulate seventy-five points from several categories. These categories are:
- age;
- qualifications;
- earnings;
- previous UK Experience; and
- English language.
Foreign nationals applying for a Tier 1 visa will not need a company to sponsor them for a visa. A Tier 1 visa applicant will have the ability to self-petition.
The Home Office will be publishing the details on obtaining a visa in the other Tier 1 sub-categories shortly.
The English language requirement is crucial to the success of the application. An applicant failing to achieve the requisite amount of points in this category will be denied the visa regardless of the strength of the application.
Please contact our offices at 0121 214 5453 to discuss your matter with a member of the Immigration team.