The Benefits of Five Tier Immigration System in UK

British educational qualifications are respected and recognized throughout the world. Educational institutions across the country have earned a well-deserved reputation for high standards of teaching. The quality standards set by reputed universities like Oxford and Cambridge are followed by other institutes throughout the country.

Educational qualifications from a UK university, stand the maximum chances of procuring a job or for boosting career prospects and also for earning higher paychecks. By studying in UK one becomes a part of the educational heritage. Educational institutes over here provide an effervescent, innovative and challenging environment to develop one’s true potential.

International students have always been an important part of UK institutes and universities and the number has been rising steadily. India has been amongst the top ten countries in applying for study programs and jobs in UK.In UK, economy is booming along with the job markets due to overseas funding in the native businesses. Working here provides quicker work progress along with good pay bundles and perks.

A valid visa is needed to visit, study or work in UK. Visas can be granted for six months, one year, five years or even ten years. Nationals of a country in the European Union can enter UK freely by showing their passport or national identity card and a visa is not required for them. Nationals from outside of European Union need a visa to stay in UK for which they need to apply to British Embassy or High commission in their native country.

UK adopted Point based immigration system for applicants based outside of European Union from 2008, which can be broken into five tiers. Each tier has different entry requirements for migrants wishing to work or study in the UK. HSMP and some other visa categories have been replaced by Tier 1 (General), of new five-tier points based system. Tier 1 encompasses all the study, work and training routes of immigration. This Tier is aimed at tapping the best talent from outside of European Union who can contribute to the country’s economy and keep it globally competitive.

Tier 1 visas are meant for highly skilled migrants, entrepreneurs, investors and foreign graduates of UK educational institutions. Highly skilled migrants include doctors, scientists, engineers, MBAs, and other educated workers. A person must successfully score 75 points under a points based system to come to the UK under Tier 1. The Entrepreneur sub category of Tier 1 is for those individuals who wish to start a business in the UK who can meet certain specific criteria such as the applicant should have at least £200,000 funds which should be held in a regulated financial institution and should be disposable in UK.

The Investor sub category of Tier 1 is for applicants have at least £1,000,000 of their own money in a regulated financial institution in the UK.The applicant should own personal assets which exceed £2,000,000 in value, provided they are not subject to any liabilities and have money under their control held in a regulated financial institution and disposable in the UK of at least £1,000,000, which may include money loaned to them provided it was loaned by a financial institution.
Migrants coming to the UK under Tier 1 visas do not need a job offer or a sponsor and are free to seek employment anywhere in the UK .Migrants who are successfully granted leave in the UK under this Tier can stay for three years, after which a migrant can renew his Tier 1 visas.

Tier 2 visas are meant for skilled migrants from outside of EU who need to carry a job offer .Tier 2 has four categories which are General, intra company transfer, sports people and ministers of religion. Tier 3 encompasses unskilled, temporary migration for employment that is seasonal in nature. Tier 4 visa is for international students, which requires a qualified UK institute or university to sponsor them. The duration of this visa depends upon the course duration. Tier 5 visa is for temporary workers from countries with which UK has certain agreements allowing them to work for upto two years.

The adoption of five tier immigration system has eased out the technical difficulties faced by overseas visa applicants in identifying the suitable visa sub category.. This point based system clearly defines different tiers for immigrants with different skill and abilities.