Bridging the Gap is an International Recruitment Consultancy,
which delivers UK, SA & Australian job opportunities to South Africans.

Advice on
Economic Migration Visas

The new Tier system was introduced over a 2 year period and is now fully introduced and working. It is a points based system and the applicants can therefore determine exactly if they qualify or not before starting the process of applying.

Tier 1 - Highly Skilled Worker

Tier 1 is designed to attract the highly skilled worker. Because the individual is highly skilled there is no requirement for a sponsor employer or specific job offer that is linked to the application/visa.

Current Tier 1 General rules:
Points are scored for qualification, gross annual income eared and age. There is also a mandatory language and maintenance requirement. Each application is therefore scored individually and you need to tell us your age, details of your qualifications and your gross annual income in order for us to determine if you qualify. This permit is initially granted for a 2 year period after which you have to apply for a further 3 year extension visa. This extension application is again on a points base. There is no age restriction and the Tier 1 General Visa allows you to work unrestrictedly in the UK either in employment or self-employed capacity. Your dependents i.e. spouse and children are able to join you and apply to be dependents on your Tier 1 General Visa. Please submit your details here for an assessment

General Example of how you could qualify:

• Bachelor Degree score 30 points
• Age under 29 years score 20 points
• Gross annual salary earned in SA of R12,000 to R15,000 per month scores 25 points (depending on exchange rate)
• English Language requirement 10 points
• Maintenance requirement 10 points

Tier 2 - Skilled Worker

Tier 2 is aimed at the skilled worker group. It is different from Tier 1 in that the application/visa is linked to a specific job offer and employer. The UK employer applies in the UK to become a licensed sponsor. Those sponsors are able to issue Certificates of Sponsorship (Work Permits). The individual outside of the UK then qualify for the visa on a points base system and a mandatory maintenance and English language requirement. The position on offer needs to be at a minimum level of seniority and the individual needs to score the required points in order for a Tier 2 sponsorship visa to be issued. In Tier 2 the holder of the Visa is able to have dependents on his visa status. Your family (Spouse, Unmarried Partner, Civil Partner and children can therefore join you in the UK provided that they are issued with the appropriate dependency visas/entry clearance.

• Tier 2 General
  Any registered company in the UK is able to apply to become a licenses sponsor. The position on offer needs to meet certain minimum criteria in order for the sponsor to issue a certificate of sponsorship to fill the position from outside the UK. A labour residency test is required to show that there is not a UK or EU national that can and want to do the job. It was also added recently that the position needs to be advertised on Job Centre Plus in the UK. For each sector of the industry there are specific Codes of Standards explaining the minimum requirements for sponsorship for a specific job. We are able to assist and guide the employer and the individual with the above process. If your employer already issued the COS and you only require assistance with your Points Based Entry Clearance we will also be delighted to assist you. Ask a question


• Tier 2 Minister of Religion
  This sub category of Tier 2 allows a registered religious organization in the UK to sponsor a qualified Minister to work in the UK for this organization. As per the Tier 2 rules the position and the individual needs to meet certain minimum requirements. The visa / entry clearance is linked therefore to a specific job and sponsor/employer in the UK. Ask a question


• Tier 2 Sport and Entertainer
  This sub category of Tier 2 allows a registered Sports Club or Entertainment Company to sponsor an individual sports person or entertainer to work in the UK for the sponsor. As per the Tier 2 rules the position and the individual needs to meet certain minimum requirements. The visa / entry clearance is linked therefore to a specific job and sponsor/employer in the UK. Ask a question

Tier 3 – Low Skilled Worker

This tier will replace the low skilled group of visas like the agricultural seasonal worker visa but because there is sufficient labour entering the UK from the EU itself this tier is not being developed at present. For this reason Non EU Nationals like South Africans do not qualify to apply for this category at present.

Tier 4 – Student

Under Tier 4 the Educational Institution acts as the sponsor and takes on the sponsor responsibilities of reporting and issuing the Certificate of Acceptance (COA). The Education Institution therefore needs to be a Tier 4 Licensed Sponsor in order for them to issue the COA. The individual student then again qualifies for the entry clearance application (Student Visa) on a Points base system.

Adult Student:
Adults who wish to study or further their studies in the UK are able to do so under this category. Maybe you are already studying CIMA and wish to finish your studies in the UK or you have just finished school and you are ready to embark on the journey and adventure of study, the London School of Business & Finance in London offers exciting options:

http://www.lsbf.org.uk/

The student needs to study a minimum of 15 hours per week full- time day- time study and is allowed to work 20 hours per week during term time, unrestrictedly during holiday periods.

It is therefore possible for a school leaver to study in the UK and obtain a UK degree level qualification.

If you already have a degree or part-degree qualification and want to further your studies in the UK i.e. CIMA or MBA studies, you are able to pursue this on the Tier 4 student visa route whilst you work part time and obtain valuable work experience in London. Ask a question about enrolment or visa process

Child Student:
A child who wishes to undergo schooling in the UK at an Independent Fee Paying School can do so with a Child Student Visa. Ask a question

• Child Student
  A child who wishes to undergo schooling in the UK at an Independent Fee Paying School can do so with a Child Student Visa. Ask a question


• Adult Student
  Adults who wish to further their studies in the UK are able to do so under this category. The student needs to study a minimum of 15 hours per week full time day time study and is then also able to work 20 hours per week during term time, unrestrictedly during holiday periods. It is therefore possible for a school leaver to study in then UK and obtain a UK degree level qualification. If you already have a degree qualification and wants to further your studies in the UK i.e. MBA degree, you are able to pursue this on the Tier 4 student visa route. Ask a question

Tier 5 – Temporary Stay

• Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS)
  The YMS is a subcategory of Tier 5 and have replaced the old Two Year Working Holiday Scheme from November 2008. Currently 4 countries are participating in the scheme, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan. In this category the participating country is the sponsor. The list of participating countries is published on an annual basis, currently South Africa is not part of the scheme and is South African nationals unable to go to the UK under this scheme. The YMS allow the individual to work in the UK for 2 years unrestrictedly, employed or self-employed.
  
  Transitional arrangements are in place to allow current 2 Year Working Holiday Visa holders to complete their 2 years in the UK under the Working Holiday rules and restrictions and they still have multiple entry allowed. Ask a question