Skilled Worker Visa London
Prime Immigration Consultants
Skilled Worker Visa
APPLY AS A SKILLED WORKER
The Skilled Worker Visa is open to individuals of all nationalities (except British and Irish) who have an offer of an eligible skilled job in the UK from a Home Office-approved sponsor. The route can lead to settlement and applicants can be joined by dependent partners and children.
In order to secure a Skilled Worker Visa you will need to be sponsored to do a specific job, which meets certain skill and salary requirements, by an employer that has been licensed by the Home Office. We have published separate guidance for UK employers considering applying for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.
There is no cap on the number of people who can enter the UK on the Skilled Worker route.
REQUIREMENT FOR A SKILLED WORKER VISA
You must be able to prove one of the following:
- You are aged 18 or over;
- You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job you are planning to do;
- Your job offer is a genuine vacancy;
- Your sponsor has paid any required Immigration Skills Charge;
- Your job is at an appropriate skill level;
- You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0);
- You will be paid a salary that equals or exceeds both a general salary threshold and the ‘going rate’ for the occupation;
- You have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds;
- You have provided a criminal record certificate if required; and
- You have provided a valid TB certificate if required.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
In order to qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa you will need to demonstrate English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) to at least level B1 (intermediate).
Prospective employees applying for entry clearance or leave to remain as a Skilled Worker will satisfy the English language requirement if they:
- Are a national of a majority English-speaking country;
- Have passed a Secure English Language Test;
- Have been awarded a degree taught in English;
- Obtained a GCSE/A Level or Scottish Highers in English while at school in the UK; or
- Have already shown they met the requirement, of level B1, in a previous successful application for entry clearance or permission to stay.
Everything You Need To Know About The Skilled Worker Visa
- a proven knowledge of English
- work for an employer approved by the Home Office
How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?
- The application fee ranges from £719 to £1,500, according to your situation.
- The healthcare surcharge is usually around £624 per year.
- The expenses to settle in the UK, after you land, are around £1,270 cash.
- The application fee gets reduced if your job is on the shortage occupation list.
Skilled Worker Visa Processing Times
- The process usually starts from the moment you’ve gone for your visa appointment and handed in your biometric data. When they’ve done the ID checks and processed your application, that’s when the clock starts ticking. Usually, the processing time for a skilled worker visa is 8 weeks. Reach out to us today for expert guidance on securing your Skilled Worker Visa in London.