• Home
• UK Visas
  • Visiting the UK
  • Studying in the UK
    • Tier 4 (General)
    • Tier 4 (Child)
  • Working in the UK
    • Tier 1 (General)
    • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
    • Tier 1 (Investor)
    • Tier 1 (Post Study Work)
    • Tier 2 (General)
    • Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer)
    • Tier 5 (General)
    • Nationals of Bulgaria and Romania
  • Partners & Family
  • Settlement
  • British Citizenship
• Employers
• Our Fees
• Same Day Service
• FAQs
• Contact Us

• STOP PRESS -16/08/2010 - Same Day Service available for Tier 4 Student visa applications
• STOP PRESS - 29/06/2010 - Migrants marrying UK citizens must now learn English
• STOP PRESS - 29/06/2010 - Imminent reductions in the number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 visas announced today
• STOP PRESS - 07/04/2010 – Tier 4 changes for education providers and migrant students
• STOP PRESS - 07/04/2010 – New rules for skilled and highly skilled migrant workers

Tier 1 (General Assessment)

The Experts For All UK Visas

The Tier 1 (General) category is designed to enable highly skilled people to come to the UK to look for work or self-employment opportunities.

As a general rule you can apply under Tier 1 (General) while here in the UK if you are in the UK with permission to work or study.

If you are outside the UK – or here under any other kind of permission – you must return home and apply from there (UK VISAS can still manage this for you).

What points you have to score to apply as a highly skilled worker.

To qualify for a Tier 1 (General) visa you must score a total of 95 points (100 from 19th July 2010) as follows:

• 75 (80 from 19th July 2010) points for your attributes (age, qualifications, previous earnings, and experience in the United Kingdom); and
• 10 points for English language; and
• 10 points for available maintenance (funds).

For age

• Under 29 years old - 20 points
• 30 to 34 years old - 10 points
• 32 or 33 years old – 5 points

For qualifications

• PhD - 45 points
• Masters degree - 35 points
• Bachelor's degree – 30 points

Points are only awarded for a qualification which is assessed and recognised by the National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) to meet or exceed the recognised standard of a bachelor's or master's degree or a PhD in the United Kingdom. UK VISAS can make the necessary checks with NARIC on behalf of clients should they so wish (our fee is £125 + VAT) or they can contact NARIC directly on www.naric.org.uk

For previous earnings

You can score up to 75 points for your earnings. Earnings must be made up of 12 consecutive months and must fall within the 15 months before your application.

For UK experience

Qualification obtained in the UK or £25,000+ earned in the UK earns an additional 5 points.

There are very specific and particular rules relating to how your supporting evidence should be prepared and presented and a number of variations to the above rules with regard to those who can apply under the transitional arrangements. Call us for more details on 01403 801801.

UK VISAS manages Tier 1 (General) applications on a weekly basis and has a 100% success record with these to date, so you can be confident you will receive correct advice and have your application prepared properly by employing us to make your application for you.

UK VISAS also offers a same day service for Tier 1 (General) visa applications

Fees Breakdown

Our fee for managing Tier 1 (General) visa applications is:

The Home Office charges are:

TIER 1 VISA, GENERAL VISA

A tier 1 visa, general visa is designed to allow skilled applicants to arrive in the UK and search for work as employees or in a self-employed capacity. To obtain a tier 1 visa, general visa, applicants do not need to have already been offered a job or have secured a sponsor. Instead, the tier 1 visa, general visa works on a points-based system.

Points are awarded to applicants based on their previous earnings, qualifications, experience in the UK, age, funds and ability to use the English language. To obtain a tier 1 visa, general visa for the UK, applicants must get at least 80 points. This assures the UK government that they will successfully contribute to the UK economy and improve the lot of the country.

Applicants for the tier 1 visa, general visa must also demonstrate that they will be able to integrate with UK citizens. To this end, the government requires that they achieve a pass mark of 10 in their English language abilities when applying for the tier 1 visa, general visa.

Applicants can do this by showing that their home country uses English as its first language or have obtained a Master’s degree which was taught entirely in English. Alternatively, applicants for the tier 1 visa, general visa may have passed a test that meets the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for Language Learning.

People may also apply for a tier 1 visa, general visa if they already have permission to stay in the UK and are in a category that allows the switch to a tier 1 visa, general visa. Additionally, immigrants may apply for a UK tier 1 visa, general visa if they are already in the country as a member of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.

To reduce dependence on the British economy while migrants look for work, the government requires that applicants for the tier 1 visa, general visa should be able to financially support themselves while they are in the country. The demonstrable funds needed to satisfy the requirements of the tier 1 visa, general visa currently amounts to £2,800.

Applicants for the tier 1 visa, general visa can gain points according to their relative levels of education. A PhD is worth 45 points, a Master’s degree is worth 35 points, and a Bachelor’s degree is worth 30 points.