Work Permits Tier 2 - [MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS]
Tier 2 Maintenance Requirements
To gain entry into the UK under all categories of Tier 2 it is necessary to fulfill the Maintenance Requirement. This is intended to demonstrate an applicant's ability to support his or herself during the first month of residency in the UK.
To qualify at this stage, a migrant must fulfill one of the following 2 conditions:
He or she must be able to show personal savings equivalent to £800 at the time the application is made *
He or she must have written confirmation from their sponsor that the sponsor will maintain and accommodate them until the end of the first month of their work in the United Kingdom.
If the applicant intends to bring his or her immediate family with them to the UK then there are additional requirements: For each dependant one of the following 2 conditions must also be satisfied:
The dependent or the applicant must be able to show personal savings equivalent to £533 at the time the application is made *
The applicant must have written confirmation from his or her sponsor that the sponsor will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate his or her dependents during their first month in the United Kingdom.
* The financial provisions will change at the end of March 2009 when the amounts of £800 and £533 will need to have been held at all times during the preceding 3 month period.
Evidence of personal savings
The following forms of evidence are allowable:
1. Personal Bank or Building Society statements
2. Building Society pass book
3. A letter from a bank, building society or other financial institution which is officially regulated in either the UK or the applicants home country
In all cases the evidence should be original, should clearly relate to the applicant and should bear the issuing institution's name and logo. Statements generated electronically should bear the stamp of the relevant institution on each page.
Tier 2 English Language Requirements
To gain entry into the UK under all categories * of Tier 2 it is necessary to fulfill the English Language Requirement. This is intended to demonstrate an applicant's ability to succeed in his or her new job and to successfully integrate into UK society.
Applicants must be able to speak English at a level that shows familiarity with everyday expressions and basic phrases. They must be able to introduce themselves to others and answer basic personal questions about themselves.
An applicant can demonstrate the necessary competence in English in one of three ways.
1. By being a national of a majority English-speaking country
2. By successfully completing a degree equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree taught in English
3. By passing an acceptable English language test
1. By being a national of a majority English-speaking country
Nationals of the majority English-speaking countries listed below automatically meet the English Language Requirement:
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
New zealand
St Kitts & Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent & the Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago
The USA
Documentary evidence of nationality can be in the form of a current valid original passport or travel document, current national identity card or an original letter from the applicantš home government or embassy
2. By successfully completing a degree equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree taught in English
An applicant may provide evidence that he or she holds a degree which:
is equivalent to a UK Bachelor's level or higher (as recognised by the Recognition Information Centre for the UK (UK NARIC).
has been taught or researched in English (If the degree was taken in one of the majority English-speaking countries listed above, with the exception of Canada, then it will be assumed that it was taught in English otherwise it must be proved)
3. By passing an acceptable English language test
The test certificate must have been issued by an organisation approved by the UK Border Agency.
As an example, the following test and pass mark is acceptable in the general category:
International English Language testing System (IELTS) - Level B1 - score 4.0
Notes
1. It is assumed that people applying for entry under Tier 2 for Ministers of Religion, generally require a higher level of English language ability as they must address a congregation. For them an IELTS - Level B2 - score 5.5 is the required minimum if the English language test is their chosen method of demonstrating their necessary competence in English
2. People applying for entry under Tier 2 for Intra Company Transfers do not have to satisfy the English Language Requirement unless they are applying for leave extension which takes their total leave under this scheme beyond 3 years
