Living abroad is the most immersive way to learn about another culture. You will integrate into the local community and experience a new perspective than what you would on vacation. Depending on your age, education, heritage, work experience, etc moving abroad can be an effortless or difficult venture.
The process varies by country, but there are a number of different visas that allow individuals to live in the country for specified periods of time. Obtaining a work visa/employment sponsorship is one of the easiest ways to move abroad. Employers will manage the work visa process but also may help with relocation costs as well as adaptation to the new country.
This post will be one of several exploring the visa process for different countries. Please note that I am not an expert and this information is based on my research and interpretations of my findings. And with Brexit, A LOT can change.
A common way to immigrate to the UK is to obtain a General work visa (Tier 2) or Intra-company Transfer visa (Tier 2). You can apply for this visa if you have an offer for a skilled job in the UK. And this is where it starts to get complicated. A company or organization must have or obtain a sponsor license to employ someone from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland (i.e. migrant). Obtaining a sponsor license seems like a complicated process but there are a number of organizations that have their license.
So Many Hoops
To offer a migrant a position, the organization assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship which confirms that the job has a suitable rate of pay and skill level. It also confirms that the company conducted a resident labour market test which provides evidence that the vacancy cannot be filled by a suitable qualified or skilled settled worker. Positions exempt from this test have a salary of £159,600 or more or it is listed on the shortage occupation list.
Applications for a restricted CoS are scored and prioritized based on the job and recruitment criteria and the gross annual salary to be paid to the migrant. There is a monthly allocation of how many restricted CoS applications that will be approved. The UK government will approve valid applications solely on the number of points scored, starting with the highest. Unrestricted certificates are unlimited but have different requirements.
If You’re a Badass
The Exceptional Talent (Tier 1), as the name implies, is designed for highly skilled individuals in the fields of science, humanities, engineering, the arts, and digital technology who will enrich the UK (no pressure).
Have you obtained a work visa in the UK? I’d love to hear about your process!
