Tier 1 General Visas - Highly Skilled Migrants

Tier 1 General Highly Skilled visas allow people to live in the UK and work in the UK without travel or employment restrictions. Tier 1 General visas may be for you! The Tier 1 HSMP visa points calculator allows you to find out if you qualify now, by answering a few simple questions. You can begin your application instantly!

Tier 1 Visa, the abbreviation for the new Tier 1 (General) Highly Skilled Visa, will allow you to live in the UK and work without restriction in the UK. The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) visa programme has now been completely replaced by the Tier 1 visa. Tier 1 (General) visas are designed for people with skills, qualifications and work experience to come to the UK. Unlike regular Work Permits, you do not need a job offer to apply for this visa. You can also change jobs as you wish. Initially you will be given a three year visa. After this period you can apply for an extension for a further two years.

At the completion of five years in the UK, you will then be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain, or Settlement. This effectively means there will be no immigration restrictions on your stay in the UK anymore. After one further year, you will be eligible for a British passport.

To get a Tier 1 (General) visa you'll need to be able to prove your educational qualifications, previous earnings and employment experience. You will also have to prove English language skills and have money in the bank to support yourself until you find work in the UK.

If you require assistance in obtaining approval, call on Mulberry Finch. Committed solely to the needs of clients, Mulberry Finch offer total responsiveness, in-depth expertise, a track record of success, and a flexible comprehensive service offering tailored to the client. As a specialist private law consultancy undertaking immigration & nationality law Mulberry Finch provide legal representation to leading international businessmen, celebrities, corporate clients and private businesses, and individuals on the most complex matters.

Complete the updated highly skilled migrant assessment calculator on the following page to obtain an accurate assessment of your eligibility for the visa. With forms and guidance material of almost 100 pages, it is incredibly simple to miss the slightest detail when making your application, resulting in rejection. If an application is rejected, and you wish to apply for the visa a second time, the BIA (Border and Immigration Agency) or Embassy fee must be paid a second time unfortunately. Avoid being rejected, and needing to make a second costly application by starting with an accurate assessment.

The detail of our consultation, and application preparation services, and our fees are also provided. If you think you qualify, contact us now.

All immigration advice will be provided by a lawyer that is regulated by the OISC (Immigration Services Commissioner). Your application will be prepared by a lawyer who will be assigned to your case from start to success.

A wide variety of applicants may qualify for the visa. For example, a more experienced candidate with an established career may not score any points for their age, but may make up for this in earnings points. Similarly, a recent university graduate may not yet have reached a high salary to qualify for many earnings points, but will be awarded additional points based on the young age.

How long will the visa be granted for?

Visas are granted for an initial period of 3 years. Applicants may extend their leave for a period of up to 2 years, subject to satisfying the requirements of Tier 1 at the time of applying for an extension.

Do I need a lawyer?

If you wish to live and work in the UK under the Tier 1 (General) Highly Skilled visa system you will need to have a qualification at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree. If you are thirty-two years of age or older you will need to do well under qualifications or earning power to gain enough points. To make sure you qualify, please call our UK office for a free initial assessment on 0800 130 3300 or complete our on-line assessment form and a lawyer from our team of Tier 1 (General) visa experts will get back to you.

You may very well be able to live and work in the UK under the Tier 1 (General) Highly Skilled visa, the replacement to HSMP.

The UK authorities are very strict in enforcing the specific requirements for the Tier 1 visa category. It is quite common for an applicant who believes they have put together a complete application to wait weeks for a decision only to find they have been rejected. Furthermore, the government fee also needs to be paid a second time, when applying after being rejected on a technicality, adding further costs in addition to the unnecessary delay of going through the application process twice.

Mulberry Finch's teams of lawyers are ready to assist you ensure your application is a success, first time. Professional results, sensible fees. Contact us now.