How to Immigrate to the United Kingdom for Work

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Are you considering moving to another country for work? Did you know the United Kingdom is the top job destination for job opportunities in the world? In this post, I will share how to immigrate to the United Kingdom for work.

Why Choose the United Kingdom?

They rated the United Kingdom as one of the top country for job opportunities in 2020.

Source CEOWorld Magazine

Also, the United Kingdom ranks as the overall 6th best country in the world to work and live in 2020 (source US News).

Source US News

The United Kingdom is the 12th ranking country in the world for the best quality of life in 2020 (source US News).

Source US News

So if you are looking to immigrate to another country with ample job opportunities and outstanding quality of life, why not consider the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom has the highest job opportunities in the world. Life is about choices, and the choices we make today determine who we and our next generations become tomorrow. Often we struggle with finding an excellent job in our country and yearn for a better quality of life for us and our family. And not always we have all the information about the opportunities in other countries like the United Kingdom and how to start the transition. Since we don’t have all the information, we don’t gather the courage and willingness to take the risk of moving to another country and live our dreams. I aim the post to provide you with all the information you need with links to other resources to help you make this transition.

The United Kingdom has enacted a new immigration policy effective January 1, 2020, which makes it easier for foreign applicants to look for a job in the United Kingdom.

According to a report by Gilles Pison in World Economic Forum on March 13, 2019, and United Nations data, the United Kingdom had 8.4 million foreign-born immigrants in 2019, which is 12.5% of the population and the fifth highest in the world.

Source World Economic Forum

So let’s get started. As with most countries, there are a couple of ways to immigrate to the United Kingdom for work.

Study

Why the study is the best way to immigrate for work?

The best way to immigrate to the United Kingdom for work is to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom.

First, it provides an ideal opportunity to learn and master English while still studying for non-English native speakers.

Second, it helps immigrants assimilate into the British way of life and imbibe their culture early on.

Third, with a UK university education, it is much easier to apply and find jobs in the UK.

Fourth, it sets the stage for a faster permanent residency in the United Kingdom.

According to an article from Times Higher Education on September 2, 2020, the top 5 best universities in the UK 2021 are:

1. University of Oxford

2. University of Cambridge

3. Imperial College London

4. UCL

5. London School of Economics and Political Science

Other online resources available to explore universities in United Kingdom are following:

Student Visa

According to GOV.UK official site, one can apply for a student visa to study in the UK if one is 16 or over and you:

If one is 16 or 17 and wants to study at an independent school in the UK, one may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

Must apply online for a student visa. Check which documents you’ll need to apply. Click here to apply.

Work

The United Kingdom provides several visa options to move to the United Kingdom for work.

Check if you need a visa here.

Skilled Worker Visa

According to UK.GOV official site, a Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, one must:

  • Work for a UK employer that the Home Office has approved.
  • Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role they have offered you in the UK.
  • Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.
  • Be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work.

The specific eligibility depends on the job.

Must apply online. How you apply depends on whether one is:

If one wants to change job or employer, one must apply to update your visa.

One can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

Health and Care Worker Visa

According to UK.GOV official site, a Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care.

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa, one must:

  • Be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional.
  • Work in eligible health or social care job.
  • Work for a UK employer that the Home Office has approved.
  • Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role they have offered you in the UK.
  • Be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work.

Check if your job is eligible.

For a skilled worker visa, and health and care worker visa, one must have a confirmed job offer before one applies for the visa must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English. One usually needs to prove your knowledge of English during application.

The visa can last for up to 5 years. One needs to apply to extend or update the visa when it expires or if one changes jobs or employer.

After 5 years, one may apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives one the right to live, work, and study here for as long as one likes, and apply for benefits if eligible.

Must apply online. How one applies depends on whether one is:

If one wants to change a job or employer, one must apply to update your visa.

One can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

Intra-Company Visas

According to the UK.GOV official site, there are 2 types of Intra-company visa:

Intra-Company Transfer Visa:

Applicable if one is being transferred by the employer to a role in the UK. One needs to have worked for the employer overseas for over 12 months unless the pay is £73,900 a year or more to work in the UK.

Must apply online. How one applies depends on whether one is:

You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

Intra-Company Graduate Trainee Visa:

This visa is for transfers to the UK as part of a graduate training program for a managerial or specialist role. One needs to have worked for the employer overseas for at least 3 months immediately before the date one applies.

To qualify for an Intra-company visa, one must:

  • Be an existing employee of an organization that the Home Office has approved as a sponsor.
  • Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role they have offered you in the UK.
  • Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.
  • Paid at least £41,500 for an Intra-company Transfer visa, or at least £23,000 for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa.

The specific eligibility requirements depend on the job.

Must apply online. How one applies depends on whether one is:

Global Talent Visa

According to UK.GOV official site, one can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if one is a leader or potential leader in one field: academia or research; arts and culture; digital technology. One must also be at least 18 years old.

One can only apply for a Global Talent visa once one has successfully applied for an endorsement to prove that one is a leader or a potential leader.

Click on the links below to find out how to apply for endorsement and what one can do with a Global Talent visa if one works in one of the following fields:

One can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. There’s no limit to how long one can stay in the UK, but one will need to renew (‘extend’) the visa when it expires. Each extension can last from 1 to 5 years.

One may get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on the endorsement path one is applying for. This gives one the right to live, work, and study for as long as one likes, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

Must apply online. How one applies depends on whether one is:

You may leave your comments and queries in the comments section.

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