Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

A Senior or Specialist worker needs to be:

• sponsored by a company holding a sponsorship licence with an ‘A’ rating and with the appropriate tier
• who have issued a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ and
• be paid at least £45,800 per year or at the ‘going rate’ stipulated for approved roles as defined by the Home Office if higher.

The Senior or Specialist Worker is subject to a points-based test.

An applicant needs to score 60 points from the following:

• 20 points for sponsorship from an approved licence holder
• 20 points for the job at the correct skill level
• 20 points for the correct salary.

The role must be genuine and therefore needs to exist, cannot be a sham or have been created to simply assist the applicant to obtain a visa.

The applicant will need to show they have held £1270 in an approved regulated bank account for a minimum of 28 days unless their maintenance is ‘certified’ on the Certificate of Sponsorship by their prospective employer – which means the employer will assume this financial responsibility to maintain and accommodate the applicant or dependants (if relevant) for the first 28 days of their stay in the UK.

An applicant needs to:

• provide a valid tuberculosis test if he/she is a national of a specified country
• complete an online application
• upload supporting documentation
• provide biometrics through an approved provider or online process.

The visa processing time is approximately 3 weeks but can be expedited subject to paying additional processing fees.

An applicant needs to pay:

• • £1035 per year Healthcare Surcharge fee
  • £719-£1420 visa application fee depending on their circumstances

Dependants including the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or children under 18 will need to submit their application through the online form, upload supporting documentation and provide their biometrics in the same way as the main applicant.

The dependants may need to provide a tuberculosis test certificate if they are nationals of specified countries.

Dependants will need to show they have held the following funds for at least 28 days:

• £285 for a partner
• £315 for a child
• £200 for each additional child.

The above funds are in addition to the £1270 the main applicant needs to hold.

If the employer ‘certifies’ maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship the dependants do not need to provide any evidence.

If the applicant and dependants have been in the UK for 12 months and are applying for an extension no maintenance is required.

Dependants will be subject to the Immigration Health Service charge.