Warner News
11/06/2010
Migrants marrying UK citizens must now learn English
Compulsory English language tests will be introduced for non-European migrants.
01/10/2009
Two new policy announcements for Tier 4
New policy for Tier 4 sponsors
Post Study Work
Two Years to Gain Experience and Earn
The Post Study Work Scheme (PSW) replaces the International Graduates Scheme as is a great improvement, and is part of the British Government’s new Points Based System (PBS). The Post Study Work Scheme works under the Points Based System and the applicant must meet the minimum points to be awarded this PSW visa; more details about this later.
The British Government want to attract the best and brightest people to come to the UK and contribute to the UK economy. For students who have graduated in the UK, the British Government are keen to give them the opportunity to prove themselves to employers and to help them develop their skills post study.
The British Government realise that the first year of you have completed your degree can be very difficult to find work and establish yourself, which is why they are now enabling recent graduates to work in the UK for up top two years and free from restriction; this includes forming your own business.
The hope is the very bright will have earned enough money by year two to enable the people on the Post Study Work visa to qualify for the new Tier 1 (General) visa, which is the king of all visas for overseas nationals, with the exception of permanent residency.
Please find below the criteria for qualifying for the PSW Scheme:
How are point calculated?
Points are awarded for what are called "Attributes", for which you need to score 75 points. These are awarded as follows:
You have been awarded a United Kingdom recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree; a United Kingdom postgraduate diploma in education; or a higher national diploma (HND) from a Scottish institution [20 points available].
You studied for the award at a United Kingdom recognised or listed body; a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education or acceptable private education institution (if your HND is from a Scottish institution); or hold a sponsor licence under Tier 4 of the Points Based System [20 points available].
Your period of study and/or research were while you were in the United Kingdom with entry clearance, leave to enter or to leave to remain as a student or dependant of someone with leave in any category permitting the admittance of dependants [20 points available].
Your application for entry clearance under Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) is made within 12 months of obtaining the relevant qualification [15 points available].
Separate points are given for English language ability (10 points automatically awarded if you scored 75 points for the attributes above) and the availability of funds for maintenance (10 points). You must produce evidence of the required funds in addition to reaching the pass mark for the Attributes.
Points scoring - Attributes
Qualification [20 points available]
United Kingdom recognised degree at bachelor or postgraduate level
A United Kingdom recognised body is an institution granted degree awarding powers by a Royal Charter, Act of Parliament or the Privy Council
United Kingdom postgraduate certificate or diploma in education
It is not necessary for the awarding body to be a United Kingdom recognised body.
Higher national diploma (HND) from a Scottish institution
The qualification must be at Level 8 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. You must have studied at a Scottish institution and the HND awarded by a Scottish awarding body.
Qualifications not acceptable
Foundation degrees; honorary degrees; qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom by overseas awarding bodies, including overseas campuses of United Kingdom institutions; and professional and vocational qualifications.
Institution [20 points available]
United Kingdom recognised or listed body
A recognised body is described above. A listed body provides full courses that lead to the award of a degree by a United Kingdom recognised body.
Scottish institution
If you began your HND studies at a Scottish institution before the launch of Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) the institution does not have to be a recognised or listed body. However, you must have studied at a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education, or at a Scottish private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance.
Immigration status in the United Kingdom during the period of study and/or research in the United Kingdom [20 points available]
You can claim 20 points if you can establish that during your period of study and/or research in the United Kingdom you had leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a:
- student – as defined by Part 3 of - Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for studies
- student nurse - as defined by Part 3 of - Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for studies
- student re-sitting an examination - as defined by Part 3 of - Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for studies
- student writing up a thesis - (as defined by Part 3 of - Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for studies; or
- dependant of someone with leave in any category that allows dependants to join them in the United Kingdom.
You do not need to have lived in the United Kingdom throughout the entire period of your study. For example, you may have undertaken periods of overseas study and/or research whilst obtaining your qualification.
Date of award of qualification - [15 points available]
You can claim 15 points if your qualification was obtained within 12 months immediately before your application for entry clearance under Tier 1 (Post-Study Work).
The date of your obtaining your qualification is the date you were first notified in writing, by the awarding institution, that they had awarded your qualification, NOT the date of graduation.
Controls
What are controls?
Controls are measures the British Government have put in place to ensure that visa applicants meet minimum language and finance criteria.
English language ability - [10 points available]
For the Post Study Work you do not need to prove the language requirements, because the British Government assume that your qualification will be taught in English. Therefore, you are automatically awarded 10 points if you meet the other required 75 points.
Maintenance (Funds) - [10 points available]
Even if you have attained the pass mark of 75 in the Attributes section thereby satisfying the English language requirement, your application will be refused if you do not pass the Maintenance (Funds) requirement.
As a general rule you must be able to support yourself for the entire duration of your stay in the UK without needing any help from public funds.
You must provide proof that you have funds to sustain yourself while you are in the UK seeking employment or starting your own business. There are different amounts required if you are already living in the UK or if you live outside of the UK. The funds required are as follows: Not Living in the UK - You must prove that you have £2,800 (or the equivalent your local currency) in the bank or building society in savings for a continuous period of three-months. You will need to provide proof that is less that seven days old at the time of making the application. Your account must not be a penny less that the £2,800 or your application will be refused. NOTE: You no longer qualify if you only have a Post Graduate Diploma.
Living in the UK - You must prove that you have £800 in the bank or building society in savings for a minimum of three months, prior to making the Tier 1 application. You will need to provide proof that is less one calendar month old at the time of making the application. The account should not have dropped below the £800 even by one penny. These sums of money can be in more than one account as long as the accounts are in your name or in joint names with you as one of the named people.
If you have a dependent(s) in the UK with you, you will need to prove an additional £533 of funds for each dependent for the same three months. These sums of money can be in more than one account.
If you have a dependent(s) and you will be bringing them with you to the UK, you will need to prove you have an additional £1,600 (or the equivalent your local curreny) of funds for each dependent.