Skilled Worker

• Your employer must have a Skilled Worker sponsor licence
• You can find a list of eligible jobs and salary levels for new graduates here The job must have a particular skill level (defined as being at level 6, which is Degree level or equivalent.
• There is a separate route for some specialised areas of skilled work including psychologists, nurses, midwifes, opthalmic opticians: see the Home Office Guides to the Health and Care Worker visa which have fixed salary scales.
• There is usually a minimum wage level of £33,400 for recent Graduates, or 70% of the going rate for the role whichever is higher, you can find the minimum salary level for each job in  Appendix Skilled Occupations
• For certain teaching and healthcare jobs only there are separate national payscales that apply.
• You will automatically meet the required  English language skills if you have a UK degree or have Student Route immigration permission for a Degree level course
• You do not have to meet any  maintenance requirement if you have already been living in the UK for more than 12 months as a Student or other long-stay immigration category
• UKCISA also provide useful information.

You can switch into the Skilled Worker category from within the UK if you meet all the following criteria:

• You have current immigration permission as a Student which has not expired
• If you have been offered a Skilled Worker job within 90 days of your formal course end date on your case and are studying for  a UK recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree e.g. Bachelors or Masters. (Postgraduate diploma or certificates are not eligible) or have completed at least two years of a PhD.
• You studied your degree at a UK HEI with a track record of compliance  which holds a licence to sponsor Students (City St George's does).
• You have a Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer who is on the list of registered sponsors with the Home Office.
• If you have not already been in the UK for 12 months or more or are applying from outside of the UK, you must be able to show that you have £1200 in an account that is acceptable to the Home Office for a minimum of 28 consecutive days before you apply. Alternatively, you do not have to provide any evidence of funds if your Skilled Worker sponsor is willing to confirm on your Certificate of Sponsorship that they will advance this amount of money during the first month of your employment (if needed).
• If a government or international scholarship agency paid all your Student tuition fees and living costs within the last 12 months then you will need written permission from your official sponsor in order to extend your immigration permission in the UK.

You can start the  full time work as set out on your Certificate of Sponsorship once you have applied for immigration permission as a Skilled Worker before you receive a decision from the UKVI about your application

If you are still studying for a PhD and are not within 90 days of your course end date or have not yet completed your course you cannot work full time for your new employer until your Skilled Worker permission has been granted, since you are still bound by your Student visa conditions and are considered to be in "term time".

UKCISA provides further guidance on this.

To qualify for the Skilled Worker route all applicants need to accrue 70 points in order  to meet the requirements.

These are the mandatory criteria that all Skilled Worker applicants need to meet:

• Applicants must have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor 20 points
• The job must be at or above the minimum skill level: RQF6 level (or equivalent) 20 points
• Applicants must speak English to an acceptable standard (CEFR level B2) 10 points

These mandatory criteria earn the applicant 50 points, and in addition applicants must acquire a further 20 tradeable points through a combination of points for their salary, i.e. as a new entrant or a job on the Immigration Salary List or temporary shortage list, shortage occupation or a relevant PhD.

Many employers are anxious about employing overseas nationals as they are not aware of the arrangements in place for international graduates, and believe that the process of sponsoring you may be complicated. If you are eligible to switch to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK then you and your employer will benefit from the following:

• You will qualify for the "new entrant" wage for your job – this is the higher of 70% of the going rate for the job and £33400
• If an employer recruits someone from outside the UK they are required to pay an Immigration Skills Charge, but they are exempt from paying this for Students switching directly from the student route within the UK

UKCISA provides extensive guidance on the Skilled Worker route and issues relating to applications to switch into this category, as well as guidance on other options for staying in the UK after study.

You can usually apply for a Skilled Worker visa for an initial 4 years at the new entrant salary rate (including any time spent on the Graduate Route) and can then extend it provided that the employer is willing to sponsor you again at the higher ‘going rate’ for the role.

Alternatively  you can be sponsored as a Skilled Worker visa for up to 5 years directly if the employer is willing to sponsor you at the higher  ‘going rate’ salary for the role . This also attracts a higher application fee. Details of current immigration permission application fees can be found on the Government's UK visa page.

Please note that, as we are primarily Student Advisers, we are unable to offer detailed advice on Skilled Worker applications.