UK Work Permit 2023 | Organizations Recruiting for Skilled Workers – Applications are invited from all interested candidates. See below for all you need to know; the requirements, application closing date, and how to apply.
Are you a skilled person wishing to work in the United Kingdom? There is no need to look any further! In this article, we share the exclusive secrets to turning your UK career dreams into reality in as little as two weeks.
Two top recruitment companies are on a mission to match skilled workers from various professions with fantastic job opportunities in the United Kingdom. They are actively seeking outstanding professionals like YOU for immediate recruitment in fields ranging from HR and IT to healthcare and construction. Transportation, logistics, digital marketing, public sector, travel technology, and other businesses have high-demand jobs. Your dream career could be just a few mouse clicks away!
Are you an international skilled worker looking for a rewarding career in the United Kingdom? Finding the correct recruitment firm is frequently the first step toward landing your ideal job in the UK. In this in-depth examination, we’ll look closely at two important competitors in the field: Grafton Recruitment and Urbanberry. We’ll assess their services, track record, and ability to help you make the UK your new professional home.
Grafton Employment:
Grafton Recruitment has become a well-known brand in the UK recruitment industry. With a long history, they have a great reputation for matching skilled employees with top-tier job opportunities in a variety of industries.
Services Provided:
Grafton Recruitment works in a variety of areas, including information technology, finance, healthcare, engineering, and others. They take pleasure in matching qualified applicants with organizations that value skills and knowledge.
Pros:
- Extensive Network: Grafton Recruitment’s huge network of employers allows them to offer a wide choice of career possibilities, boosting your chances of finding the perfect match.
- Specialized Expertise: They have specific teams for different sectors, guaranteeing that you work with recruiters who understand your industry inside and out.
- Personalized Support: Grafton Recruitment is well-known for providing personalized support. They offer personalized assistance throughout the application and interview process, ensuring that your transfer to the UK is as seamless as possible.
Cons:
- Competition: Grafton Recruitment’s popularity implies that there may be strong competition for some openings.
- Location: Grafton Recruitment offices are mostly located in major UK cities, thus access may be a challenge for those living outside of these locations.
Urbanberry:
Urbanberry is another well-known recruitment service that specializes in placing international skilled people in employment in the United Kingdom. They are well-known for their dedication to aiding candidates through the difficult process of relocation and employment.
Services Provided:
The hospitality industry, the engineering industry, the healthcare industry, and construction are the ones that Urbanberry focuses on helping the most. They are especially adept at directing those who are looking for employment that requires particular degrees and certificates.
Pros:
- Industry Expertise: Urbanberry’s particular emphasis enables them to offer in-depth information and counsel in their specialized fields.
- Visa Assistance: They provide crucial support with the visa application procedure, which may be a huge relief for overseas candidates.
- Supportive Community: Urbanberry frequently develops a sense of community among their candidates, which can be very beneficial for immigrants to the UK.
Cons:
- Limited Industry Coverage: While Urbanberry excels in some industries, they may not be the best fit for individuals in fields other than their specialty.
- Geographic Restrictions: Urbanberry’s offices, like Grafton Recruitment’s, are concentrated in major UK cities, potentially limiting accessibility.
Selecting the Best Fit:
A decision between Grafton Recruitment and Urbanberry is one that will eventually need to be made, and that decision should be based on the objectives and ambitions you have for your professional career. You need to take into account the following factors before making a decision about what to do:
- Industry: Determine which agency specializes in your industry to increase your chances of success.
- Location: Determine whether the agency’s office locations are convenient for your job search and prospective move.
- Support Services: Consider the level of assistance provided by each organization, such as visa assistance, interview coaching, and relocation assistance.
- Employment Market: Investigate the demand for your abilities in the UK employment market and determine which agency has the most contacts in your target field.
- Personal Connection: Sometimes it comes down to personal rapport. Contact both agencies, speak with their recruiters, and decide which one you like.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Required Documents
Some of the information and documents you may need to provide to support your Skilled Worker visa application include:
- Your passport (with a blank page)
- Your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
- Your job title and annual salary
- Your job’s occupation code
- The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number (as shown on your Certificate of Sponsorship)
- Evidence of sufficient personal savings to support yourself
- Proof of your relationship to your spouse/partner and children (e.g. marriage and birth certificates)
- A criminal record certificate (this is only necessary for certain occupation types involving vulnerable individuals such as healthcare and education)
- Proof of your English language proficiency
- TB test results (if you are from a country for which this is required)
- UK PhD certificate or Ecctis reference if your PhD is not from the UK
You will also be advised how you can prove your identity and supply your biometrics (i.e. fingerprints and photo) for your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). This can be done either by having your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre in the country in which you are located or by using the Home Office’s mobile phone ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. The app allows you to scan your identity documents and upload these to the Home Office.
Given the complexity of the Skilled Worker visa documentation requirements, we recommend seeking legal advice from an employment immigration Solicitor before submitting your application. Our team will ensure that all evidence necessary for your application is provided to UKVI and any errors or omissions are corrected. Call us on 020 3744 2797 for advice on your Skilled Worker visa.
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How to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa
The process of applying for a Skilled Worker visa from outside of the UK is completed online on the Home Office website. You will be in a position to complete and submit your application once you have your job offer, Certificate of Sponsorship, and the supporting information listed above. If necessary, you can complete part of the application and save your progress, allowing you to complete the process at a later date.
The application steps are as follows:
- Check your eligibility for a Skilled Worker Visa
- Secure a job offer from a licensed sponsor in the UK
- Receive your Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer
- Prepare the documents you will need to prove your eligibility for a Skilled Worker visa
- Complete the online application form – The form you will need to complete depends on if you are applying from outside the UK, or switching from a different visa within the UK.
- Pay the application fee, biometric fee, and healthcare surcharge (see below).
- Upload any documents required to support your application.
- Arrange a biometric appointment to have your fingerprints and photo taken.
You can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks of your application date if submitted outside the UK. If more information is needed to support your application, you will be contacted by UKVI.
Changing Employers on a Skilled Worker Visa
If you hold a Skilled Worker visa and wish to change employers, you will need to apply for a new visa. This is the case if you wish to:
- Change employer
- Change occupation
- Change occupation code
- Change from occupation on the shortage occupation list for one not on the list
Assuming your current work visa is still valid, you will be able to apply from within the UK and continue living and working here until a decision is made by the Home Office.
It will also be necessary to apply for a new visa if you take on a second role with a different employer in a different occupation.
Your application to change job or employer can be made up to 3 months before the start date of your new role. It is important to apply as early as possible as it may take up to 8 weeks to receive a decision on your application. You should not start working for your new employer until you have received a positive decision on your application.
Skilled Worker Visa extension
You will be able to extend your visa before it expires as long as you are still with the same sponsor/employer and you are still in the same occupation (this must be in the same occupation code as your current visa). If you plan to change your job or employer, you will need to apply for a new visa rather than extend your current visa. It is possible to extend your visa as many times as you wish.
For more information, you can check our guide for Skilled Worker visa extension
For assistance and advice on the Skilled Worker extension process, speak to one of our employment immigration solicitors on 020 3744 2797.
Skilled Worker visa to ILR
One of the main benefits of the Skilled Worker Visa is that if you do plan to stay in the UK permanently, rather than just extending your visa, you can acquire permanent residency by applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after 5 years. To do so, you must meet the continuous residence requirement, meaning that you must not have been outside of the UK for more than 180 days in any of the 5 years. Once you have indefinite leave to remain, you will not need to make any more visa applications or pay the immigration healthcare surcharge, and you will be able to apply for UK citizenship after 12 months.
It is important to note that the 5 years required to qualify for ILR can be made up of time on a range of visas, including the Representative of an Overseas Business visa, Innovator visa, Global Talent visa, Tier 2 visa (Minister of Religion or Sportsperson), or a Tier 1 visa. Time spent on the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur scheme cannot be included, however.
In addition, to qualify for ILR, you will need to provide evidence that:
- You have passed the Life in the UK test (for those between 18 and 65)
- You are still employed by the same sponsor licence holder
- You still meet the minimum salary requirements
- You have sufficient English language skills
