Hello everyone,

While researching for my fiance to apply for the newly opened portal for UK Tier 2 Visa, I instantly knew that many would be discouraged by the long write-ups and multiple links to follow through their desire to emigrate for better work and economic life.

So I put together this edited version to help guide one through quickly. Kindly read below and feel free to comment and ask questions.

Caveat emptor: I AM NOT AN AGENT

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UK Tier Visa
The UK Tier Visa system is a points-based visa category system. Applicants must score a minimum number of points on an assessment test to be eligible for a visa (for more info, check https://www.gov.uk/government/news/points-based-immigration-system-opens). The test takes into consideration such factors as age, fluency in the English language, and other factors dependent on the specific Tier under which you apply. Travelling to live in the UK under a Tier category often makes you eligible for UK settlement or even UK citizenship.
The UK Tier 1 category is for high-value migrants.
The UK Tier 1 category currently holds the following visa sub-categories:
• Tier 1 Exceptional Talent-Persons internationally recognised in the sciences or arts.
• Tier 1 Entrepreneur-Persons who wish to set up, take over, or being involved in running a business or businesses in the UK.
• Tier 1 Investor-Persons who want to make a significant financial investment in the UK.
• Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur-Non-Europeans who graduated from higher education institutions in the UK and who have been recognised for innovative or entrepreneurial skills.

The UK Tier 2 category is for skilled workers.
The UK Tier 2 category holds the following visa sub-categories:
• Tier 2 General-Persons who have been offered a skilled job in a position that cannot be filled by a UK settled person.
• Tier 2 Minister of Religion-Persons such as ministers, priests or missionaries who have been offered a position in a faith-based community within the UK.
• Tier 2 Sportsperson-Elite athletes and coaches who are internationally recognised at the highest level of competition.
• Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer-Employees of multi-national companies who are transferred to a UK branch of their organisation.

The UK Tier 3 category is currently suspended.

It was originally used for low-skilled workers during temporary labour shortages.

The UK Tier 4 category is for adult students aged 16 or over.

You may study at or above the National Qualification Framework level 3 under this category. University and college study programs are included under Tier 4

The UK Tier 5 category is for temporary workers.

The UK Tier 5 category holds the following visa sub-categories:

• Tier 5 Creative and Sporting-For entertainers, athletes, or creative artists.
• Tier 5 Charity Workers-For people coming to the UK to participate in voluntary charity work.
• Tier 5 Religious Workers-For people coming to the UK to work as a part of a faith-based community do such work as preaching, ministry, or pastoral work.
• Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange-For people coming to the UK under a government approved program that aims to promote the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practice.
• Tier 5 International Agreement-For people coming to the UK under contract to do work that is covered under international law such as the GATS agreement.
• Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme-For young people from a participating country who wish to experience life in the UK.

Tier 2 and Tier 5 are our focus now.

The UK Tier 2 visa is the main route for any overseas-born skilled worker coming to the UK for taking up employment.

For the UK Tier 2 visa (https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa), you must –
Be from outside the European Economic Area [EEA] and Switzerland,
Have a valid job offer for a skilled job in the UK, and be sponsored.

To be eligible for going to the UK on a Tier 2 visa, you must be employed by a licensed sponsor. For the list of licensed sponsors, click https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/903888/2020-07-27_Tier_2_5_Register_of_Sponsors.pdf.

Points to note:

• The UK Tier 2 visa sponsor will be responsible for finding out whether you are indeed able to do the job that you are being hired for. Therefore, you need a very special CV. For a company to sponsor you, you will essentially need to convince them that you have skills/experience that few UK citizens will have.

• The sponsor will also check if the ability that you possess qualifies you for a visa. If everything checks, then you will be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship as proof.

• Another route is to find a job at a British or multinational company in your home country and try to transfer to the UK through them. Again, you will need to make a good case for this.

• The Certificate of Sponsorship will contain your personal details as well as information about the job that you have been offered in the UK. Do keep in mind that the Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical document as such. You will be provided with a Certificate of Sponsorship reference number for adding to your application. This reference number is to be provided by your sponsor. The reference number can be used only once.

• Basic eligibility for the UK Tier 2 visa application includes that the applicant must have a stipulated amount of money in his/her bank account for 3 months or 90 days before applying for the UK Tier 2 visa. But this requirement of funds as personal savings is not there if an approved A-rated sponsor will be sponsoring you.

• Finally, you might try to apply for a working holiday visa aka Youth Mobility Scheme visa (Tier 5) however, this does not apply for Nigerians. This will give you a year to find a job and prove yourself invaluable to an employer so that you can make a case for sponsorship.

Good luck!

So while researching, I found a document containing shortage of skills in the UK for 2021, each with the countries (in UK) and explanatory notes on why they were required. Also, in that document contains the reason why some skills are no longer required in the UK as they are deemed not in short supply.

A summary of the skills required in the UK for 2021 are as follows:

AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

• Bakers
• Butchers
• Chefs
• Fish Processing
• Fishmongers and Poultry Dressers
• Meat Processing
• Snack and Convenience

BUSINESS

• Business systems analyst
• Data analyst
• Marine consultant
• Planning assistant
• Project administrator
• Project coordinator

CULTURE

• Choreographers
• Dancers

HEALTH CARE

• Environmental Health Professionals
• Meat Hygiene Inspectors
• Nursing Auxiliaries
• Nursing Assistants
• Veterinary Nurses

SOCIAL WORK

• Childminders and Related Occupations
• House Parents
• Interpreters
• Residential Wardens
• Residential, Day and Domiciliary care managers
• Senior Care Workers

TECH

• Animator
• Audio designer
• Character artist
• Concept artist
• Graphic designers
• Layout artist
• Lighting artist
• Storyboard artist
• UI artist
• VFX artist

TECHNICIANS

• Electronics Hardware Design Engineer
• Electricians and Electrical Fitters
• Laboratory Technician
• Fire Alarm Technicians
• Vehicle Technicians
• Vehicle Mechanics
• Vehicle Electricians

TECHNICIANS (IT)

• Computer Games Tester
• Database Administrator
• IT Technicians
• Linux Developer
• Network Planner

TRADES

• Blacksmiths – Smiths and Forge Workers
• Bricklayers
• Cabinet Makers –Furniture and Other Craft Workers
• Core Makers
• Die Casters
• Heating/Ventilating Engineers
• Horticultural Trades
• Masons
• Metal Work Production
• Moulders
• Plasterers - both Lime and Fibrous
• Plumbers
• Stone Fixer
• Thatcher – Roofers, Roof Tilers and Slaters
• Welding Maintenance Fitters

Now, It is important to note at this stage that the UK =/= England. Actually, it is made up of 4 countries namely England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

However, a collective body oversees the shortage of skills (SOL) assessment for the entire UK and advises the immigration office of which skill set is required where and when.

This means Bakers may be in high-demand in Northern Ireland, but not required for England. The same is for all skill sets.

Again there is an opportunity for religious workers as religious organizations have indicated their interests to sponsor successful applicants from countries outside of the UK (including Nigeria) to come and work for them.

All this information can be seen in the links I shared in my last post.

My next post shall be on how to navigate the information on the link to streamline your applications effectively and efficiently.

Also, the reason for this is for all to go through the required skill sets (especially those in hot demand for 2021) and look around their families and friends to choose whom to support and/or encourage to emigrate to work in the UK, as this doesn't require premium educational levels to do so.

In my last paragraph, I am specifically talking about the Trade and Tech sectors on the SOL list.

In the current list of eligible sponsors to employ and sponsor a Tier 2 and Tier 5 skilled workers visa to successful candidates (see https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940495/2020-12-02_Tier_2_5_Register_of_Sponsors.pdf.), each country in the UK is included.

The order of listing is

Organization name, 
Town/County (where organization is located), 
Council (where Town/County is located), 
Tier & Rating (indication the grade of sponsors, usually graded by A or B), 
Sub Tier (indicating skilled worker categories the organization requires)

However, one has to go through all the listed organizations (38, 930 in number) to select the appropriate organizations to apply to for sponsorship. Yes, it is excruciating work, but it is the only way precise information on where your application may have a chance is derived as it is.

Wow. Such an extensive research. Well done!

*However, one has to go through all the listed organizations (38, 930 in number) to select the [s]appropriate organizations to apply to for sponsorship[/s]. Yes, it is excruciating work, but it is the only way precise information on where your application may have a chance is derived as it is.

The correct statement for cancelled text is: ...appropriate organizations to apply to for employment. It is only after employment that sponsorship will take place.

Good day,

Thank you for this thread, it has really been insightful.

I own a business in Nigeria. I've been looking into exporting foodstuff from Nigeria to the UK. I don't want to own an African food store. My interest is in supplying existing stores with food from Nigeria. I thought of this business idea as a way for me to travel between the UK and Nigeria as I intend to move my wife abroad to the UK, so I can see both parties (business and family) regularly. The business won't allow me to move permanently to the UK.

What Tier do you think this my line of business can fall under? Can it qualify under the points-based immigration system? if not, what other ways of this points-based system can I use to achieve my goal. Please I need clarity.
How do you suggest I go about this, I'm really interested.? @2dmax

2dmax:
So while researching, I found a document containing shortage of skills in the UK for 2021, each with the countries (in UK) and explanatory notes on why they were required. Also, in that document contains the reason why some skills are no longer required in the UK as they are deemed not in short supply.

A summary of the skills required in the UK for 2021 are as follows:

AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

• Bakers
• Butchers
• Chefs
• Fish Processing
• Fishmongers and Poultry Dressers
• Meat Processing
• Snack and Convenience

BUSINESS

• Business systems analyst
• Data analyst
• Marine consultant
• Planning assistant
• Project administrator
• Project coordinator

CULTURE

• Choreographers
• Dancers

HEALTH CARE

• Environmental Health Professionals
• Meat Hygiene Inspectors
• Nursing Auxiliaries
• Nursing Assistants
• Veterinary Nurses

SOCIAL WORK

• Childminders and Related Occupations
• House Parents
• Interpreters
• Residential Wardens
• Residential, Day and Domiciliary care managers
• Senior Care Workers

TECH

• Animator
• Audio designer
• Character artist
• Concept artist
• Graphic designers
• Layout artist
• Lighting artist
• Storyboard artist
• UI artist
• VFX artist

TECHNICIANS

• Electronics Hardware Design Engineer
• Electricians and Electrical Fitters
• Laboratory Technician
• Fire Alarm Technicians
• Vehicle Technicians
• Vehicle Mechanics
• Vehicle Electricians

TECHNICIANS (IT)

• Computer Games Tester
• Database Administrator
• IT Technicians
• Linux Developer
• Network Planner

TRADES

• Blacksmiths – Smiths and Forge Workers
• Bricklayers
• Cabinet Makers –Furniture and Other Craft Workers
• Core Makers
• Die Casters
• Heating/Ventilating Engineers
• Horticultural Trades
• Masons
• Metal Work Production
• Moulders
• Plasterers - both Lime and Fibrous
• Plumbers
• Stone Fixer
• Thatcher – Roofers, Roof Tilers and Slaters
• Welding Maintenance Fitters

Good morning, thank you for this thread. Please Is it compulsory to write IELTS? And, can a general IELTS pass for the test of English required for tier 2?