This page provides an overview of possible visa routes to obtain permission to work within the UK and at BU. If required, you will need to obtain this prior to starting work for BU.
We are keen to support overseas nationals coming to work for BU with their transition to the UK and obtaining the appropriate permission to work. Therefore, if you have a query about a visa application or an immigration issue please contact Human Resources.
Routes of Entry
Points Based Immigration System
With effect from 1 January 2021 free movement ceased for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and the UK's Visa and Immigration Service (UKVI) introduced an immigration points based system. Under this system anyone coming to the UK for work, with the exception of Irish nationals, must meet a specific set of requirements for which they will score points. Visas are then awarded to those who gain enough points.
Skilled Worker Visa
BU is an A-rated sponsor licence holder and can issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to sponsor Skilled Workers to work for us. To qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa you must score a minimum of 70 points from the following:
Offer of a job by an approved sponsor (BU)
20 Points
Job offer at an appropriate skill level (RQF level 3 and above) supported by a Certificate of Sponsorship
20 Points
10 Points
Minimum Salary requirements met
20 Points
The maintenance requirement must also be met as part of the visa application, but no ‘points’ are attached to this element
Offer of Employment and Applying for a Visa
If you have successfully applied for and been offered a job at BU, you will receive a conditional offer of employment. One of the conditions for your offer of employment will be to obtain appropriate permission to work in the UK. If you are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route BU will apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and let you know once this has been issued. You must then submit your visa application within 3 months of the CoS being issued. Details of how to apply for your Skilled Worker visa will be included in your offer letter and are also available on the UKVI website.
ATAS
Any Researcher/ Academic coming to the UK to undertake research in certain subject areas, and is subject to UK immigration control (apart from exempt nationalities) will be required to obtain an ATAS certificate prior to applying for a Skilled Worker visa. The subjects are those where the knowledge could be used to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or their means of delivery. If the research focus changes while at BU to include the above then an ATAS certificate must be obtained prior to undertaking this activity.
It is possible to check if an ATAS certificate if required on the Home Office website.
Costs
BU covers the cost of the CoS and reimburses the cost of a standard Skilled Worker visa application. You will need to pay for other associated costs e.g. Immigration Health Surcharge, English Language tests, obtaining certified translations of certificate, Dependent applications (if applicable). Details of costs are available on the UKVI website. The Immigration Fee Assistance Scheme offers a salary advance to help cover some of these costs for current employees.
Before starting work
Before starting work, the University must undertake a right to work check, for Skilled workers this includes:
- a Home Office online check via a share code and
- original passport for certified copies to be taken, including personal identity details and any relevant entry clearance vignette and ‘wet stamps’, or
- the letter/email from the Home Office confirming entry clearance and evidence of the date they entered the UK (see paragraph below).
Some nationalities can enter the UK via the ‘E-gates’ and will not obtain a ‘wet stamp’ on their Entry clearance vignette. In these cases the University is required to obtain other evidence as proof of the date of entry into the UK such as a boarding pass or flight confirmation. This is to ensure you entered the UK during the validity period of the entry clearance vignette or immigration permission.
Your start date will only be confirmed once this check is complete.
Temporary Worker (Government Authorised Exchange) Visa
BU is an ‘A rated’ sponsor licence holder and can issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) under the Temporary Worker (GAE) route to sponsor researchers for a maximum of 24 months to undertake the following activities:
- A formal research project or collaboration;
- A period of work-based training/work experience/internship/placement;
- Skill development/knowledge transfer;
- A series of lectures, which doesn’t amount to a formal teaching post, i.e. where they are not filling an advertised position and the work is above the Faculty’s normal requirements;
- External examinations.
Work or activities undertaken must never amount to a ‘genuine vacancy’ and the role must be supernumerary, which means it is:
- Over and above BU’s normal staffing requirements (this means it is not usually applicable for an advertised post), and
- if the person filling the role were not there it wouldn’t be filled by anyone else.
If you have any queries about this route please contact Human Resources.
Global Talent
The Global Talent route enables the most highly skilled individuals, who can achieve the required number of points, to enter the UK without a job offer if they are endorsed by a recognised UK body, as approved by the Home Office.
Applicants can also work in the UK on a Global Talent visa if they’ve won an eligible award. These prizes have been identified by the Global Talent endorsing bodies as demonstrating exceptional talent.
There are four different routes through which a Global Talent Visa can be gained and applying for a Global Talent visa is a two stage process and must be undertaken by the applicant. Further details are available on the UKVI website.
If you have any queries about this please contact Human Resources.
Graduate Visa
The Graduate visa route is available to international students who have successfully completed a Bachelors or Postgraduate degree in the UK and who have a valid student visa at the time of application. Students granted a Graduate visa will be able to work in the UK after their studies for up to 2 years, or 3 years if a Doctoral student.
The Graduate visa is unsponsored, and applicants do not need a job offer to apply. There are no minimum salary requirements and graduates on the route can work flexibly and switch jobs as required.
If you are a current BU student and have any queries about this route please contact [email protected].
Other Routes
There may also be other routes of entry available to you, for example family visas or UK Ancestry visas. Other routes of entry may also be available, the UKVI website offers further details.
Bringing partners, spouses or dependents to the UK
If you are coming to the UK with a spouse, partner or dependent, they may need to apply for a relevant visa. University employees with a Global Talent, Tier 2, Skilled Worker or Temporary Worker (GAE) visa may apply to bring their family to the UK as their dependants. For the purposes of these applications, the Immigration Rules define ‘dependants’ as being:
- Husband, wife or civil partner;
- Unmarried or same-sex partner;
- Child aged under 18 at the time of application.
No other family members are eligible to be dependants
A dependant visa can be obtained from either inside or outside the UK. However, if an individual is applying from inside the UK, they must not be holding a visitor visa, visitor status granted at the border, or a short-term study visa. If they are, they must leave and apply from outside the UK.
There are a number of requirements that must be met in order for an individual to be eligible for a dependant visa and further details are provided on the UKVI website.
Contact Us
If you have any queries about visa requirements for entering the UK and working at BU please do not hesitate to contact us.