News Archive

21/12/2010 - Closure of Tier 1 (General) to overseas applicants

The UK Border Agency has today announced that they will stop accepting Tier 1 (General) applications made overseas with effect from 00:01hrs (GMT) on Thursday 23 December 2010 since the interim limit for Tier 1 (General) applications made overseas for the period of the interim immigration cap (19 July 2010 to April 2011) will be reached imminently.

The UK Border Agency advise that Tier 1 (General) applications made overseas that are submitted and paid for by midnight (GMT) on Wednesday 22 December 2010 will be processed as normal. Applications made from within the UK are unaffected and will continue to be processed for the duration of the interim immigration cap period (i.e. until 5 April 2011).

14/12/2010 - New application forms

The UK Border Agency has released new versions of Tier 1 (General), Tier 1 (Post-Study Worker), Tier 2, Tier 5 and dependant leave to remain application forms.

The new Tier 1 (General) application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/applying/

The new Tier 1 (Post-Study Worker) application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy/applying/

The new Tier 2 (General) application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/applying/

The new Tier 5 application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/governmentauthorisedexchanged/applying/

The new dependant application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/dependants/

Any leave to remain applications made on or after 14 December 2010 must be completed on the latest version of the forms.

22/11/2010 - New application fees and forms

The UK Border Agency has released details of new application fees that come into effect today.

In particular, new application fees have been introduced for Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications. New fees have also been introduced for dependants of Tier 1 and Tier 2 migrants.

The new application fees for Tier 1 can be found at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/tier1hsw.shtml#_Toc224717546

The new application fees for Tier 2 can be found at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/tier2cosa.shtml#_Toc224717546

As a result of the new application fees, the UK Border Agency has released new Tier 1 and Tier 2 leave to remain application forms and a new dependant leave to remain application form.

The new Tier 1 (General) application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/applying/

The new Tier 1 (Post-Study Worker) application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy/applying/

The new Tier 2 (General) application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/applying/

The new dependant application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/dependants/

Any leave to remain applications made on or after 22 November 2010 must be completed on the latest version of the forms.

21/10/2010 - Biometric enrolment for in-country Tier 1 and Tier 5 applications

The UK Border Agency has announced that from 14 December 2010 any migrants and their dependants making a Tier 1 or Tier 5 application from within the UK will be required to enrol their biometric details (fingerprints and photographs) as part of the application process. Migrants and their dependants will be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which is a micro-chipped credit card style document which stores the biometric information, rather than a sticker or vignette in the passport.

Biometric Residence Permits have already been introduced for Tier 2 migrants and their dependants applying from within the UK.

01/10/2010 - New Tier 5 application fees and forms

The UK Border Agency has released details of new application fees that came into effect on 1 October 2010.

In particular, new application fees have been introduced for Tier 5 applications and Tier 5 dependant applications. We expect the UK Border Agency to introduce new application fees for Tier 2 and Tier 1 in November 2010.

The new application fees for Tier 5 can be found at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/tier5temp.shtml#_Toc224717546

As a result of the new application fees, the UK Border Agency have released a new Tier 5 leave to remain application form and a new dependant leave to remain application form.

The new Tier 5 application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/governmentauthorisedexchanged/applying/

The new dependant application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/governmentauthorisedexchanged/dependants/

Any Tier 5 leave to remain applications made after 1 October 2010 must be completed on the latest version of the forms.

07/09/2010 - New application forms

The UK Border Agency has removed the option for people who apply for leave to remain in person at a Public Enquiry Office to pay in cash (only credit/debit cards, postal orders or cheques are acceptable), with effect from 6 September 2010.

As a result, updated Tier 1, Tier 2 and PBS dependant application forms have been released. A new version of the Tier 5 application form has not yet been released. The UK Border Agency will accept leave to remain applications made on the previous version of the Tier 1, Tier 2 and PBS dependant forms until 27 September 2010. Any leave to remain applications made after 27 September 2010 must be completed on the latest version of the forms.

The new Tier 1 application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/applying/

The new Tier 2 application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/applying/

The new dependant application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/dependants/

19/07/2010 - Interim immigration cap

The interim immigration cap has come into effect from today, 19 July 2010.

The interim immigration cap currently only applies to Tier 1 (General) and Tier 2 (General) of the points-based immigration system. The cap does not currently apply to Tier 5 (Sponsored Researchers).

Details of the interim immigration cap have been circulated to departments and colleges by email.

02/07/2010 - Immigration cap

The Government has announced that it will impose a 'cap' on immigration to the UK.

Details of how the immigration cap will be implemented will be agreed by the UK Border Agency following a period of consultation with employers. The immigration cap is likely to be implemented in April 2011.

However, in the meantime, the UK Border Agency will implement an interim immigration cap with effect from 19 July 2010 . The interim immigration cap currently only applies to Tier 1 (General) and Tier 2 (General) of the points-based immigration system. The cap does not currently apply to Tier 5 (Sponsored Researchers).

Details of the proposed interim immigration cap have been circulated to departments and colleges by email, and further information will be circulated as it is received.

27/04/2010 - Transitional arrangements for sponsored researchers

The UK Border Agency has now put transitional arrangements in place for sponsored researchers on old-style work permits who wish to extend their current leave to remain in the UK. This change is effective immediately.

Sponsored researchers who hold an old-style sponsored researcher work permit and wish to extend their visit at the University doing the same research project within the same department can apply for a Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange visa from within the UK under the transitional arrangements. The migrant will still be required to meet the points requirements for sponsorship and maintenance.

06/04/2010 - Changes to Tier 1 and Tier 2

The UK Border Agency has amended the points requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2.

The new points requirements for Tier 1 can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/eligibility/pointsassessment/ and the guidance on the Work Permits Desk website has been updated accordingly http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/tier1hsw.shtml

The new points requirements for Tier 2 can be found on the Work Permits Desk website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/tier2cosa.shtml#_Toc222563575

The UK Border Agency has also revised their guidance for Tier 2 migrants who wish to switch jobs with the same employer - a new CoS application will not be required for a migrant who is switching jobs within the University and who will continue to work in the same type of job, as long as the migrant will be paid at the same or higher salary than their original CoS was issued for. For example, a Postdoctoral Research Assistant may switch from one department to take up a new research post in another department without the need to obtain a new CoS and visa for the new post. Further details can be found on the Work Permits Desk website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/tier2cosa.shtml#_Toc222563580

08/03/2010 - New application fees and forms

The UK Border Agency has released details of new application fees that come into effect on Tuesday 6 April 2010. An email has been circulated regarding the changes to Tier 2 and Tier 5 application fees and the Work Permits Desk website will be updated accordingly. However, there will also be changes to other fees such as Tier 1 and Indefinite Leave to Remain applications. Details of all fee changes can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/news/new-immigration-fees

New Tier 2, Tier 5 and dependant Leave to Remain application forms will also be released on Tuesday 6 April 2010. Any Leave to Remain applications made after this date must be completed on the new forms. The new forms will be available from Tuesday 6 April 2010 at the following links:

The new Tier 2 application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/applying/

The new Tier 5 application form can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/governmentauthorisedexchanged/applying/

The new Tier 2 and Tier 5 Dependant application form and guidance can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/dependants/

05/03/2010 - Right to Work website now live

Comprehensive guidance on checking an individual's right to work in the UK has now been published in the recruitment section of the Personnel Services website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/righttowork/index.shtml

22/02/2010 - Changes to the process of certifying the maintenance of Tier 2 migrants and their dependants

The UK Border Agency now requires sponsors to confirm whether or not they wish to certify the maintenance requirement of a Tier 2 migrant at the time the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued, not at the time the migrant makes their visa/leave to remain application. The CoS application forms have been updated to provide a box that departments must tick if they intend to certify the maintenance requirement for a Tier 2 migrant. Departments are no longer required to provide Tier 2 migrants with a letter confirming that they will certify their maintenance requirement for their visa application.

Where a department also wishes to certify the maintenance requirement of the dependant(s) of a Tier 2 migrant, they do not need to indicate this on the CoS application but must provide the dependant with a letter confirming that they will, should it become necessary, maintain and accommodate the dependant(s) until the end of the first month of the Tier 2 migrant's employment.

Revised versions of the CoS Initial Application and CoS extension application forms (dated 22/02/10) can be found on the Work Permits Desk website http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/tier2cosa.shtml

A revised version of the Application for a Grant of Leave under Tier 2 form and guidance (dated 22/02/10) can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/applying/

Please ensure that the latest forms are used for all future Tier 2 CoS and Grant of Leave applications.

18/01/2010 - Revised Academic Visitor guidance available

Following representations from the Work Permits Desk, the UK Border Agency has provided a clearer and more flexible definition of the Academic Visitor route to allow Academic Visitors (who come to the UK to work on their own private research projects) to collaborate with University staff and to be permitted to exchange information on research techniques. Previously, Academic Visitors were not permitted to collaborate with University staff, resulting in many having to obtain Tier 5 (sponsored researcher) visas.

This change should allow more visiting researchers to enter the UK as Academic Visitors, rather than having to obtain a Tier 5 (sponsored researcher) visa. However, please note that visiting researchers coming to work on University-hosted formal research projects must still enter as sponsored researchers under Tier 5.

The Academic Visitor section of our website has been updated accordingly http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/managers/appoint/permits/acvisitors.shtml

12/01/2010 - Removal of the Premium Postal Service

The UK Border Agency has removed the Premium Postal Service option for Tier 2 migrants and old-style work permit holders with effect from 6 January 2010 because they feel that the service is no longer viable due to the introduction of the requirement for Tier 2 migrants to give their biometric details.

Departments are strongly advised to ensure that extension applications are made in plenty of time and to advise migrants not to make any travel arrangements before they receive approval of the application from the UK Border Agency. Whilst it is possible for migrants to book an appointment at one of the UK Border Agency's Public Enquiry Offices to make an application in person and have the visa granted the same day, it is extremely difficult (and often impossible) to obtain an appointment. Therefore, the majority of the University's Tier 2 leave to remain applications will need to be made via the standard postal service which we expect to take up to 10 weeks.

06/01/2010 - Updated Tier 2 'Grant of Leave' and dependant application forms

In light of the introduction of biometric enrolment for in-country Tier 2 Grant of Leave applicants, the UK Border Agency has released revised Grant of Leave application forms for Tier 2 applicants and their dependants.

The revised 'Application for a Grant of Leave and Biometric Immigration Document under Tier 2' form (version 01/10) for main applicants can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/applying/

The revised 'Application for an extension of stay as a dependant of a points-based system migrant' form (version 01/10) can be found at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/dependants/

Any Tier 2 Grant of Leave and Tier 2 dependant applications made on or after 6 January 2010 must be completed on the latest version of the forms.

05/01/2010 - Change to the biometric enrolment process

The UK Border Agency has announced that migrants living within certain postcodes may now enrol their biometric details at a limited number of Crown Post Offices for a small fee of £8.00. Oxford's St Aldates branch is listed as one of the Post Offices available with biometric enrolment facilities. The service is only currently available to applicants who have received a letter from the UK Border Agency inviting them to use the service at Oxford's St Aldates Post Office. There is no need to book an appointment at the Post Office as it is a walk-in service. For information, Oxford's St Aldates Post Office is open from 09:00 - 17:30 Monday to Saturday.

18/12/2009 - Change to Tier 2 in-country application process

The UK Border Agency has announced that there will be a significant change to the in-county grant of leave application process for Tier 2 (Skilled Worker) visa applicants. From 6 January 2010 migrant workers (and their dependants) applying for a grant of leave under Tier 2 will need to have their biometrics (finger prints and photographs) taken before a decision is made on their application. This is a major change and will significantly increase the amount of time required to obtain a Tier 2 visa. Further information on the application process has been circulated to departments via email. The Tier 2 section of this website will be updated in January.

24/11/2009 - Change to advertising rules

The UK Border Agency has announced today that there will be a further change to the advertising requirements for Tier 2. From 14 December 2009, the length of time that an advert must be placed, should it be used to support a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship application, will increase from two weeks to four weeks.

01/10/2009 - Updated 'Grant of Leave' application forms and guidance available

The UK Border Agency has today released updated versions of the 'Grant of Leave' application forms and guidance notes for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 5. Please ensure that these latest forms, dated 1 October 2009, are used for all future applications. Links to the latest versions of the forms and guidance notes can be found below:

Tier 1 (General) - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/applying/

Tier 1 (Post-Study Worker) - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy/applying/

Tier 2 - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/applying/

Tier 5 - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/governmentauthorisedexchanged/applying/

01/10/2009 - Old-style work permit extensions

There has been an update to the guidance for old-style work permit holders who have been working in the UK on a work visa for a continuous period of 5 years or more. Previously, we could not issue an extension under Tier 2 of the points-based system to such individuals unless the full points criteria for Tier 2 were met, including advertising the post. Therefore, our previous advice was that these individuals should apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or Tier 1. The UK Border Agency has now removed the requirement to advertise the post in such cases. Therefore, we are now able to issue a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship to old-style work permit holders who have been working in the UK on a work visa for a continuous period of 5 years or more. These individuals must still meet the full points criteria (qualifications, earnings, maintenance and English language), but the department will not need to show that they have advertised the post.

22/09/2009 - Urgent leave to remain applications

Migrants may now make an appointment online to apply for their leave to remain in person at one of the UK Border Agency's Public Enquiry Offices. This service is available for all applications made under the points-based system as well as settlement applications. Migrants can book an appointment online by registering at https://ukbabooking.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukba/index.start/

22/09/2009 - Advertising research fellow posts

We may now issue a Tier 2 CoS for "research fellow" posts within 12 months of the date of advertising, rather than 6 months as was previously the case. However, the UK Border Agency have not yet officially confirmed which posts will be defined as "research fellows". We have received verbal advice from the UK Border Agency that we may issue a Tier 2 CoS under the new 12 month advertising rule for any post that we can justify as having a significant research bias (University Lecturerships, for example). However, there is no guarantee that the caseworker dealing with the visa/leave to remain application will approve the application on this basis. It will be up to the individual caseworker to use their discretion in such circumstances. The UK Border Agency have indicated that they will provide a clearer definition of which posts will fall under the new 12 month advertising rule in due course. We will notify departments and colleges once this information has been received.

22/09/2009 - Advertising on the University website

The UK Border Agency will now accept the University's main website as a suitable medium for advertising posts that require a Tier 2 work visa. All posts must still be advertised on JobCentre Plus as well. As colleges are unable to advertise on the University's main website, they must refer to the UK Border Agency's Codes of Practice to determine other suitable places to advertise.

22/09/2009 - Tier 5 transitional arrangements

Currently, there are no transitional arrangements in place for those migrants already at the University on old-style sponsored researcher work permits and wishing to continue their period of research on the same project. Unfortunately, such individuals must return to their home country to make a Tier 5 application. Alternatively, they may remain in the UK and switch into Tier 1.

03/03/2009 - New points requirements for Tier 1

From 1 April 2009, the points requirements for Tier 1 will be tightened by raising the minimum qualification required to a Masters degree and minimum previous annual earnings to £20,000.

03/03/2009 - New advertising arrangements for Tier 2

All posts that may attract a migrant who requires a work visa will now need to be advertised on JobCentre Plus as well as at least one other medium deemed acceptable in the UK Border Agency's Codes of Practice.

05/12/2008 - Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals

The old Work Permit arrangements will remain open for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals only. Please refer to our guidance on employing Romanian and Bulgarian nationals for further information.

05/12/2008 - Launch of Tier 2 of the new Points-Based System

Tier 2 of the new Points-Based System went live on 27 November 2008. This has resulted in significant changes to work permit processes. Old style work permits have now been replaced by Certificates of Sponsorship (this is not a certificate as such but a unique number issued by the Work Permits Desk to the migrant). Migrants can check their points eligibility by entering their details into the Points Calculator.