Tier 2 (General) Sponsored Skilled Workers
Migrants from countries outside the EEA (except Bulgarians and Romanians) can only be employed by the University if they hold an appropriate work visa. Most skilled workers will require a Tier 2 (General) visa.
The guidance in this section has been updated in accordance with the UK Border Agency's revised regulations introduced with effect from 6 April 2013.
The application process depends on whether the migrant is coming to the UK from overseas, or whether they are already in the UK (in-country).
For all migrants requiring a Tier 2 visa, the application process involves two stages:
- application for a Certificate of Sponsorship from the University (issued by the Work Permits Desk);
- application for a Tier 2 visa which provides leave to enter the UK, or leave to remain in the UK (issued by the UK Border Agency).
For migrants coming to the UK from overseas a third, preliminary stage is also involved: the University has to submit a formal request to the UK Border Agency for a Certificate of Sponsorship for the overseas migrant on a case-by-case basis, before it can be issued to the migrant by the Work Permits Desk.
Note that a Certificate of Sponsorship does not give the migrant the right to work in the UK: it merely enables the migrant to submit an application for a visa. The decision on whether to issue a visa is not made by the University, but by the UK Border Agency. It is not possible, under any circumstances, for the University to guarantee that a visa will be issued by the UK Border Agency.
Certificates of Sponsorship can only be issued by the University if a number of specific and inflexible requirements imposed by the UK Border Agency have been met.
In particular, certificates can only be issued for roles that are considered by the UK Border Agency to be skilled to at least degree level. These roles, and therefore those for which the University is permitted to request and/or issue certificates, are listed in the UK Border Agency's Codes of Practice.
If departments and colleges are unsure whether they need to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship, please see Do I need a Certificate of Sponsorship? 
(62kb), or contact the Work Permits Desk for advice.
Please see the Tier 2 application process flow chart (60kb) for further information. The processes involved, and the procedures to be followed, are described in more detail in the following sections.
Overseas applicants
For overseas applicants, the University is required to submit a formal request for a Certificate of Sponsorship for that post from a monthly national quota held by the UK Border Agency. If the formal request is granted, the University will be allocated a Certificate of Sponsorship which can only be issued for the specific post in question, and at the specific salary detailed in the application.
Please refer to the Tier 2 (General) applications for overseas applicants webpage for information on the application process for migrants applying from overseas.
All overseas migrants who have been issued a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship must obtain entry clearance/visa before arriving in the UK.
In-country applicants
For in-country applicants, including those who are extending a current Tier 2 or old-style work visa, as well as those in other immigration categories who are eligible to switch into Tier 2 (General) from within the UK, the University holds a separate allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship which can be issued to eligible migrants without further specific permission from the UK Border Agency.
Please refer to the Tier 2 (General) applications for in-country applicants webpage for information on the application process for migrants applying from within the UK.
All in-country applicants who have been issued a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship must apply for leave to remain in the UK.