The University recognises that UK immigration fees present a considerable burden for non-UK employees, particularly members of the post-doctoral community who may struggle to meet these costs for themselves and their families.
As part of increasing the relocation provision supporting recruitment and retention in the University, we are happy to be able to offer financial support as detailed below to new and current employees who are applying for one of the three most common visa routes through which we engage and retain our employees: Skilled Worker , Global Talent and Settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain), and their family members.
Please note that no other visa or status is in scope for support via these schemes.
Scheme criteria
The scheme is open to new employees with a start date of 1 October 2024 or later, who:
- are applying for either a Skilled Worker visa or a Global Talent visa (and endorsement where applicable) to enable them to begin employment at the University (no other visas are in scope of this scheme); and
- who have not yet paid their endorsement/visa and Immigration Health Surcharge fees.
The scheme covers the above costs for the employee only - no other cost is in scope, including family member visa fees. Where incurred, these must be met by the applicant and may be reimbursed once employment has commenced, at the department's discretion.
To note
- If the employee has already paid for their endorsement (Global Talent only), their visa and/or their IHS fee, these must be reimbursed to them once they start work via the University's Concur expenses system.
- Skilled Worker: the costs covered will normally be linked to the length of the initial contract.
- Global Talent:
- The costs covered will normally be linked to the length of the initial contract unless the recruiting department wishes to cover a longer length, which is wholly at their discretion. A Global Talent visa can only be issued in full year lengths i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years.
- Virtual credit cards are normally issued with a 3 month validity period, so endorsement and visa fees can be included on the same card.
Conditions
Unless agreed otherwise with the recruiting department, the applicant agrees to the following conditions:
- The finance provided is solely for UK Home Office for visa fees, fast track fees (where permitted by the department) and the NHS Surcharge for ether a Skilled Worker visa or a Global Talent visa, to facilitate employment/work at University of Cambridge.
- Using the finance provided for any other purpose will be considered a disciplinary offence.
- Repayment of finance
- If the applicant fulfils their contract, they will not be required to repay any of the finance provided, even if the visa is still valid.
- If the applicant leaves employment before the contract end date, they will be required to repay a percentage of the finance provided in line with the following schedule (up to a threshold of 3 years’ visa validity):
- Departure within the first year from grant of visa: 100%
- Departure within the second year from grant of visa: 66%
- Departure within the third year from grant of visa: 33%
- Departure after the third year from grant of visa: no repayment required
Process
The recruiting department must complete the visa payment request form before the endorsement/visa application is submitted. The department will need the following information:
- the applicant's full name; and
- their email address; and
- the proposed work start date; and
- the type and length of visa for which they are applying; and
- the fees they are applying for - the scheme covers endorsement and visa fee, Immigration Health Surcharge fee and fast-track services (paid at department's discretion).
The scheme also covers the fee for proving the applicant's knowledge of English (Ecctis or English language test) for Skilled Worker visa applications only (this is not required for Global Talent). However, we cannot currently pay for this on the applicant's behalf and they should therefore reclaim the cost via the Staff Concur expenses system when they start work.
Upon receipt of the visa payment request form, the HR Compliance team will email the employee directly with 'virtual credit card' details that can be used to pay the fees upfront so that they are not out of pocket for the cost of the visa application. The applicant will also be asked to sign and return a 'visa fee payment agreement' setting out the conditions of the scheme - please see above.
Scheme criteria
The scheme is open to:
- existing University employees who are applying for either a Skilled Worker or a Global Talent visa (and endorsement where applicable), or for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) to enable them to continue employment at the University; and/or
- associated dependant visas for their family members.
No other visa type or status is in scope of this scheme.
Conditions
- The scheme offers an interest-free loan, which current employees can use toward meeting the costs of the above visas.
- The maximum amount which can be borrowed, across all loans issued by the University (not including relocation costs) is £10,000.
- The loan is repayable through monthly payroll deductions as follows:
- Loan of up to £3,000: 10 months; or
- Loan of £3,001 to £10,000: 20 months.
- The employee must contact visaloans@admin.cam.ac.uk if any changes to their circumstances will affect repayment of the loan (e.g. a period of unpaid leave or end of employment - please see below).
- The loan may be repaid in whole or in part at any time.
- If employment ends for any reason before the loan is fully repaid, the University will deduct the remaining balance from the final month's pay.
- If this is not possible, the employee will be asked to agree a repayment schedule following the end of employment.
Our guidance sets out the scheme rules and eligibility criteria in full. An application form may be requested from the HR Compliance Team.
Process
- Skilled Worker: current employees receive links to the guidance and application form referred to above with their Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Global Talent/ILR: current employees can download our guidance from the link above, and should request an application form from as noted above.
Once the form is completed and returned, the application is assessed by the HR Compliance team. If approved, the applicant is sent loan documentation, and asked to sign and return a Regulated Credit Agreement which sets out the full terms and conditions of the loan.
Once this is received, the HR Compliance team liaises with the Finance Division, and funds are normally released into the loan applicant's bank account within 5 working days. Repayments normally begin in the month after the funds are released.