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Points Requirements

To qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa, the individual must score a minimum of 70 points from the following attributes:

Offer of a job by an approved sponsor

20 points

Job offer at an appropriate skill level (RQF level 3 and above) supported by a Certificate of Sponsorship

20 points

English language at level B1 

10 points

Minimum Salary requirements met       

20 points

 

Other Visa Requirements

Over and above the requirement to 'score' 70 points, as above, the are other requirements that the individual must meet as part of the Skilled Worker Visa application process

Finance/Maintenance 

For Skilled Worker Visa applicants, the department can certify that, should it become necessary, you will maintain and accommodate them and their dependents until the end of their first month of employment.

If you do not wish to certify the ‘Financial Requirement’, then for visa purposes the individual and each of their dependants must meet these requirements:

  • The following minimum funds must be held, and evidenced, by the applicant in a bank/savings account for at least 28 days:
    • Main applicant - funds of £1,270
    • Spouse/Partner - funds of £285
    • First child - funds of £315
    • Each additional child - funds of £200

ATAS

From 21 May 2021, relevant international researchers applying for a Skilled Worker Visa must have obtained an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate as part of their visa application. The ATAS requirement only applies to certain nationalities, and in certain roles and research fields.

As part of the ATAS application process, the individual will be required to submit information about their programme of research including the relevant 'CAH3' code. This must be arranged by the recruiting department/institution, via the HR58 form.

For further guidance on the ATAS scheme and making an application, please see the guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme#academic...

Also see our guidance webpages. A video briefing was held in May 2021, accessible here: https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/3520414 (requires Raven)

'Genuine Vacancy'

To meet this requirement, the HR Compliance Team uses RAS to monitor and assess the 'record of the text of advert' for any given role.

As part of this requirement, please ensure the following is met so as to avoid issues where sponsorship is required:

  • Where under-appointing to a Research Assistant role, please ensure that the advert clearly sets out the terms for under-appointment e.g. where the individual does not yet hold a PhD, they would be be appointed as Research Assistant in the first instance.
  • Where a role states that any given qualification is required, a copy of that qualification must be provided as part of a sponsorship application (i.e. the Certificate of Sponsorship)

 

Applying for a Skilled Worker Visa

The University provides an FAQ to all Skilled Worker Visa CoS recipients regarding the processes and procedures to obtain a visa. These are provided by e-mail to the applicant alongside the CoS.

Anyone applying inside the UK must apply for their new visa before their existing visa expires. Failure to do so will jeopardise their ability to start work/continue working for the University.

 

Skilled Worker Visa conditions

  • The individual will not be allowed access to state benefits or other public funds. See the UKVI website for full definitions.
  • The only work that they can do is:
    • The job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), working for the designated sponsor; and
    • Supplementary work in the same profession and at the same professional level, outside their normal working hours or in a job on the shortage occupation list, for up to 20 hours per week; and
    • Voluntary work.

 

Family members

Individuals applying for a Skilled Worker Visa can also apply for visas for their dependants. See the section on dependant visas for further guidance.