Tier 1 General

The Tier 1 (General) category allows highly skilled people to look for work or self-employment opportunities in the UK. Tier 1 (General) migrants can seek employment in the UK without a sponsor, and can take up self-employment and business opportunities in UK.
The category is now closed to applicants who are outside the UK, and to migrants who are already here in most other immigration categories.


Eligibility


Applicants can apply to extend their stay in the UK under Tier 1 (General) if they are already in the UK with permission to stay in one of the following immigration categories:

  1. highly skilled migrant
  2. writer, composer or artist
  3. self-employed lawyer
  4. Tier 1 (General)
  5. Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), if eligible to switch into Tier 1 (General).

If applicants are not in one of the categories above, they cannot apply to Tier 1 (General).


Points needed.


For applications to be successful, the applicant must score at least 95 points if they had leave as:

  1. a Tier 1 (General) migrant under the Immigration Rules in place before 19 July 2010;
  2. a highly skilled migrant;
  3. a writer, composer or artist; or
  4. a self-employed lawyer.

All other categories require total score of at least 100 points (unless they are covered by the HSMP Forum judicial review judgment).
Additionally, applicant must score 10 points for English language skills and 10 points for maintenance (funds).


Settlement


After completion of a continuous residence period of 5 years in the UK under  the following categories and applicant can apply for settlement in UK.

  1. Tier 1 (General)
  2. Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
  3. work permit holder
  4. innovator
  5. self-employed lawyer
  6. writer, composer or artist

Points:


The applicant must also score a total of 75 points if they are currently in the UK as:

  1. a highly skilled migrant
  2. a writer, composer or artist
  3. a self-employed lawyer
  4. a Tier 1 (General) migrant under the Immigration Rules in place before 19 July 2010.

 

Tier 1 General


However where applicant made application from 19th July 2010, they will need to need to score a total of 80 points if they are a Tier 1 (General) migrant in the following areas:

  1. age
  2. qualification
  3. previous earnings
  4. UK experience

Points will be awarded in the same way as for as previous grant of permission to stay under Tier 1 (General). If this has not changed, then same number of points will be awarded.


Dependants


Dependants of the applicant can also apply for settlement. The partner will only be able to apply if they have lived together in the UK for at least 2 years before applying for settlement. The children can however apply at the same time as applicant.