Tier 2 visa is needed to travel to the UK for employment. This post only covers the application process. Please also go through Tier 2 Visa Guidelines before you continue reading this post.
The Visa Process
The basic process is similar to that of the PLAB visa:
- Submit an online visa form from the Visa4UK website.
- Take an appointment for passport submission and ID check.
- Attend the appointment.
- Track your application.
1. The Online Form
The online form is very simple and very similar to the one for PLAB visa. Once you submit this form, you will be asked to pay your visa fee and an additional immigration health surcharge fee.
The Visa Fee
£587
Immigration Health Surcharge
£200 per year.
This depends on the length of your trip mentioned on your certificate of sponsorship. My certificate mentioned a year-long contract. So I paid £200 for this.
2. Booking an Appointment
As soon as you submit the above-mentioned fee, you will be asked to book an appointment for passport submission and your ID check at the visa office. You can select an appointment time that is convenient for you.
3. The Appointment
Once you reach the visa office, you will be offered a premium service, which includes tea and biscuits; you will not have to wait in the queue either. A few people prefer this service. However, most reviews are negative since there is no major difference between this and the regular service. Our visa application is not processed earlier because of this service.
The rest of the process will be the same as your PLAB 2 visa appointment. You will be asked to submit your passport. Your ID will be confirmed by taking a picture and fingerprint scans.
There has been a recent change with regards to document submission from Pakistan. Now our documents are not submitted, but only scanned and returned back to us. Only our passport is submitted. This change has been implemented only for points-based visas and settlement visas, not for PLAB visas.
4. Tracking Your Application
You can use this link to go the official UK government website to track the progress of your visa application.
Source: Official Tier 2 document by the Home Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it necessary to submit my passport at the visa office?
A few visa offices offer the service where you do not have to submit your passport. This is ideal for people who wish to travel elsewhere during the coming weeks and do not feel comfortable in submitting their passport. You should check with your local visa office if this service is available to you.
2. Is it necessary that I must have 70 points?
Yes.
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3. Is it certain that I will get my visa if I score 70 points?
No, your application will still be judged based on your circumstances and your past. However, scoring 70 points is a must to get visa approval.
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4. For how long do I need to have savings of £945 in my bank account?
If your hospital is not providing you with maintenance, then you must have personal savings of at least £945, which must have been held for 90 consecutive days (finishing on the date of the closing balance), ending no more than 31 days before the date of their application to score 10 points for maintenance.