applying for lecturer job immigration status

[Tats2ears]

My dh is Nigerian and is doing a postdoc in Norway at the moment. He is applying for other jobs now. Will UK universities look at you if you are non EU?
Several ask if you are eligible to work in the UK and you can't go on with the application if you say no..
People seem to be impressed with his CV (people from the uni he is applying to) but he doesn't want to waste his time applying if there's no point.

Would be super grateful if anyone had any thoughts

The rules on non-EU immigration have recently changed- you need to read the UK gov. website for the most recent update. I think the amount you have to earn has increased, for starters. If you are not living here/married to UK citizen it may be quite difficult- people do do it, but my friend who was non-EU took 10 years to qualify to apply for citizenship and any break in this, and she would have had to leave. But do really read that website and get better advice from the specific uni's HR, don't take my (non-legal) opinion on it.

Look at Tier 2 visas. In short, the unis have to advertise the job for a certain time to just UK/EU nationals (Residential Labour Market Test), then can readvertise and let non-EU postdocs apply. As long as the role is a postdoc one then a Tier 2 visa is basically a formality but may be expensive if spouse and kids need them and health surcharges etc too, as unis often don't pay visa costs.

UK universities will certainly consider your husband, but as I understand it, under current visa rules, cannot give him the job if there’s an equally scoring candidate not requiring a visa.

Given how competitive the cademic market is, I’m afraid his chances are low, unless he has highly specialised, rare skills.

Has he looked for fellowships where he can apply for his own funding?

There are many non-EU academics in permanent posts at UK universities. But they indeed have to get the job on merit i.e. be the best candidate for the job.

For non-permanent jobs, such as postdocs, the salary offered needs to be above the tier 2 visa threshold. This is actually highly non-trivial as research councils like to fund postdocs at the bottom of postdoc salary scales, which are below the tier 2 threshold. This hasn't stopped my university from hiring non-EU candidates, when they are the strongest applicants, but it has meant that we need to top up salaries on occasion from departmental funds. One only does that if it is clear that the person being hired is worth it.

Fellowships are arguably more competitive than jobs at universities.

BTW the government has just sneaked an increase in the NHS supplement that visa holders pay on top of visa costs - it will go from £200 to £400. It is unusual for visa/NHS supplement costs to be covered for postdocs or fellowship holders. It can be negotiated as part of relocation for a permanent job.

it can be done.

one of the best options is to get in touch with a university informally and be so marvellous that they will put out a job advert tailored to your skills.

is he applying for postdoc jobs or lectureship? either way, informal contact with the academics (not HR) is often a good start.

Are you living together in Norway? Are you an EU or UK national. Could you apply for an EEA family permit or enter the UK together under the Surinder Singh route?

www.gov.uk/family-permit/eligibility

Might make UK job applications easier if you already have a work permit.