Tier 2 sponsorship visa

[Vettrianofan]

DS is trying to help his girlfriend find a way to apply for a work visa. She lives in the US, and wants to settle in the UK next year if possible. She is currently researching for herself, but every job she looks at says she must have British citizenship. Unfortunately that's not going to happen. The visitor for six months would be fine, but you cannot apply for work whilst using this visa.

Does anyone have experience of this kind of thing? Do you need to go through a recruitment agency?

She works as a housing specialist in the US (similar to a housing officer in the UK). She's 21yo.

It's a terrible idea.

She 'wants' to come live in the UK - well she can't unless she meets the criteria.

She doesn't meet the criteria currently and it doesn't sound like she has any skills or wish to become a carer, or any experience. I can't think why anyone would sponsor her for this.

How long have they even been together?

What people want is not necessarily what they can have - or I would have a Ferrari.

She's been to the UK in person a few months ago and spent time together. He is going to spend time with her and her family at the end of this year.

I was going to suggest the care sector route. She'd be a good candidate as a first language English speaker, but it's tough work. The visa conditions mean you have to work full time (often spread across a 6 or even 7 day week, possibly longer shifts/shorter weeks if you go down the nursing home route). Moving employers is difficult as it requires a new visa. But it's doable if she's really determined.

Nope, I certainly don't have a lot of savings. But she does. I think that is considered on the visa application from what I have read. But it wouldn't hold much weight, she would still need a steady job to prove it's worth her while moving here.

I really think this is a non-starter, from all you have said. Contrary to the general impression, getting a Tier 2 work visa is really difficult. Only the best and the brightest,with exceptional skills, are preferred to British candidates.

She's originally from a South American country, but has Canadian and American citizenship. She speaks Spanish within her family.

Thanks for your advice. Care work may be a strong possibility. Will see what happens. I think she's wanting to spea6to some recruitment agencies who might be able to offer guidance on how to go about it.

I think the care sector is struggling to just recruit British citizens to get the work done, so they need to look at immigrants to do some of these jobs like this.

I definitely agree though, it's very limiting if you don't have good qualifications. I suggested teaching Spanish but she would need to go to college - all costs money.

Yes, the care sector might be a good bet. Such a tough job, though.

Definitely. She's not likely to be able to afford a college education. It would explain why she's in the job she's currently in. I do feel a bit sorry for her, tbh. It can't be easy making such a big decision like this.

She has a considerable amount but not the full amount needed for a degree plus living costs, accommodation etc.

Yes. Very expensive to study in the US. Slightly more expensive than studying here in the UK.

There wasn't much in it, but it varies from uni to uni. Also depends what degree programme you study etc.

If you include living costs it's probably more expensive in the US though. Haven't any personal experience happy to be corrected.

If she has Canadian Citizenship she may be able to work in the Uk for 3 years with a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa.

stepabroad.com/blog/working-abroad/can-canadians-work-in-the-uk/#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20work%20in,Visa%2C%20and%20General%20Work%20Visa.

If she can show she has enough money to cover I think it’s about 3 years worth of the income requirement then she doesn’t need to show she has a job here for a spousal visa as they only consider the income of the British person.
The amount used to be around 60k.

I am not sure if this has now been upped to 90k.

Thanks, I can let DS and his girlfriend look into this further but it would make sense that the amount of savings needed to move here would increase at this point years later. Crazy expecting people to earn £30k. I didn't even earn that in my graduate profession years ago and the amount hasn't went up that much since I stopped working either 😱

They met online like many young people do these days. They share an interest in music and that's how they got chatting. Been in touch with each other 18 months before she visited in the summer.