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Post MBA UK Work Visa Rules - Conditions and Eligibility

MBA in UK
The UK follows a point system that categorizes visas into five tiers (Tier 1 to Tier 5). An applicant can start with a student visa and switch to a work permit in the UK or to other visa categories. There are eligibility criteria, provisions, and restrictions for each visa type.

For MBA applicants and candidates, two relevant Visa categories are Tier – 4 General student visa during the MBA program and Tier -2 General work visa for post-MBA offers. If you are managing a Business or would like to pursue Entrepreneurship in the UK, following the course, a Tier-1 Entrepreneurial visa is another route to continue in the UK.


In this in-depth analysis we cover:


• Advantages  


Tier-2 (General) Visa
• Advantages  
• Disadvantages
• Permanent Residence



Tier-4 General Student Visa

Tier 4 is a General Category visa for adult students. Business Schools recruit non-EU students through this visa category. Once the student unconditionally accepts the offer, the school becomes the sponsor.  They provide the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number for visa processing.  Since the UK follows a point-based system, incoming students must earn at least 40 points to be considered eligible to study in the UK.

The CAS Number contributes 30 points towards the 40 points requirements. The remaining 10 points are awarded based on the proof of funds to cover tuition fees and other expenses in the UK.

The sponsorship criteria for a Tier-4 General student visa is that the program should rank level 7 or above (most accredited MBA programs in the UK) in the Ofqual register. The levels in the register are maintained by the UK government’s accreditation body that qualifies courses to different levels (A, AS, GCSE, and Vocational) in England and Northern Ireland.

Advantages

The advantage of a Tier-4 General student visa is that once you get a job offer post-MBA, you or your employer doesn’t have to go through the elaborate Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT). The 28-day RLMT process requires that the employer advertise the vacancy and demonstrate that no local workers qualify for the position.

Disadvantages

Unlike the provisions of Tier-1 Entrepreneur Visa and Tier-2 General work permit visa, Tier-4 General student visa doesn’t allow spouses or partners to travel with the candidate unless they are pursuing a course of rank level 7 or higher in the Ofqual register.

                                                                                 

DosDonts
Study and Work as a Student Union sabbatical officerGet public funds
Apply from inside or outside the UK and to extend the stayWork as professional sportsperson or sports coach and certain job roles
Work in most jobs - depending on the level of the course and the sponsor's reputationStudy at an academy or a maintained school (locally funded)

                                                                                

ConditionsTier-4 General Student Visa
Can bring Dependents (Spouse) if"Sponsored by a licensed tier 4 sponsor who has: a UK bachelors degree or a UK masters degree or a postgraduate certificate in education or a professional graduate diploma of education  "
The person is sponsored by a higher education institution on a course that ranks at level 7 or above on the Ofqual register and lasts 1 year or more
The person is a government-sponsored student on a course that lasts longer than 6 months
The person is a Doctorate Extension Scheme student

                                                                                

Stay Start DateTier-4 General Student Visa
1-Week Before the Course Begins: Less than 6-month course1-Month Before the Course Begins: More than 6-month Course

                                                                        

CostTier-4 General Student Visa
£335 (From Outside the UK)£335 per dependent charge



Tier-2 (General) Visa

The reputation of the MBA program (Oxford, London Business School, and Cambridge) helps candidates skip the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) while the quality of the sponsors (A-rated Employers) enables candidates to skip the minimum savings requirement (£945 for 90 days) that is mandatory to issue a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (Cos).

Tier-2 General Visa is the most common route that MBA candidates choose to switch from Tier-4 General student visa to post-MBA employment in the UK. Among the many conditions, the Employer must ensure that the minimum salary criterion is met. From the possible post-MBA career paths in Marketing, Finance, General Management, Technology, and Healthcare, the minimum salary ranges from £20,000 for New Entrants to £27,000 for Experienced Workers.

Advantages

Unlike Tier-4 General student visa, candidates can bring dependent family members (spouse, partner, and dependent children less than 18 years) on Tier-2 General visa. In addition to the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship, the candidate can take up a second job (after the first is commenced), travel and return, engage in voluntary work, and own up to 10% of the sponsor’s share and more if the annual salary exceeds £159,600.

Disadvantages

With the work visa, candidates can live in the UK for a maximum of only 6 years, after which they have to renew the visa for a similar period from the new employer or the current employer.

Permanent Residence

Most international MBA candidates interested in considering the UK as their permanent home choose the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application (the permanent residence equivalent) that requires that the candidates complete 5 years in the UK and have not left the country for more than 90 days in a year. Once the ILR is approved, candidates can travel freely without the need for a temporary visa, provided they don’t stay outside the UK for more than 2 years.
                                                                                
DosDonts
Work for the Sponsor only in the role described in the CoSOwn > 10% of the sponsor’s shares (unless salary exceeeds £159,600 a year)
Can take up a second job under limited circumstancesGet public funds
Do Voluntary workApply for a second job without beginning work for the Sponsor
Travel abroad and return
Bring Dependent Family Member (Spouse, Partner and Dependent Children - less than 18 years)
Study Part-time as long as the schedule doesn't interfere the commitment towards the program

                                                                                

Start DateCost
5 years and 14 days or Duration given in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) plus 1 month (whichever is shorter)  Start stay - 14 days before the start date mentioned in the CoS  ""£587 to £1,267 (Up to 3 years) £446 to £1,036 (Up to 3 years - shortage occupation) £1,174 to £1,944 (More than 3 years) £892 to £1,482 (More than 3 years - shortage occupation)
Extend the visa by 5 years as long as total stay doesn't exceed 6 years

                                                                                

ConditionsTier-2 General Visa
A valid certificate of sponsorship (CoS) for the jobTuberculosis Test if you are from the affected country list
Proof that the post-MBA Salary meets the minimum amount criteria published by the Govt.Submit Travel history of the past 5 years
Proof of Knowledge in EnglishPersonal Savings £945 during 90 days before you apply
Criminal Record Certificate (from Countries where you have lived 12 Months or more) - past 10 years    


Tier-1 (Entrepreneur) Visa

After the government shut down the Tier-1 (Post-study work) visa in 2012, in order to meet the net immigration targets of 100,000 in 2015, a viable alternative for Entrepreneurial MBA candidates starting their Business in the UK is the Tier-1 Entrepreneur Visa. The route to Tier-1 Entrepreneurial visa was abused by fraudulent students, who created fake Business plans, and showed an initial investment of £50,000, but after acquiring the Entrepreneurial visa, they began working for other Employers.


The 2014 amendment now requires students who transfer from Tier-4 to Tier-1 to show investment funds that are from government-approved sources (seed funds from companies endorsed by the UK Trade and Investment) and government departments in UK, Scotland, Welsh, and Northern Ireland.

                                                                                
DosDonts
Can partner with another Tier-1 Entrepreneirial applicant while sharing the same fundUse the same fund while partnering with another Tier-1 Entrepreneurial applicant

                                                                                

ConditionsTier-1 (Entrepreneur) Visa
Show £50,000 -200,000 as an Investment FundShould be older than 16
Can only fund in regulated institutionsScore at least 95 points in the Visa approval process

                                                                                

Conditions - DependentsTier-1 (Entrepreneur) Visa
Should show £1,890 each while applying from outside the UK or if they are in the UK for Less than 12 monthsShould show £630 for each dependant if they are in the UK for more than 12 months


Reference

Apply to Visa in the UK
Brexit Visa Rules


About the Author 

Atul Jose - Founding Consultant F1GMAT

I am Atul Jose - the Founding Consultant at F1GMAT.

Over the past 15 years, I have helped MBA applicants gain admissions to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Chicago Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Haas, Yale, NYU Stern, Ross, Duke Fuqua, Darden, Tuck, IMD, London Business School, INSEAD, IE, IESE, HEC Paris, McCombs, Tepper, and schools in the top 30 global MBA ranking. 

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