VISA OPTIONS AND WORKING IN THE UK

To stay in the UK to work after your studies, international students will need permission in the form of a visa, unless you are an EEA or Swiss national. The rules about working in the UK are complex and change frequently, so be sure to check for full and up-to-date information.

The University’s visa and immigration advisers give regular talks at the Careers Service on the current work visa options and can also cover individual queries. Check our Events Calendar on CareerConnect for details. Regrettably, the Careers Service’s staff cannot advise on visas.

New immigration system launches on Monday 5 October 2020

The Home Office announced, as this publication was ‘going to press’ in September 2020, that legislation has been laid in Parliament for a new Student Route that will start on Monday 5 October 2020 and replace the Tier 4 system. It will be similar to the Tier 4 system with some slight changes to make the process easier for student visa applications. The primary reason for the change is to include EU/EEA (excludes Irish nationals) and Swiss

nationals who will need a visa if they start on or after Friday 1 January 2021 and they do not already have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or are not eligible to apply under that scheme. Further details are expected soon and the Student Immigration team will keep colleges and departments updated on the changes and any impact. See the information box opposite for ways to keep up to date on the new Graduate Route.

Tier 2

Under Tier 2, licensed employers can sponsor applicants for a specific graduate-level job. There are special arrangements for applying in the UK for a Tier 2 visa for recent graduates and DPhil students who have completed at least a year of their course. To qualify under this scheme you must have a suitable job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer who holds a Tier 2 license, and meet financial requirements. You will need to discuss with a prospective employer whether they are willing and able to sponsor you. The salary offered must be both at the appropriate level for the job and a minimum of £20,800. If you apply under the special arrangements for students, your employer is exempt from undertaking a Resident Labour Market Test and paying the Immigration Skills Charge. It is also possible to apply under Tier 2 later, from outside the UK, but this is more restrictive for both you and the employer.

UKCISA provides useful information about applying under Tier 2, and you can check the Home Office’s register to see whether an employer is a Tier 2 licensed sponsor.

Start-up visa

This visa is for students who have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea for development in the UK. Oxford University can endorse applicants each year and applications are made via the Careers Service. We advertise details of the application process via the Careers Service’s blog and in our newsletters. If you are endorsed by the University or another authorised endorsing body you will need to apply for a start-up visa, which is valid for two years, via the gov.uk website.

Tier 5 for an internship in the UK

You could apply for a Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange visa for an internship related to your degree for up to a year. This would normally need to be sponsored by a third-party sponsoring organisation, such as: • Access Tier 5: www.accesstier5.com or Tier 5 Intern: tier5intern.com • For Government information on this, see: www.gov.uk/ tier-5-government-authorised-exchange

Other options

Nationals from some countries may have access to other routes for working in the UK, including a scheme for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, and the Tier 5 visa (Youth Mobility Scheme), both of which you must apply for from your home country.

More information

www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa/work www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas www.ukcisa.org.uk/information-advice