Visa Options for Staying in the UK: The Graduate Route and More
Explore visa options for working or doing business in the UK, including the Graduate Route which allows you to stay for two years after your degree. No sponsorship needed from Oxford or an employer. Learn about qualification requirements and how Oxford reports successful completions to the Home Office. Stay informed for potential changes in 2025.
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Visas for staying in the UK for work or business: The Graduate Route and other options Student Immigration Team student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk Joy Zhang and Jo Aldhouse, Student Immigration Team Josephine Allen, OU Careers Service We have tried to make this information accurate as at today's date, 13 February 2024 always check for updates.
Today we will look at visa options for remaining in the UK for work or business Graduate Route Skilled Worker Innovator Founder Other options Employers and visas 2
The Graduate Route A work route to stay on for two years after your degree or 3 years for DPhils Key points You must have successfully completed your degree Oxford must have reported your successful completion to the Home Office before you apply for the visa You must be in the UK to apply Study must have been in the UK on a Student visa You must apply before your Student visa expires Don t need Oxford or employer sponsorship You can do almost any work, or be self-employed You can only apply once Graduate route due to be reviewed; changes possible in 2025 3
Qualification requirement Before you apply you must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, a masters or a DPhil, or a PGCE (A law conversion course, or vocational course to qualify as a solicitor or barrister, or Foundation Programme in Medicine all qualify too) Oxford must have reported your successful completion to the Home Office* Completion must have been during your most recent Student visa (except SU sabbatical officers) Normally needs to be the course named on your CAS 4
* Oxfords report of your successful completion to the Home Office The Student Visa Compliance Team will make the report They submit the reports weekly, on Friday afternoons All students whose student record shows they have officially successfully completed are included in the report You receive an email from the SVC Team telling you your successful completion has been reported, and reminding you of your most recent CAS number 5
Your visa status when you apply When you apply you must have visa permission as a Student (meaning a still- current Tier 4 or Student visa as shown by your BRP or your eVisa/UKVI account) This means your results must be before your visa expires In very exceptional circumstances you could apply as an overstayer up to 14 days after this has expired- do not rely on this You can t apply if you hold any other type of visa 6
Study in the UK with a Student visa requirement: Course 12 months or shorter: must have student visa for entire course Course longer than 12 months : must have student visa for at least 12 months During required period, all you study must have been based in the UK, apart from permitted study Going away for short periods for example study trips or holidays or going home during vacations when there are no lectures or seminars doesn t count against you If you start a course longer than 12 months on a different visa, to be eligible you need to switch to a student visa and complete 12 months study on it If you have suspended, it may be possible to add together time before and after suspension to meet the study in the UK requirement 7
When and how to apply Apply in UK only After your successful completion has been reported to the Home Office Before your student visa expires You are covered to remain if visa end date passes before application outcome After application submitted, don t travel before Graduate Route visa granted Usually fully online application, biometrics appointment if you can t use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check app No requirement to show any savings No additional English language requirement 8
Finishing earlier or later than expected Early completion, for example receiving Leave to Supplicate on your DPhil in February when your visa expires in August, or leaving after 3 years BA instead of 4yr undergraduate masters. Be aware your visa may be shortened by UKVI. You will need to apply before new end date and be very careful about travelling as you may not be able to return. Getting course extension for example for dissertation. Work out when you are likely to receive your results and apply for further student visa if necessary before you complete your course. You can t apply for a Student visa extension only for results. 9
Cost Application fee 822, for you and each dependant IHS - 1035 per adult per year: total 2070 for 2 years or DPhil 3105 (3 years). Under 18: 776 per year: 1552 for 2 years, 2328 for 3 years 10
If you were funded for your study, permission may be required for your Graduate Route application Permission required in form of a letter if both tuition fees and living costs have been paid by a government or international scholarship agency (eg. Marshall or Chevening) within 12-month period before application. Chevening will not give consent, Marshall will. No consent required if you were sponsored for fees alone or living costs alone No consent required if you were sponsored by a University (including Oxford or college scholarships) or an international company or any other funder. 11
Family who can apply as your GR Dependants Partner, or child under 18 already in UK as your Student Dependant Must apply in-UK Could apply at the same time as you or continue to use their Student dependant visa while it is still valid and apply later Family members not already here need to apply as student dependants, if eligible, before your Student visa expires, then they can apply as your Graduate route dependants Dependants can do any work except professional sportsperson or coach No study restriction for dependants A dependant who was studying might need funder permission as above 12
While you wait for decision Doesn t matter if previous visa expiry date passes while you wait ( 3C leave) You have Student work permission (and restrictions) until Graduate route permission is granted You can work full time while you wait, as your student visa gives you permission to work full time following course completion, but unless you applied for your student visa after 5 April 2022 you cannot take a permanent full-time job until your GR visa is granted You cannot be self-employed or engage in business until your GR visa is granted Don t travel until visa granted, leaving Common Travel Area withdraws your application 13
Permission granted Either 2 years or 3 years (applicants with a DPhil) starting from date of decision UKVI account to view and prove your status Visa nationals receive a BRP valid until 31 December 2024 non visa nationals : only receive BRP if were unable to use UK immigration: ID check app for biometrics 14
Work permission Any work except professional sports person Self-employment and business allowed Warning: if you are interested in applying for Innovator Founder you may need to switch to this visa type at an early stage of the business. Study restriction Not allowed to study a course that would be eligible for a Student visa 15
Afterwards and alternatives Can switch into most other work routes or back to student Skilled worker Innovator founder Other options 16
Skilled Worker route key points Skilled Worker replaced Tier 2 on 1 December 2020 For employment in a specific skilled job At an appropriate salary (how much depends on the type of work you do) Requires sponsorship from approved UK employer Can only switch after course completion or 24 months on a DPhil https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa Applicant's guide to applying for a Skilled Worker visa (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Check if you are eligible for a Skilled Worker visa (visas- immigration.service.gov.uk) 17
Skilled Worker requirement overview Employer must have a Skilled Worker license Certificate of sponsorship (CoS) Job must be at RQF skill level 3 and have eligible code Must be paid appropriate wage for job going rate Salary must not be less than 20,960 depending on the job ( new entrant minimum) Course completion requirement/24 months for DPhil English requirements Maintenance requirements 18
Salary requirement Must meet or exceed three different requirements: the minimum yearly salary, normally 26,200 (new entrant 20,960) the minimum hourly rate 10.75 the "going rate" (annual and hourly) for the specific occupation (new entrant, 70% of going rate ) You qualify as new entrant if switching from Student visa or Graduate route visa From 4 April 2024 minimum salary due to increase to 38,700 19
Course completion/24 month requirement for switching You can apply once your course of study is complete You can apply within 3 months of CoS start date, but only if the start date is after your course completion date You can apply after 24 months on a DPhil Evidence of course completion expected end date from your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) or official results Evidence of 24 months on a DPhil: CAS or letter 20
English language requirement Already met because one or more of these will apply to you: National of majority English speaking country (passport) Degree level qualification from UK institution (degree certificate, final academic transcript) Satisfied for previous visa application eg Student visa 21
Money to support yourself The financial requirement is automatically met if you apply in UK and have been here on a visa for 12 months. Otherwise you need to show 1270 held for 28 days Employer could certify they could cover you for this amount on your CoS https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs 22
Financial sponsor permission Same as for Graduate route- see slide 11 23
Cost of applying for Skilled worker visa Visa up to 3 years: In-UK 827 outside UK 719 More than 3 years: In-UK 1500 outside UK 1420 IHS - 1035 per year; (children under 18, 776) 24
Immigration Skills Charge The good news- An Immigration Skills Charge is levied on Skilled worker employers but employer exempted when applicant is switching in-UK from Student visa to Skilled Worker Applying outside UK: employer pays 1000 for each year of the job, or reduced rate of 364 for small or charity employers. 25
When can I start working? If you have completed your course, you can normally start work in the role you have been sponsored for as soon as you have applied for the Skilled Worker visa DPhil students applying under 24 month rule need to wait until visa granted Employer may prefer that you wait until the outcome of your Skilled worker application/confirmation of your graduation before starting work Always check with your employer about when they expect you to start and on what basis 26
Dependants Partner, and children under 18 (or over 18 if already have a visa as your dependant). They don t need a CoS Dependants can apply in UK unless they are here only as a visitor. If they are studying on a Student visa, they may need to wait until the end of their course (or 24 months of a PhD) before they can switch If they are applying in the UK they can apply at the same time as you or later, nearer their own visa expiry date Can apply outside the UK at same time as you or later Dependants can work (except as professional sports person/coach) and study 27
Extensions and settlement You can extend Skilled Worker permission providing your sponsorship is extended Eligible to apply for settlement (ILR) after 5 years on Skilled Worker route, must still be required for job Time on Skilled worker route would also go towards settlement (ILR) under 10 year rule 28
Starting a business in the UK: Innovator Founder Your business idea must be: new, innovative, viable and scalable - https://www.gov.uk/innovator-founder-visa You need to get an endorsement from an endorsing body Currently there are 4 endorsing bodies: Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas endorsing bodies - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Visa is for 3 years and can be renewed Can progress to settled status in the UK Partner and children can apply as your dependants 29
Other visa options see UKCISAs information UKCISA - international student advice and guidance - Working after studies: Global talent: those internationally recognized or likely to become world leaders in certain fields. Must receive endorsement or have won eligible awards High Potential Individual:degree from top global non-UK university Government Authorised Exchange: previously used for internships, some research posts Dependant visa: work almost without restriction 30
Options available from outside UK only Youth mobility: under 31 at date of application, or under 36 if from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or Republic of Korea. Visa for 2 years, nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can extend for one more year India Young Professionals Scheme: 2 years, selection by ballot Ancestry visa: commonwealth citizen, UK born grandparent 5 years, can apply for ILR 31
Employers and job applications Getting past do you have permission to work in the UK, yes or no Employers who aren t aware that Resident Labour Market test has gone or that they might not need to pay Immigration Skills Charge for Skilled Worker Employers who aren t licensed for Skilled worker lack of familiarity amongst employers with Graduate route right to work check anxiety Concern over future changes Helpful resources for employers: Recruiting International Graduates, an employer's guide - International Student Employability Group The UK s points-based immigration system: introduction for employers - UKVI 32
Information, resources and help UK Council for International Student Affairs: up-to-date information and resources on visa options for working after studies fully linked through to relevant gov.uk webpages: UKCISA - international student advice and guidance - Working after studies Gov.uk website search on UKVI (name of route) Our webpages: After your studies | University of Oxford OU Careers service work seeker skills and information 33
Email advice from Student Immigration Student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk detailed advice on Graduate Route general information on other routes, and signposting Include your Student ID or full name in the email 34
