Tier 1 - what's the 'lowdown' on this please?

Hi,

Hadn't really ocurred to me until recently that we might qualify to get into UK without a having a job lined up.  I'm just starting my search for information, haven't even checked out any official UK govt sites (I've 'immigrated' to one country already, and can't face going through all the pages and pages of info that may or may not apply again, not just yet!)...

As far as I can tell, my spouse qualifies for the Tier 1 visa (more than 75 points). But I don't know exactly WHAT a Tier 1 visa is/what it 'offers', or how long it generally takes from application to approval? I also have just assumed that though we're a family, only my spouse would need to qualify points-wise?

Would be grateful for a quick overview of what exactly the Tier 1 visa is all about. How long does it take to qualify for UK citizenship once Tier 1 is granted? And can anyone please point me in the direction of the best place to get information for my particular situation.

(I'm a Yank but was married to a Brit for a very long time, and have one British grown-up child but the child lives in USA. I co-owned 2 houses in UK with my ex-spouse, and lived on and off there while my spouse was working abroad, but only on visitor visas as they wouldn't grant me anything else without spouse actually residing in UK. UK was my home, I left many friends behind there, and I had always just assumed - until I started looking into things recently - that I'd never be able to move back there without having a job lined up)

Thanks for any help here!

I have a Tier 1 (General) visa, so I can help you out. It replaced the HSMP visa, allows you to live in the UK for 3 years and take up any employment and has a 2 year extension provision if you can show you were economically active (pay slips, etc.). It's one of the most flexible visas you can get. The applicant can bring over dependents (partner and children) who are also allowed to work. The application fee is £750 and I think currently it's taking a couple of months to process straightforward applications. The applicant will need to prove sufficient funds for himself and any dependents. The details of amounts are on the BIA website, but I believe it's £2800 for the main applicant plus £1600 per dependent, and you must show that you've had these funds always present in your account for the 3 months before applying. Let me know if there is anything else you want to know!

Thanks Super199 for the info. I WILL have more questions, just organizing getting a house sold and such right now, so might not be for another few days.

One question though for now - on this visa do you have to arrange for medical insurance or are you covered by NHS? What did you do about health coverage? If you had to get insurance coverage, what kind of fees are you paying and did you get dental coverage as well?

Thanks again...

Tier 1 visa holders (and any dependents) have full access to the NHS, so no private health insurance necessary.  Dental coverage isn't free on the NHS, though (although it's cheaper than going private), but a lot of areas have a serious shortage of NHS dentists who are taking on new patients.

I switched from a student visa, so I was already covered on the NHS, but my understanding is that any visa longer than 6 months gives you NHS treatment. I have private dental because finding an NHS dentist is a bit like finding a unicorn I pay about £14 a month and that covers two checkups/cleans a year plus emergency care, and discounts and payment plans if I need any work done.

hi superl99,
as you said you have got tier 1 approval and you paid 750 pounds for inital application .Did you got your passport stamped as well along with approval letter or you sended it agterwards? and how long does it normally take for the whole process .

kind Regards, 

I actually applied when it was still HSMP, so I was part of the transitional arrangements where you got the approval letter first and then sent the passport. Nowadays it is a one-step process and you send in your passport straight away.

I actually applied when it was still HSMP, so I was part of the transitional arrangements where you got the approval letter first and then sent the passport. Nowadays it is a one-step process and you send in your passport straight away.

oh ok ,

so how long it actually took in your case , as i apllied on 3rd week july and haven't heard any thing so far !!!

Regards

Tier 1's are taking at least 2 months now.


Vicky

My experience wouldn't help you, as they've been doing the HSMP transitional applications on a different scale from the pure Tier 1 applications.

Just to add, HSMP/Tier 1 General ECs' also allow you to have your own business, and/or you can have more than one job - i.e. you aren't tied to a specific employer.

Transitional HSMPs are seriously back logged....I applied May 22 and they still haven't even reviewed my application

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/hsmp/waitingtimes/ [nofollow]

I think, unless it changed since may, unless you are part of the commonwealth or already on a visa you need (e.g., american with no prior non-visitor visa to UK) to file for the transitional HSMP

This may have changed. 

Full Tier 1 went live in June and now everybody has to apply for that. HSMP no longer exists as a new visa.

Well I stand corrected.  Hopefully the Tier 1 processing times are quicker than the HSMPs have been.

Good luck.

HSMP is slow because Tier 1 apps are being prioritised.  We have HSMP's backlogged from February 

Vicky