General Tier 2 or Tier 5 Creative Visa Advice

Hi there.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience getting a working visa in the UK. I'm 26, American, and do not work somewhere that has intracompany transfer. I understand that with a general tier 2 visa, I need a sponsor. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this process? Do I contact the company directly and inquire for sponsorship? There's a salary minimum that worries me as well...

I'm also an artist and was possibly thinking of applying for the tier 5 creative visa, in which I would still need a sponsor. Is an artist residency a possibility? Will that only allow me a month or so? I found a great website that lists all the companies in the UK that are registered sponsors. Still unsure the best way to approach the situation and the company.

I would ideally like to stay in UK, Scotland specifically, for at least 12 months but will take what I can get. Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Jackie

Unless your job falls on the shortage occupation list, Tier 2 visas are extremely difficult to qualify for unless you have advanced qualifications and experience because an employer/sponsor  has to prove there is no one who doesn't need a  visa who can do the job.

To qualify for a Tier 5 creative visa you pretty much need to be internationally recognised.

An artist isn't a shortage worker so it is unlikely you would get a Tier 2 visa. Do you have a particular reason why you want to move to the UK? Would you be willing to go to school and thus get a student visa?

I'm not quite interested in going back to school....but I will look into it if I can afford it.

I want to move out there for a fella. We've been dating a year now and hopping back and forth. Not sure if were quite ready for marriage...

It just seems near impossible to get a visa...

I'm not quite interested in going back to school....but I will look into it if I can afford it.

I want to move out there for a fella. We've been dating a year now and hopping back and forth. Not sure if were quite ready for marriage...

It just seems near impossible to get a visa...

If you get married, it's pretty easy to get a visa - so you may find that's your only option.

You could either get a 6-month fiance visa to marry in the UK and then switch to a FLR(M) visa after the wedding (you wouldn't be able to work until you had the FLR(M)), or you get married in the US first, then apply for a 33-month spousal visa, which allows work right away (no need for company sponsorship).

Your UK fiance/spouse just needs to be earning £18,600 or more per year, and you also need to show your relationship is genuine and that you have somewhere to live in the UK, and the visa should be granted.