In 2011 alone, more
than 560,000 people immigrated to the UK from other nations around the world.
If your international move will bring you to England, Scotland or Wales, you'll need to apply for a UK Work Visa regardless of whether
or not you will remain permanently in the country.
The UK Border Agency
handles the issuance of Visas and uses a points system to determine which
applications will be approved. It's important to note that if you're interested
in starting a business in the UK, you can obtain a special Visa to remain in
the country for up to 6 month as an entrepreneur and a priority applicant.
If the reason for your
immigration to the UK is not related to entrepreneurship, you'll submit a
standard Visa application. Most Australians will fall into one of two
categories on the points system:
Tier
1
This is a top priority tier that's offered to investors, owners of UK businesses, people with proven exceptional skills and
recent graduates of universities located in the UK. These individuals do not
need to have a job offer to apply for a Visa.
Tier
2
This tier is the designation given to skilled
workers (those who require training and post-secondary education to do their
jobs). A hiring company must sponsor the Visa for any Tier 2 individual. In
addition, the UK limits the number of Visas issued for workers who will
make £150,000 or less in the UK, unless
they are coming to the country to continue working for the same company that
they were employed by in Australia.
Domestic workers and
sole representatives of overseas businesses can apply for special priority work
Visa consideration. Entertainers, academic visitors and athletes do not need
work Visas, provided they remain in the UK for 6 months or less.
If you have questions
about immigrating to the UK from Australia or need help preparing for your
international move, contact us at Chess Moving.