Work visas
Moving to the UK from a country in the European Union is much easier (for now) – but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible if you’re coming from the States.
If you’re a skilled worker who’s earned a job with one of the countless approved companies in the UK, you can apply for a Tier 2 general visa from three months before your start date.
Need to stay for up to three years? It’ll cost you £625 ($764) to apply, plus another £625 for each of your dependents (family members, basically.)
Want to make the UK your home for more than three years? The cost doubles to £1,235 ($1,510) plus – yes, you guessed it – another £1,235 ($1,510) for each of your dependents. For a family of five, that means spending £6,175 ($7,554) for the right to live in the UK.
In either case, it’s 15% more expensive to apply for the visa from inside the UK.
You’ll also have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge of around £624 ($763) for you and each of your dependents.
Make sure to get the following documents:
- A certificate of sponsorship from your employer
- Proof that you’re being paid the “appropriate rate” – usually at least £30,000 ($36,600) per year
- A bank statement showing you have had £1,270 in your account for 90 days before your application
- Evidence showing you are able and allowed to travel
- Your travel history over the past five years
After you’ve collected and prepared all of this information, be ready to visit a visa application centre to get your fingerprints taken and your photo taken for a biometric residence permit.
100% of New York-based applicants for this visa get an answer within 30 days, but it doesn’t usually take that long. Half the people get a response within two days, and 99% get a reply within 15 days, according to the UK government.
Remember to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you wrote that you would arrive in the UK.
Jobs in the UK for students
The UK is a corking (excellent) place to attend university. Not only do Oxford and Cambridge occupy the first and fifth spots, respectively, in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2022, but London alone has eight institutions in the top 50.
To make your dream come true of studying in the UK, you need to apply for a Tier 4 general student visa. You can do this from three months before your course is set to start, and should get a decision within three weeks of sending off the application.
Before you apply, make sure you:
- Have been formally offered a place on a course at a UK university
- Can speak, read, write and understand English
- Have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself
And get together the following documents:
- A valid passport or other valid travel document
- Evidence you can support yourself and pay for your course
- Proof your legal guardian consents to you getting the visa, if you’re under 18
- Proof of your relationship with your legal guardian, if you’re under 18
It costs £363 to apply for this visa from outside the UK. You must pay an additional £363 per person for each dependent you want to come over with you. You’ll also have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge of around £1,000 ($1,220).
If you’re successful, you can come over to the UK a month (or less) before your course starts.
