INTRODUCTION

Tier 1 (Post Study Work) came into effect on 28th June 2008 and is designed to allow the UK to retain the most able international graduates who have studied here. Post-study workers are free to look for work without having a sponsor for the length of their leave.

The category provides a bridge to highly skilled or skilled work. If an applicant is granted permission to stay as a post-study worker, they are expected to switch into another tier of the points-based system as soon as possible.

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates can apply under the post-study worker category now if they are either in the United Kingdom with permission to stay under the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS), International Graduates Scheme (IGS) or Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT: WISS); or currently in the United Kingdom as a student, which includes students, student nurses, students re-sitting examinations; and students writing up a thesis.

In order to be accepted into the post-study worker category, applicants must pass a points-based assessment. Applicants MUST score:

* 75 points for their attributes-- applicants must have been awarded either a HND from a recognised Scottish Institution OR a UK recognised bachelor degree (or a UK postgraduate certificate in education), or master’s degree or PhD; obtained from a UK institution on the list of recognised bodies, listed bodies, a Scottish institution or licensed under tier 4 on the register of sponsors. The award must have been granted within the12 months prior to the application submission date; and

• 10 points for English language; and

• 10 points for available maintenance (funds) -- see below.

If an applicant does not score the minimum of 75 points for their attributes,10 points for English language, and 10 points for available maintenance (funds), the application will be refused.

MAINTENANCE

The amount required for maintenance is dependent on where the application location and the number of dependants (spouse and children under 18) also applying.

INSIDE THE UK

Applicants must show a balance of a minimum of £800 in a current or instant access savings account at all times over a three-month period prior to the date of application. They will also be required to show a minimum of £533 per dependant for the same period (e.g. a family of four - £800 [main applicant] + £533 x 3 [dependant family members] = a minimum balance of £2,399 to be shown over the three-month period).

All evidence must be dated no more than one month before the application is submitted.

OUTSIDE THE UK

Applicants applying outside the UK must show they have a balance of at least £2,800 in their account at all times over the three-month period. Applicants will also be required to show a minimum of £1,600 per dependant for the same period (e.g. a family of four -- £2,800 [main applicant] + £1,600 x 3 [dependant family members] = a minimum balance of £7,600 to be shown over the three-month period).

All evidence must be dated no more than seven days before the application is submitted.

Evidence must be in the form of cash funds. Other accounts or financial instruments-- for example, shares, bonds, pension funds, regardless of notice period-- are not acceptable.

EXISTING INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE SCHEME (IGS) VISA HOLDERS

Applicants already in the UK may apply under the transitional arrangements provided they are in the UK and their current or last grant of leave was under any of the following schemes:

• Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS); or

• International Graduates Scheme (IGS); or

• Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT: WISS).

Applicants granted less than two years' leave under the International Graduates Scheme or Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme will be able to apply to the post-study worker category under the transitional arrangements. The arrangements allow applicants to obtain up to two years' leave under a combination of their previous scheme and post-study worker.

Applicants here under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT: WISS), usually have been granted two years' leave at the beginning and so do not need to apply for any transitional arrangements. However, if any applicants were given less than two years' leave under the FT: WISS, it is possible to apply according to the transitional arrangements in the post-study worker category to get a total of two years' leave under a combination of their FT:WISS and the post-study worker category.

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