Post Study Work

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 in the UK. 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, it is expected that they will switch into another tier of the points-based system as soon as they are able to.

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants 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.
To apply under the points-based system and be accepted into the post-study worker category, applicants must pass a points-based assessment.  Applicants MUST score:

• 75 points for their attributes, which are that applicants have been awarded either a HND from a recognised Scottish Institution OR a UK recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree OR  a UK postgraduate certificate or diploma; obtained from a UK institution that is on the list of recognised bodies, listed bodies, a Scottish institution or licensed under tier 4 on the register of sponsors; and that the award was granted within the last 12 months prior to submitting the application; 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 and 10 points for English language and 10 points for available maintenance (funds), the application will be refused.

MAINTENANCE
The amount required for maintenance is dependant on where the applicant is applying and the number of dependant family members (spouse and children under 18) that are 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 that the application is submitted.  Applicants 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 are able to 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), would usually have been granted two years' leave at the beginning and so will 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 under 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.