UK Work Permit Information for Employees

You will find there are many ways by which you can live and work in the UK. And not all of them mean that you will need a firm job offer before getting a UK Work Permit or Visa. You are seen as a valuable commodity and the rules are changing all of the time to help you make that move. Your family are of course also very welcome and they can enjoy the same benefits as you in the UK.

Coddan Visas and Work Permits LTD are in a position to help you find a job. We can post your profile to recruiters and employers to see. We can apply for work or other related permits on your behalf and provide a variety of additional and very useful services. Why not join us now for free?

UK Work Permit in the UK is generally obtained by a company sponsoring an employee. Coddan Visas and Work Permits LTD can help with this Work Permit process if it is the case that you already have a UK employer and they are prepared to make you a job offer. If it is the case that you have a job offer from a UK employer then please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about how we can help you gain a UK Work Permit.

It has been known that some employers prefer not to sponsor Work Permits, because they feel there is a certain element of risk about the process. This can lead to a catch 22 situation for any prospective employees that want to acquire a UK Working Visa.

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (UK HSMP Visa). HSMP is an excellent and extremely popular points-based visa, allowing independent immigration to the UK for Highly skilled Migrant workers with sought – after skills to be interviewed by potential employers safe in the knowledge that they already have the right to work. You could say it is similar to the skilled migration programmes for entry into countries such as Australia and Canada. In addition the UK has added an MBA provision to the HSMP.
Another plus about the HSMP is that you can work for yourself as self employed if you are a member of the British commonwealth.

Working HolidayMaker Scheme could allow you up to 2 years to live and work in the UK. You don’t have to answer to a single sponsoring employer and it is possible for you to work for yourself as self employed. The Working Hoiday Visa will not count towards UK Residency, whereas the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (UK HSMP Visa and Employer Sponsored UK Work Permit will count towards UK Residency.

EEA Association Agreement
A number of East European countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia and Latvia have signed "Association Agreements" with the European Union which permits citizens of those countries to enter the United Kingdom and manage undertakings on a self-employed basis. This can be done either as a sole-trader, in partnership or by way of a limited company.

If you have an Employer sponsored UK Work Permit, which paves the way for you to stay for as long as (up to 5 years) when you have successfully found work, your new employer will then have to apply for your work permit (and not you as the individual). Although it’s the responsibility of the employer to do this, the work permit actually belongs to you, not your employer however, the work permit is specific to you working only for that particular employer. If later on you want to change jobs, then a new work permit will have to be acquired. You will find that this transfer process is made much easier than the first application for as long as the new employer can qualify and that the work permit is for a very similar job. The sponsoring process is also much easier if your skills or occupation are on the official skills shortage list.

Your do well at this stage to tell your new employer that we can ensure your UK work permit is obtained quickly and correctly. You don’t want to run the risk of being turned down with your application. We can handle the work permit application process for you both.

It could also be possible for you to take advantage of the SEGS (The Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme).

This scheme will give the right to non-EEA citizens who have graduated from either UK higher or further education establishments in certain physical sciences, mathematics and engineering subjects with a 2.2 or higher will be able to remain in the UK for a 12 month period after their studies so they can pursue their career.

This could save you a lot of time and energy, as it needs to be evaluated and one has to adhere to the guidelines.

It may also be possible for you to apply under the sectors based Scheme where upon workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to enter the United Kingdom to take short-term or casual jobs.

If it is the case that potential employers ask you to get your own work permit before taking you on for their jobs, they either do not understand the processes, or would rather you looked at some of the above options.

If they do not seem to understand the processes, you will have to explain to them that they need to get involved in this sponsored process and point out the above options. Or better still, ask them to make contact with us.