Welcome to First Migration, London’s most trusted immigration consultant. Over the past 17 years, we’ve helped thousands of clients come to the UK to gain work experience and support the British economy. Read on to learn more about the Graduate Trainee Visa, eligibility for the visa, the requirements, and how we can help you with our wealth of experience and knowledge. Due to our confidence in securing your visa approval, all our applications are covered under our no-win, no-fee guarantee.
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The Graduate Trainee visa is a visa that enables individuals to come to the UK to work for their existing employer at their UK branch. To be eligible for this particular visa, your current job must be part of a graduate training program for a managerial or specialist position. You must also meet the appropriate salary thresholds, have worked for your employer for at least 3 months outside of the UK, and have been issued a Certificate of Sponsorship. You’ll be eligible for the visa if you meet all of these criteria. This means you can work for your employer in the UK for up to 12 months, pursue academic or professional studies, and bring any dependant partners or children.
The Graduate Trainee Visa should not be confused with a Graduate Visa, available to students who have completed an academic qualification within the UK. The Graduate Trainee Visa is a relatively new visa that forms part of the Global Business Mobility Scheme. It has replaced the previous Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa, formerly the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee visa.
To be eligible for a Graduate Trainee visa, there are various eligibility requirements that you need to meet. The following requirements apply to all applications:
If you can satisfy all of the above requirements, you can proceed to make an application.
Your sponsor, which must be your employer, will provide you with an electronic record called a Certificate of Sponsorship that contains details about the specific work you will be undertaking in the UK. A Certificate of Sponsorship can only be issued by an employer with a valid Sponsor Licence, and it’s generated through the Sponsor Management System (SMS). It’s important to note that the Certificate of Sponsorship is in electronic format, not a physical paper document.
When applying for your visa, you will require the reference number mentioned in your Certificate of Sponsorship. It is crucial to submit your visa application within three months of receiving your Certificate of Sponsorship.
To meet the salary requirement for a Graduate Trainee visa, you must receive a salary of at least £24,220 or 70% of the “going rate” for your particular job, whichever is higher. The “going rate” varies for each occupation code, and the figures are specified in the going rates table. It is essential to review the going rate applicable to your job to ensure that you meet the salary requirement.
For certain healthcare or education positions, different salary rules apply. In these cases, your salary must meet the higher of two requirements: it should be at least £24,220 or match the full “going rate” for your job. The going rates for these particular roles are determined by independent bodies such as the NHS (National Health Service) or other relevant institutions responsible for setting national pay scales. Details on these rates are also available on the going rates table.
Only certain roles are eligible for a Graduate Trainee Visa. A full list of eligible occupations is on the government website, and you should make sure your role is listed before commencing an application. Each role is given a 4-digit occupation code, and the appropriate code needs to be stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship, which your employer generates.
To prove your ability to support yourself in the UK, you must have a minimum of £1,270 in your bank account. This amount should have been available continuously for at least 28 days, and the 28th day must be within 31 days before submitting your visa application. If your partner and children are accompanying you, they must also demonstrate their financial ability to support themselves in the UK. The additional maintenance funds required for them are as follows:
If your employer intends to support you during your first month in the UK, this must be explicitly stated in your Certificate of Sponsorship. Your employer should complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section under ‘Additional data’ on your certificate.
The duration of your stay in the UK under a Graduate Trainee Visa will be determined by whichever is shorter between the time specified on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus an additional 14 days or a maximum of 12 months. This is the maximum stay permitted, so you cannot extend your Graduate Trainee visa. However, if you wish to return to the UK, you can apply for another Graduate Trainee Visa from outside the UK. Note the same eligibility conditions will apply.
If you have been on any of the following visas, you are limited to a maximum stay of 5 years within a 6-year period in the UK:
Under a Graduate Trainee visa, you are permitted to engage in the following activities:
However, there are certain restrictions and limitations associated with the visa. These include:
If your application is approved, you will receive a comprehensive list detailing the specific activities that are permitted and those that are prohibited under the Graduate Trainee visa.
When applying for a Graduate Trainee Visa, you will need to supply:
Depending on your circumstances, you might also be asked to provide:
Several different costs are associated with a Graduate Trainee Visa. It’s always advisable for the employee and the employer to discuss these in advance so both parties understand who is paying each fee.
The fees payable are as follows:
You’ll be informed how much you need to pay when making your application online.
Once you have completed the online application, verified your identity, and submitted the required documents, you can typically expect a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. If you require a faster decision, expediting the process may be possible by paying an additional fee.
If you want expert advice about the UK Visa options available to you or if you are preparing your UK Visa application and want access to a UK Visa Expert’s knowledge and experience, this is the service for you.
If you wish to prepare your UK Visa application, why not let our Visa Experts be your insurance policy to ensure your application is approved and you do not lose the very high government fees you will be paying.
To secure your visa approval as easily as possible, provide your UK Visa Expert with the documents they request using the document list and templates provided, and they will do everything else for you.
Our Priority Service provides you with all the benefits of the Full Consultancy Service plus we will prepare and submit your application within 48 working hours of receiving the supporting documents.
Many clients choose First Migration for its long history of excellent service and track record of successful visa applications. However, what we feel is our biggest strength and what makes us unique is our small dedicated team that offers a truly personalised service. We genuinely love what we do, and our team relishes making a difference to the lives of our clients.
All applications for the Graduate Trainee Visa need to be made from outside the UK. One of the requirements is that you must have worked for your employer outside the UK for the last 3 consecutive months. Therefore, there is no valid reason for wanting or needing to apply within the UK.
Yes, you can bring any dependant partners or children under 18 years old on a Graduate Trainee Visa. You should note that a separate application fee will be payable for each dependant, and they will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
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