Timeline for employer sponsored visa ??

[USApplicant]

Hello, my employer (major investment bank) is extending an offer and willing to do sponsorship. I've been told might take up to 3 months? They probably have their attorneys doing the paperwork, do I need to do anything on my part? Maintenance funds?

Also, I had an old Tier 1 general visa that expired last month. Never worked in the UK. Does this have an affect on my application?

I am sorry I've tried reading the forum, a lot of postings, found it very confusing to weed out relevant information.

Thanks much !

[geriatrix]

Also, I had an old Tier 1 general visa that expired last month. Never worked in the UK. Does this have an affect on my application?

No.

[USApplicant]

Ok cool. What about timeline? The timeline thread is dead. Anyone? thanks

[USApplicant]

does anyone have a rough idea how long will it take for a major bank to sponsor tier 2 visa? I am assuming they have all licensing in place. Thanks

[manci]

Hello, my employer (major investment bank) is extending an offer and willing to do sponsorship. I've been told might take up to 3 months? They probably have their attorneys doing the paperwork, do I need to do anything on my part? Maintenance funds?

If you have worked at the bank abroad for at least 12 months the quickest way to transfer to its UK organisation would be by way of Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer (ICT), otherwise Tier 2 (General). If the bank is already a Tier 2 registered sponsor, and has the appropriate CoS alocation for the current year, then the ICT route is quick. However, if they had to assign a Tier 2 General CoS to you that would take longer because they are likely to have to do a resident labour market test (RLMT), which takes 28 days, and there is also a monthly quota for T2G CoSs.

Once you have the CoS you need to apply for entry clearance at the nearest UK diplomatic post on form VAF9 including Appendix 5. You can download these from the internet together with the guidance notes. The processing time of entry clearance applications should be on the UK Embassy or High Commission website of the country where you would be applying from.

You don't have to worry about maintenance funds if the bank is prepared to certify maintenace for you.

[USApplicant]

Hello Manci - very informative, thank you very much for detailed explanation. I have a call with them next week to clear things out and I am just being a bit anxious. Not intra-bank transfer, this is a new position. It's one of the major investment banks so I am assuming they have the whole process mapped out. Thanks again ~

Hello, my employer (major investment bank) is extending an offer and willing to do sponsorship. I've been told might take up to 3 months? They probably have their attorneys doing the paperwork, do I need to do anything on my part? Maintenance funds?

If you have worked at the bank abroad for at least 12 months the quickest way to transfer to its UK organisation would be by way of Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer (ICT), otherwise Tier 2 (General). If the bank is already a Tier 2 registered sponsor, and has the appropriate CoS alocation for the current year, then the ICT route is quick. However, if they had to assign a Tier 2 General CoS to you that would take longer because they are likely to have to do a resident labour market test (RLMT), which takes 28 days, and there is also a monthly quota for T2G CoSs.

Once you have the CoS you need to apply for entry clearance at the nearest UK diplomatic post on form VAF9 including Appendix 5. You can download these from the internet together with the guidance notes. The processing time of entry clearance applications should be on the UK Embassy or High Commission website of the country where you would be applying from.

You don't have to worry about maintenance funds if the bank is prepared to certify maintenace for you.