Tier 2 Visa Applications: Updated support information rom NHSE
Tier 2 Visa Applications: updated support information from NHSE
Tier 2 is an immigration route for non-European Economic Area (EEA) migrants who wish to work in the UK. Initially the focus was on doctors from the EEA but has now been widened to include Australia and New Zealand. These migrants must be sponsored by an organisation or company that holds a Tier 2 licence. A licence is a permission given to an organisation to sponsor workers in its business and last for 4 years. The organisation is known as a sponsor.
NHS England are aware that there are a number of non-EEA GP Trainees who qualify each year in February and August that are looking for practices who are able to provide them with Tier 2 sponsorship. However, the number of GP Practices who are currently Tier 2 Visa sponsors is limited and often non-EEA GP Trainees will be forced to return to their home country if they are unable to find employment with a practice that can continue their sponsorship. Tier 2 sponsorship therefore is an opportunity for practices that are having difficulty recruiting to vacant GP posts, to employ migrant Drs who will generally have completed their training in the UK. It doesn’t guarantee that you will fill your vacancy, but it opens up a new pool of Drs who are then able to apply for your vacancies.
NHS England will support non-EEA GP trainees by matching them with vacancies at practices that hold visa sponsorship licences in their preferred locations.
(Please note that standard recruitment processes then apply for the roles within these practices.)
How to apply to become a sponsor
NHSE has produced an information pack (attached) which walks practices through the full forms and shows them all the information they will be asked for is available.
If you are interested in becoming a Tier 2 Sponsor Organisation and would like further information please contact the IGPR Programme Team in your area:
West Yorkshire & Harrogate - Lindsey Bell– lindsey.bell@nhs.net
Humber Coast & Vale – Dianne Swiers - dianneswiers@gmail.com
Hambleton, Richmondshire & Whitby – Gail Linstead - gail.linstead@nhs.net
Funding
NHS England is offering a package of funding to support any practice who wants to become Tier 2 Visa sponsors. Funding available includes reimbursement of sponsor license fee (even if unsuccessful), Certificate of Sponsorship fee, first 2 years of Immigration Skills Charge, Visa fees for GP trainee and their family
Alternatively if you would like an initial general discussion about becoming a tier 2 sponsor, please contact mail@leedslmc.org