Working visas / UK sponsorships (apply, degree, work, income)

[darren1]

Hi everyone.
I'm puzzled and was wondering of anyone could help. My partner is an American citizen and has completed a Masters in Governmental administration overseeing child welfare policies in Philadelphia. I'm a UK citizen we are looking into working visas for my partner to work in the UK whilst I'm completing a Masters program for two years. Does anyone have any information into work sponsorships in the UK or how to go about gaining a work visa in the UK for US citizens. We've both been through both US and UK embassy websites but due to the shear amount of legal documentations on there...where do we start!

Thank you everyone for your help.

Best wishes

Darren.

[sondra_finchley]

The UK moved to a points based system- a masters will help, but if your partner is under the age of 32 or has made a good chunk of money in the last year, that would be even better. Unfortunately the UK doesnt provide family-ties sponsorship like other countries in Europe.

What you want is to see if your partner will qualify as a Tier 1 General Migrant (used to be the HSMP program) based on points issued for work experience, age, income, and english language ability. A work sponsor is not required if one qualifies under Tier 1, however any other Tier a sponsorship is necessary.

UK Border Agency has info here: Points Based System Tier 1, General Migrant (INF 21)

Points calculator: UK Border Agency | Points-based calculator

BE AWARE however- about education. I tried to get points on the old HSMP program with a US masters and a US bachelors- in two different areas (as one tends to do here in the US). It was judged to be incomparable to a UK masters and I was denied full points for a masters degree (never mind the arguement that went on where I provided documentation that no, not every masters program in the UK requires that you have completed an undergrad in the same subject) NARIC are the folks who would assess the education.

It looks like theyve sped up processing since the beginning of this scheme way back in 2004 or so- which is good. Be aware as well, however, that its not a cheap endeavor.

Short of scoring a Tier 1 visa, there isnt much else out there. Getting a sponsorship is easier said than done, unless you are in finance or maybe law and have a bunch of connections. The UK is locked down pretty tight, which sucks for sure!

[darren1]

Thanks so much for the information. It is a difficult situation, I myself am about to start a Masters in Occupational Therapy starting in September which is a transferable qualification into the US which may solve our problem as there is a national shortage of OTs in the UK and US in which once you pass the NBCOT US exam you are issued with a licence and more importantly a green card. I think we should still look into the tier 1 visa but the masters is a 2 year program of which could be problematic if my partner can't get the visa. I'm just not sure if I should now defer my Masters.
Thanks again for your information Sondra