Tier 2 application question - would like your expert advice

Dear all,

Hope you are all well. I am currently on a post-study work permit and my employer has agreed to sponsor my Tier 2 visa. They have just received their sponsorship license and are going to apply for the certificate of sponsorship.

My official job title is 'press & marketing assistant', meaning that the occupation code relating closest to my job is '3433 - Public Relations Officers (Publicity Assistant). I will be earning £20,000 starting from April, which is above the minimum £16,000 earnings a publicity assistant should be on. I have been with the company for a year and a half, have at least £800 in my bank account, and come from Canada, which means I won't have to pass the English test. The total points I have are 70, which is the minimum points you're supposed to have to apply for Tier 2.

It seems like my application should go smoothly, but I am still worried that problems might come up that I'm not aware of. For example, I only just discovered that getting 70 points doesn't automatically mean a successful application; the job title has to match the propose salary from the Home Office. Let's say if I'm a CEO earning £20,000 a year, my application would be rejected compared to that of a publicity assistant earning £20,000, because that's what they're supposed to earn. I was freaking out until I found the relevant occupation code. Judging from all the details I have offered, do you think my application will be successful? I'm just worried that as an 'assistant', my job doesn't sound important enough, but then it qualifies as a highly skilled job according to the occupation code.

Another thing is, on page 20 of the application in section D8, it asks us to 'give details of the journey, including where the applicant travelled from, ticket booking or reference number, and transport operator'. I first travelled to London in 2004, when I called British Airways for my booking reference number from that journey, they said they don't keep details from that many years ago. Do you think it's okay to leave the booking ref number section blank?

I would really appreciate it if anybody could help, because my company won't be applying through a visa agency, and I can't afford a lawyer, so I need to get all this right because HR only knows as much as I do!

Thank you

Best regards,
Rachel

without going in too much detail (as im not an authority on the subject).... as long as you are paid the minimum salary recommended on the occupation list you should be fine.

The idea is to make sure that companies dont import "labour" from foreign countries and pay them less than a uk citizen having same qualifications/skills. As you can see, companies would be undercuting british jobs if they do that.

I personally think, that the salary stated, is the minimum and there is no upper limit. Wait for the replies from other people as well who might know more than i do.

If you can tell them, the date you entered UK, which city, and if possible what time than thats fine. If they want to, they will check it themselves. Just mention that in your covering letter that you tried to contact BA but couldnt get the requested info.

all the best

Hi arsenal49,

Thanks for your reply, it was very helpful!

Best regards,
Rachel

Im wondering if you can please help me Rachel.. How long did your employers sponsorship license take? my employers has taken nearly 4 months and we are having a nightmare of time waiting this long for it!