What constitutes 'proof of right to work'?

Hello all,

I'm after some general information to help with a seemingly catch-22 situation. I am an Australian citizen, and I wish to apply for a training program with the NHS. On their website it says that where possible, overseas applicants must demonstrate their right to work before applying. I am not sure what they mean by this statement, and after emailing them I was asked to check with the UK border agency. They informed me that the 'right to work' is a visa. But I cannot get a tier 2 visa without a job offer.

So my predicament is this: need a visa to apply for job, cannot apply for job without visa. Is this a common problem, and what can I do about it? As far as I can tell I meet all the other requirements (English speaking, savings in the bank etc). I would also qualify for a youth mobility visa (I am 24) but I am not sure if this is the appropriate visa to use for this job.

Many thanks for any information that can be offered.

The easy option is to use the Tier 5 YMS option. You are not tied to an employer, you have two years to see if the UK is for you.
The downside is that you cannot transfer to a more permanent visa type while in the UK. You will have to return home and apply again to return under tier 2

That could present a problem though, as the program goes for three years. If they offer me sponsorship could I transfer to the tier 2 while overseas?

What is the training program?
Are you in paid employment during the program?

As for returning on tier 2 - need a lot more info into job role, salary, wither the role meets the NQF6 criteria, would you have to be fully qualified to get tier 2 status.
And the rules change about twice a year so predicting would you qualify in two years time is very much a crystal ball exercise.

In the main the NHS does not offer training program places to overseas nationals unless there is an extreme shortage of individuals taking up the role in the UK. A&E doctors are in high demand at the moment as an example but don't know if they are actively offering positions at the moment for training programs

The scientist training program, I would be in paid employment for the duration of the program.

I guess my main issue here is that based on what I can figure out from the web, if I am lucky enough to make it through the application process and get offered a job, and a certificate of sponsorship, I have all the other requirements. So I am wondering what kind of information they might ask of me during the application process. I want to be prepared.

That is not going to be a problem. In order to get the COS in the first place from the NHS they will have done all the prep work.
Given your nationality there is every chance you will sail though the actual visa application process. I would even bet that they will just issue based on the application.
Paperwork will be the exact same as the docs to apply to the NHS plus bank statements if NHS won't tick the maintance box on the COS.
Assume you are applying for Sept 2015 intake?

Or an Ancestry visa if you have grand parents who are British on either maternal or paternal side. 5 year visa, no ties to employer etc.

yea unfortunately no British ancestry for me, otherwise I would've got that straight away.

I'm applying for the sept 2015 intake, applications open in January which is why I'm trying to sort this stuff out asap.

@Lwade.

1. Have you cleared PLAB exams and already have a licence to practice in UK? If not, that is the first step for u.
2. If you have current full registration, you need at least 1 full year of working experience within NHS to qualify to apply for training positions.
3. If you do have experience, then the recruitment of training is different in a centralized manner. The applications are open in different stages. The 1st stage start in, with applications in Nov, interviews in Jan and offers in Feb. The second stage start in March/April and so on. Since you are a Non-EU, you can not apply in the first stage since u have to satisfy the RLMT.

4. So if you have current registration, 1 year of experience in NHS, then u should consider applying for training in second stage of specialty training in March/April time. If you do not have these, consider following the steps i have mentioned.

also, if u do succeed in getting a training position whenever, do not worry about SOC codes, salary threshold etc as they all are well above the minimum requirements of UKBA for a tier 2 General visa.

@iworker

I am not sure that this is applicable to me in this situation, as I'm sure it would have been mentioned during the process. I am not going for a position as a doctor, this program is aimed more towards scientists and engineers working within the medical profession.

I am not sure about these application rounds you mention as well. This is a specific program that I am applying for, which specific dates (applications open on Jan 6).

In that case, please ignore my reply.
In UK, NHS training programmes, normally refer to specialty training for doctors.