A Guide to UK Immigration for Doctors

Migrating to a different country is a decision that’s never easy. There’s a myriad of things that you have to take into consideration, with the visa process being a major one. The more complicated and comprehensive the visa process, the more difficult it’s likely to be.

The fact is that UK’s immigration law is ever-changing and multi-layered, which is why it’s important to know all the facts and ensure that you have up-to-date information.

If you’re a doctor who’s thinking about moving to the UK, there are a number of key factors that need to be assessed. To make the path a bit easier for you, we’ll discuss some of the important ones in this brief guide.

The Visa Application – What You Should Know

Before you apply for a visa, ensuring you’ve got everything required for the application is the first step. And if you’re applying for a Tier II visa, you’ll also need a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship). Now, if you don’t know what a CoS is, it’s something that’s provided by your prospective employer. They will request a certificate of sponsorship for you through their Sponsor Management System account. It’s essential to put in your visa application while the CoS is still valid.

Working on a Tier II Visa

Doctors who intend to practice in the United Kingdom for an indefinite amount of time should apply for Tier II visa. This type of visa allows employers in the UK to hire non-UK or EEA nationals to take positions that can’t be occupied by EEA or UK workers. However, like we’ve mentioned above, in order to apply for a Tier II visa, a CoS is compulsory.

The UK SOL – Things You Need to Know

Recently, the UK SOL (Shortage Occupation List) was updated, and a handful of new roles were added, including medical practitioner roles, such as psychologists, radiologists, therapists, paramedics, nurses, veterinarians, and others.

So how does that benefit doctors, you may ask? Well, baking on the SOL makes applying for a visa significantly easier for foreigners. Moreover, it also makes the process easier for employers looking to hire foreigners. Now, let’s suppose you’re an employer who wants to sponsor workers who’re not EEA nationals. Before, there was a myriad of specific requirements that had to be addressed, such as labour market tests and other documents. The SOL update has removed a lot of such obstacles.

One of the best immigration lawyers in London; Wembley Solicitors provide professional support for immigration applications. You can reach out to us at Wembley Solicitors by calling 020 3417 3700 or shooting an email at info@wembleysolicitors.com.