Hi everyone, I have just graduated last year, went back home and now back to London, just wondering if there is anyone in this forum who can drop by say hi here and may be we have a meet up some day?


This is one of the old thread but seems doesnt really related now due to changes in immigration rules:
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/376571

Given the strengthen of immigration rules (thanks to Theresa May and Tories), it is very very very hard to get employer visa sponsorship now, perhaps anyone can share with their experiences on it as well?

Hi,

I'm currently working in London. Not too sure about meetups though. Getting sponsorship visa is quite difficult, I would expect more so for fresh graduate since the post-study work visa route has ended.

Btw, the immigration rules tightened for non-EU citizens because UK have no power to control EU migration to the UK, leading to the whole Brexit scenario. I'd rather blame TonyBlair for this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/19...-would-come-uk/

Anyway, that's just my personal opinion. Feel free to ask questions here and I will try to answer it based on my experience

True its very hard now - but I do miss the Tony Blair days where graduates can get the Post Graduate Visa or Working in Scotland visa where people can actually stay....now basically the government just treating students as cash cow, kick them back upon their graduation...

May I know which industry are you in?

I'm doing software development. It might be more difficult, but not impossible to get a visa to stay. When I applied for my visa, a labour market test is required and only if no UK citizen/EU citizen/UK resident is unable to fulfil the job, then only the company can hire me.

Even when the company choose to hire me, there is a monthly limit to Tier 2 General visa. The higher the salary is, the better the chances are.

But if you know a contact in a company that is able and willing to sponsor you, then you are in luck! Not easy, but can be done.

True. Even the rule still applies now. I'm in banking environment. The RLMT seems very hard to pass through tho consider the amount of ppl in banking and finance...

I think the key point here is experience. For a company to justify a fresh graduate has the skills and knowledge in banking that other more experienced residents/EU citizens do not have will be somewhat difficult.

Hi,

How much can I save (After tax and assume 2k per month expenses) if I am earning 7500 GBP per month?

Thanks.

You can calculate from this website https://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/.

Puiyoo.. what kind of job and company you work for and you get this kind of pay! Lol.

Thanks.
IT sector

Congrats on your new job. If it's in London, a decent accomodation can easily take up 1.5k-2k alone though but you will still get to live very comfortably with that salary. Only downside of getting a high salary is the 40% tax but that is a good problem

I'm in the IT sector too. Got your visa all sorted out already?

No problem. Congrats on your new job btw.

Yeah, just make sure you got all your visa sorted and have your offer letter before make any promises.

With the salary, he can live like a king and easily get a flat.

Iol, ppl work in IT and I work in IT as well, the salary is so difference. Lol. Look like, i need to get a new job. Lol.

You're also working in UK? Salary is very good and can live very comfortably but I won't say can live like a king unless can afford to rent a 3-bed flat like this

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/45...2c77ffb23a0b99e

yup, i am. I meant not renting, he can buy a flat easily.

Sorry guys but more of a rage reply here, currently I'm just too tired on persuading employer to sponsor my Tier 2 visa, I have applied like 500+ job applications in banking and financial industry and they JUST DON'T WANT to sponsor me a Tier 2 even though I can bear the whatever cost fully and complete the required paperwork myself, can anyone tell me why? I'm getting tired everyday since I'm getting called by recruiter everyday, and when I told them that I need visa sponsorship their reaction just changed completely, like very exciting at the beginning but don't bother to entertain you anymore after knowing that you need visa sponsorship. And I doubt they will keep my CV after this, probably at the shredder or the bin may be. Can anyone tell me WHY? =(

I know how you feel, it's so frustrated and disappointed. And it's going to drain all your positive hope and dream slowly.. yes, it's going to be quite challenging to convince a company to get your a sponsorship, the main reason is the process to get you the sponsorship is REALLY painful and horrifying. This is my experience with my previous company (things maybe have changed) first, the company need a licence to sponsor a foreigner and not all company is able to get it. Second, when the company got the license, there's something like a quota, some company maybe have 2 or 1 or 4 or whatever number of the quota to sponsor a foreigner. If the company only have 1 quota, but the company really to hire another foreigner, they need to appeal and wait for any quota available from the home office list (in case others company doesn't want it). Then when the company got the quota for you, they need to start the process like advertisement, market reasearch etc etc. OK, when all the process is done, now only go through your Tier 2 visa application. Then the company dealing with the home office, the home office will sometimes will give them a really difficult time. That's one of the reason most of the company doesn't want to deal applicant need a sponsorship.

Do you really need to work in banking and financial industry? Is it possible try others industry until you get some company willing to get you a sponsorship. Only then when you convert to ILR, you can go back to banking and financial industry?

One more, don't even bother to apply any job related to defence company. It's wasting your time and effort. I know it's really difficult nowadays, just don't give up until the last minute. I can assure you, at some point you get used to all the feedback sorry, if need sponsorship bye bye.

You are in London right? Should be a little bit easy.

What field you are in?

liew_jls mentioned most of the points already, but i'll list it down again in a different way as well. here are the reasons why it's difficult

1. Not every company can sponsor applicants. If the company is not in this list, they cannot sponsor you even if they wanted to: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/syste...of_Sponsors.pdf

2. Even if they can sponsor applicants, they have limited restricted sponsorship cerificates. They might have used up their quota or they want to save their quota for a more experienced candidate. They might not be willing to use a restricted sponsorship certificate for a fresh graduate

3. If you managed to get past the first 2 hurdles, you might get called for an interview. You then have to compete with so many other people in London looking for jobs. Without any impressive experience, skills and qualifications (or connections) it might be difficult to impress the interviewer

4. Assuming the interview was a success and the company wants to hire you, they can't do it immediately as they will have to conduct a resident labour market test and advertise in 2 different websites for at least a month. The company's decision to hire you might also be questioned and it would be difficult to explain why they can't hire a fresh graduate that is a UK/EU citizen or permanent resident unless you have a unique skillset/experience/qualifications

5. The company might not be able to get a valid certificate of sponsorship as there is a limit of 2000 certificates issued every month for the whole of UK. Some months the quota might be fully used. The higher the salary, the better the chances are so if the salary is low it is unlikely to get a valid certificate of sponsorship. you can see the details here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/...-of-sponsorship

6. Once you reached this stage, you can finally apply for your visa, and it can cost up to over £1000 for a long term visa

As you can see, it is very challenging and you probably need to have something special to stand a better chance. Normally that would be qualification, skills, experience or connections. If you are a fresh graduate, best is try to network with your friends from university who just entered the work force and maybe they can help to open some doors for you. Best of luck and remember that although it might be difficult, it is not impossible.

Thanks both for your reply, I actually did Law and now working in the banking industry. I am aware of the Restricted COS and Resident Labour Market Test - did went through all the necessity and research that's why I will look whether or not the company is on sponsors list before I apply for the job and I told the recruiter I am willing to do everything I can on my side to ease their hiring.

I am planning to go back to uni for Masters as a Tier 4 graduate next year, which does not subject to market test and it is on Unrestricted COS. However, what I am worrying is that at the end of the day even if I go for Masters it does not ultimately guarantee my employment as it is just easier for them to hire me and ultimately it still down to them whether or not want to sponsor me a Tier 2 visa. Mind share your thoughts?

Some one told me before it's not easy as well during the Labour time where Work Permit and PSW still available before get abolished by the Tory government, but still, effort has to be made but it is easier than now.

Yes I am based in London currently, but still despite being at the capital the HR arent that helpful and job market here is very very very competitive...what about you two?

This post has been edited by nivota: Oct 19 2017, 06:10 PM

Yup, like mystalyzer said, what you need is networking to increase your opportunity. Getting someone help you to get in company, is a good way. Talk to your senior or mentor and see whether they know anyone is looking to people. Also spread your cv to all over the country, if you are willing to relocate, stress out to the recruiter that you willing to relocate. Do not picky because it will limit your chances.

You need to be stay confident and able to give them know, you are worth the value and make a big difference if you are hired. Be positive and keep your hope, although things are quite difficult on top of the Brexit issue.

I was quite lucky really, i graduated few years back and got in to the similar situation like you. Applied a lot of the company, did manage few interviews and kept on turned down because of the working permit although at that time i still have 2 years post graduate visa. Got unemployed for few months, one day my senior came by and visit my housemate. We talked and he mentioned, his company was hiring. Then i tried my luck and got the job. Although it was bit stressful job and been there for 5-6 years. After went through all the pain with the home office for few rounds, got the ILR last year. Then next thing, moved on. LOL!

Also tidy up your LinkedIn profile and make sure your CV is interesting. Get someone review your cv for you. CV is the critical thing to impress with your skills. Next thing the company will only consider about the visa. Sometimes, if you able to impress the employeer, you will have a chance.

Good luck and all the best.

I'm a little bit confused. You mentioned that you are now working in the banking industry. Did you mean in Malaysia or London? London is extremely competitive. For every job opening, there are many qualified applicants.

Personally, I don't think masters will help. Labour time was easier as there is Tier 1 General and Tier 1 Post Study Work visa which is now unavailable. Also over the years UK attracted so many migrants from both EU and outside of EU that talent is now so readily available locally that most employers will hesitate to sponsor someone, unless that person has something special.

I was a bit lucky because one of my ex-manager was a British and invited me to work for him. I am not a fresh graduate but have been working in the industry for almost 10 years before moving to the UK, so it was not too difficult to justify that they need an expertise that cannot be sourced locally to pass the labour market test. You can see in both my case and liew_jls there is an element of "connection" and an element of "luck".

Btw @liew_jls congrats on your ILR! I still need to suffer for 2 more years . I also can't easily move jobs because I need sponsorship if I switch jobs. So I'm stuck, but at least I am grateful I still have a job.