Skilled Worker Visas for all teachers including OTTs
LDBS is an “A rated” sponsor for Skilled Worker visas.
If you have any OTTs (overseas trained teachers) on a Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa and you would like to keep them please email Mitch who can explain the UKVI visa process which needs to be followed and will also let you know the breakdown of the application fees and Home Office costs. The earlier we start the certificate of sponsorship process the better.
LDBS can also apply for a defined Certificate of Sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa if your teacher cannot get a Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa and/or is living outside of the U.K. or your teacher needs a Skilled Worker visa extension (we get an annual allocation every April for undefined Certificates of Sponsorship).
On 1 January 2021 free movement ended and the UK introduced a new points-based immigration system. The new system treats EU, EAA and non-EU citizens equally and has transformed the way in which all migrants come to the UK to work and study. Anyone coming to the UK to work or study, excluding Irish citizens, will need to apply for permission in advance.
We are also able to issue an undefined CoS for Tier 4 student visas switching into Skilled Worker visas.
Please be aware that there is no guarantee that every application will be successful but the more time and notice we are given the better.
When you need our support please involve us as early as possible.
Right to work checks
Employers who wish to continue carrying out right to work checks remotely will be able to use Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) for checks on British and Irish citizens who hold a valid passport (or Irish passport card). Further information can be found here.
From 1 October 2022, employers must carry out one of these prescribed checks as set out in the Right to work checks: An Employer’s Guide before employment commences:
- a manual right to work check
- a right to work check using IDVT via the services of an identity service provider (IDSP)
- a Home Office online right to work check.
Checks using the Home Office online checking service do not require you to check physical documents and can be carried out by video call, as right to work information is provided in real time direct from Home Office systems.
There is no requirement to carry out retrospective checks on those who had a COVID-19 adjusted check between 30 March 2020 and 30 September 2022. You will maintain a defence against a civil penalty, if the check you have undertaken between 30 March 2020 and 30 September 2022 was done in the prescribed standard manner or as set out in the COVID-19 adjusted checks guidance.
Teachers from nine new countries can apply for QTS
From 1 February the DfE is widening the opportunity for overseas teachers to be able to apply for qualified teacher status (QTS) by adding nine new countries to those eligible to apply to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) for QTS: Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. The government says its intention is that eventually teachers from every country in the world will be able to apply for QTS in England. Details can be found here.