- Page Contents
- Overview
- Requirements For Switching Into Scale-up Worker Visa UK
- Priority or Super Priority Service
- How Can We Help?
- Our Fixed Fees
You can apply for switching into Scale-up worker visa from inside the UK if you are already in the UK and you have been assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by a UK employer holding Scale-up Worker Sponsor Licence. You can switch into Scale-up worker visa from inside the UK only if you meet the immigration status requirement and other eligibility requirements. An application for switching into Scale-up worker visa is made in accordance with requirements as set out in Appendix Scale-up of the Immigration Rules.
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Our specialist team of work visa solicitors can provide expert immigration and legal representations on fixed fee basis concerning your application for switching into Scale-up Worker visa from inside the UK. We can prepare and submit your application to the Home Office UKVI through Super Priority Service to get a decision on your application within 24 hours.
Ask a question to our specialist team of work visa solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for a detailed immigration advice and consultation session in relation to your application for switching into Scale-up Worker visa UK.
Requirements For Switching Into Scale-up Worker Visa UK
The applicant must meet the following requirements of the Immigration Rules to successfully switch into Scale-up Worker visa from inside the UK:
Valid Application
The applicant must submit a valid application for switching into scale-up worker visa from inside the UK.
Valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
The applicant must have a certificate of sponsorship that was issued to them by their sponsor no more than 3 months before the date of application.
Applicant's Age
The applicant must be aged 18 or over at the date of application for switching into scale-up worker visa.
Immigration Status Requirement
An applicant who is applying for switching into scale-up worker visa must be in the UK on the date of application and must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
- as a Visitor; or
- as a Short-term student; or
- as a Parent of a Child Student; or
- as a Seasonal Worker; or
- as a Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
- outside the Immigration Rules.
Points Based Requirement
The applicant must be awarded 70 points from the table below. An applicant may only be awarded points from one of the first two rows of the table. All applicants must meet the requirements in the final two rows of the table.
Type of application | Relevant requirements to be met | Relevant rules | Points |
---|---|---|---|
Sponsored Application | Sponsorship | SCU 5.1 to SCU 5.5 | 50 |
Job at an appropriate skill level | SCU 6.1 to SCU 6.4 | ||
Appropriate salary | SCU 7.1 to SCU 7.6 | ||
All applications | English language requirement at level B1 | SCU 9.1 to SCU 9.3 | 10 |
All applications | Financial requirement | SCU 10.1 to SCU 10.4 | 10 |
Sponsorship Requirement For Sponsored Application
The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are planning to do, which must:
- confirm the applicant’s name, that they are being sponsored as a Scale-up Worker, details of the job and salary the Sponsor is offering them and PAYE details; and
- include a start date for the job, stated by the Sponsor, which is no more than 3 months after the date of application; and
- confirm the applicant is expected to work for the Sponsor for at least the first 6 months of their permission; and
- not have been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused (but can have been used in a previous application which was rejected as invalid, made void or withdrawn); and
- not have been withdrawn by the Sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office; and
- confirm whether or not the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirement in Appendix ATAS applies.
The sponsor must be authorised by the Home Office to sponsor the job in question under the Scale-up route and must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors.
The decision maker must not have reasonable grounds to believe the job the applicant is being sponsored to do:
- does not exist; or
- is a sham; or
- has been created mainly so the applicant can apply for entry clearance or permission to stay.
The decision maker must not have reasonable grounds to believe the job the applicant is being sponsored to do amounts to:
- the hire of the applicant to a third party who is not the Sponsor to fill a position with that party, whether temporary or permanent; or
- contract work to undertake an ongoing routine role or to provide an ongoing routine service for a third party who is not the sponsor, regardless of the nature or length of any arrangement between the sponsor and the third party.
Job At An Appropriate Skill Level Requirement For Sponsored Application
The applicant must be sponsored for a job in an occupation code listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations that is identified as eligible for the Scale-up route.
The sponsor must have chosen an appropriate occupation code, and the decision maker must not have reasonable grounds to believe the sponsor has chosen a less appropriate occupation code for any of the following reasons:
- the most appropriate occupation code is not eligible under the Scale-up route; or
- the most appropriate occupation code has a higher going rate than the proposed salary.
To support the genuineness assessment, the decision maker may, in particular, consider:
- whether the Sponsor has shown a genuine need for the job as described; and
- whether the applicant has the appropriate skills, qualifications and experience needed to do the job as described; and
- the sponsor’s history of compliance with the immigration system including, but not limited to, paying its sponsored workers appropriately; and
- any additional information from the sponsor.
If the ATAS requirement in Appendix ATAS applies, the applicant must provide a valid ATAS certificate.
Appropriate salary requirement for Sponsored Application
The salary for the job for which the applicant is being sponsored must equal or exceed all of the following:
- £33,000 per year; and
- £10.10 per hour; and
- the going rate for the occupation code.
Suitability Requirement
The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.
If applying for switching into scale-up worker visa the applicant must not be:
- in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
- on immigration bail.
Written Consent From The Official Sponsor
An applicant applying for switching into scale-up worker visa, who has received an award from a Government or international scholarship agency in the 12 months before the date of application which covers both fees and living costs for study in the UK, must have provided written consent to the application from that Government or agency.
English Language Requirement For Scale-up Worker
Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of at least level B1. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language. If the English language requirement is met, the application be awareded 10 points for meeting the English language requirement.
Financial Requirement
If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.
If the applicant has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:
- the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270. The applicant must show that they have held the required funds for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance; or
- the applicant’s A-rated sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment, to an amount of at least £1,270.
Period and Conditions Of Grant Of Scale-up Worker Visa
If the applicant was awarded 50 points for meeting the Sponsored Application requirements, they will be granted entry clearance for 2 years.
If the applicant was awarded 50 points for meeting the Sponsored Application requirements, the grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
- no access to public funds; and
- for the first 6 months of their permission, the applicant must be employed in the job for which the applicant is being sponsored; and
- after 6 months employment as a Sacle-up Worker, work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted, except for work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); and
- study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.
Priority or Super Priority Service For Switching Into Scale-up Worker Visa
As specialist work visa solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Priority or Super Priority Service for switching into scale-up worker visa whereby decision on your scale-up worker visa application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your application through Super Priority Service or within 5 working days if you submit your application through Priority Service.
Our work visa solicitors can prepare and submit your application for switching into scale-up worker visa faster and get you a decision on your application faster through Priority or Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your scale-up Worker visa application for months (sometimes years).
How Can We Help?
Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis in relation to your application for switching into scale-up worker visa. Our fixed fee for your immigration application will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your immigration application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application for switching into scale-up worker visa. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your immigration application will entail the following:
- Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your immigration application to succeed.
- Advised on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for switching into scale-up worker visa;
- Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your application are in accordance with the requirement of the immigration rules.
- Completing application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your application for switching into scale-up worker visa.
- Submitting application through Priority or Super Priority Service: Where possible, our immigration lawyers will submit your online immigration application through priority or super priority service to get faster decision on your application for switching into scale-up worker visa.
- Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your application, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.
- Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application explaining how you meet all the legal requirements for your application to be approved by the Home Office UKVI.
- Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of your application for switching into scale-up worker visa.
- Follow up work: Our immigration lawyers will carry out all the follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application for switching into scale-up worker visa.
Our One-Off Services For Immigration Applications
Our immigration solicitors can also provide a wide range of one-off legal services for UK visa and immigration applications. Using our one-off services can help those who do not want to use our full service for the immigration application. You can use one of the following one-off legal services offered for UK visa and immigration applications:
- One-Off Immigration Advice and Consultation
- Immigration Documents Checking Service
- Application Form Completion Services
- Submitting Application Through Priority and Super Priority Service
- Preparing Cover Letter For Immigration Application
- Uploading Supporting Documents Online
Our Fixed Fees For Extension Of Scale-up Worker Visa
- Our immigration solicitors will charge a fixed fee ranging from £800 to £1,500 (no VAT) for your application for extension of scale-up worker visa UK. The agreed fixed will depend on the complexity of the application and the volume of work involved in the scale-up worker visa visa application.
- Our fixed fee for the application does not cover any disbursements e.g. UKVI fee for the application and the applicant has to separately pay the Home office UKVI fees for the application.