Tier1 Visa Shop

The HSMP Visas for UK are on a point based system. Points can be gained under the criteria

• Age
• Educational Qualification
• Past Earnings
• MBA Provision

Till 1st April 2008, it was a two step process. In the first step, you would be required to submit all your original documents pertaining to the categories under which you were claiming points, to the Home Office in UK. The Home Office team would evaluate your case and if required conduct a verification to assess the genuineness of the documents submitted.
Based on the documents you submitted, if the case worker was satisfied that you qualify for the visa, along with all your original documents you would receive a Work Authorization letter.
You would then proceed to the next step - applying for the Entry Clearance (EC) at the local British High Commission through a VFS office.
The documents would go through one more round of verification here through a third party agency called Integra.
It would take approximately 1 month for each step.

Post April 1, 2008, HSMP visas have been bought in-line with the visas for other popular countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The way the points are calculated under the Previous Earnings Category is changed. Biometrics is compulsory when applying for Tier 1 Visa. Tier 1 Visa is now a 1 step process. All documents including passport need to be submitted at the same time along with the application. The amount of funds to be maintained and the duration for which it has to be maintained is specified now. Apart from the amount to be maintained for the primary applicant, the amount to be maintained for the dependent has also been written down. This clears the ambiguity for many persons as to how much funds and for how long it should be maintained.

US H1-B visas Vs. UK Tier 1 Visas

US H1-B Visas

• Till the point that you get a Green Card, you always need to be sponsored by a US employer.
• Switching jobs is tedious in terms of getting the next employer to sponsor your H1B
  
• There is discrimination in employing H1-B Visa holders against US citizens.
• Dependents need to wait before they can start their employment.
• The gestation period to obtain the visa is around 1 year
  

• Right from the moment you enter UK, you are free to choose whom you want to work for.
• On a Tier 1 Visa you are treated just like a British citizen with no restrictions on whom you work for and how long.
• Dependents can start working right from the moment they enter UK.
• On average it takes 2 months to get the visa.

• Unlike a work permit, you don't need to depend on an employer for your employment in the UK
• You are your own boss, deciding where, for whom and for how long to work.
• You are treated like just any another British citizen.
• You get paid on the UK pay scale and not per diem ( as is paid during Work Permit)