Priority Visa Service
PRIORITY VISA SERVICES
Tier 2 and Tier 4 Priority Services which falls under the points-based system
This is not a visa type but a service offered by the Home Office to allow workers wanting to switch, extend or change employers to obtain a new visa in 10 working days of the application being submitted
Before the priority was introduced the worker would have to apply for a same day visa appointment, these appointments were not easy to secure causing the UK employer delays in hiring new skilled workers that needed sponsoring
You can only apply for this service if you are a non-EEA national under Tier 2 or Tier 4
The Home Office only issues 60 Tier 2 and 60 Tier 4 slots per day, this means only 60 applications per visa type will be processed per day under this service
Under this page, we have also covered SUPER PRIORITY and UK SUPER PREMIUM SERVICE
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Understanding the Priority Service
Understanding the purpose of this additional service
This is one of the Home Office best services they have ever introduced. Prior to this service, whenever a skilled worker wanted a visa urgently, they had to book same day appointments which is more costly. You had to take a day-off work and go to the Home Office visa centre and in many cases, no appointments were available for at least 3-4 weeks.
UK businesses complained about not getting skilled
workers quickly enough so the Home Office were forced to come up with a new visa submission option so they introduced and piloted Tier 2 Priority Postal service
on the
8 October 2012
specifically for Tier 2 skilled workers.
In
those days it was limited to 30 applications a day. Today the Home Office will process up to 60 Tier 2 per day.
Due to the great success of this services, the Home Office decided to launch the service for Tier 4 Students. On the 7 September 2015 Tier 4 priority was introduced. The Home Office will process up to 60 Tier 4 applications per day.
You must be in the UK and hold a valid Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or Tier 4 Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) visa to be able to apply under this service.
The Process
- You first have to contact the Home Office and request a priority slot.
- If the Home Office approves the priority slot, you are given a code, normally a code will start with two letters and 5 numbers. This is required when you come to pay for the visa fee.
- Without this priority code, you cannot apply under priority service.
- Priority applications are processed online and once payment is made, you can download your biometrics letter and post all your documents to the Home Office.
- If your visa application is straightforward, you should receive a decision in 10 working days.
- If you post your application to the wrong address, your application will be delayed.
- Your documents and new biometric card will be sent by different postal services to your home address or via the immigration firm you decide to use.
Why use this service?
Why pay extra to the Home Office unless you really need your new visa approved urgently.
The whole purpose of using this service is to allow skilled workers and students to obtain a new visa within 10 working days whereas a standard postal application takes on average 8 weeks.
Imagine if your visa is processed 6 weeks earlier, you can start working for your new Tier 2 sponsor.
It is illegal to work for a new tier 2 sponsor until your new tier 2 application has been approved unless you comply to the 20 hour rule of taking a second job whilst on your current tier 2 visa.
The Home Office charges extra
to use this service.
You can use this service if you been assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship under:
- Tier 2 General
- Tier 2 Intra-company Transfer
- Tier 2 Minister of Religion
- Tier 2 Sportsperson
Students
If you are studying in the UK you can also apply using this route.The following student types are permitted:
- Tier 4 (General)
- Tier 4 (Child)
- Tier 4 (Doctorate Extension Scheme)
- Tier 4 (Dependant)
The Home Office charges extra
to use this service.
Entry Visa Priority
Understanding how the priority process works if you need toapply for a UK entry visa
If you are assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and you need to apply to enter the UK under Tier 2, certain visa centres around the world offer a priority service.
We have two types of priority service:
Priority
This service allows you to pay an extra fee and jump the queue over non-priority visa applications under Tier 2.
The Home Office aims to make a decision within 5 working days of your UK entry biometrics appointment and not the date you submit your online visa application.
When you attend your biometrics appointment you are required to submit your original evidence and you must right on both sides of your envelope which holds your application
'PRIORITY VISA APPLICATION'. Big bold letters. If you do not do this, your application may be processed under standard application times.
Super Priority
This service means you should get a decision on your visa application within 1 working day of your UK entry biometrics appointment.
Where can these applications be done?
The Home Office works with two global partners:
Each partner has been assigned a list of countries t o represent.
Not all visa centres offer priority and many do not offer super priority services.
When you apply for a priority or super priority visa, you have to register on two different portals.
Important Notice
You should not apply for either priority visa service if any of these applies to you:
- been refused a visa for the UK, and/or;
- been refused leave to enter the UK, and/or;
- been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK, and/or;
- overstayed a period of leave in the UK, and/or;
- had leave to remain in the UK curtailed by the Home Office, and/or;
- been refused leave to remain in the UK by the Home Office, and/or;
- been refused a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, or the Schengen countries, and/or;
- you have been interviewed, detained, or prosecuted by the police for any offence in the UK or elsewhere, and/or;
- you have an unspent criminal conviction in any country, and/or;
- you have committed a criminal offence in any country.
Tier 2 Priority Postal Service
Should I apply under this service and if I do, what are thekey benefits to me?
Who should use this service?
If you have been issued a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor, you can apply for this visa service.
You need permission from the Home Office if you are a non-EEA national to be in the UK and the visa you have permits you to switch into Tier 2.
If you are already on a Tier 2 visa and you need to switch UK employers based on Tier 2, you can inform your new employer that your visa will be approved 6 weeks sooner. This is why the scheme was introduced.
If you already hold a Tier 2 visa and your current employer lost their sponsor licence (revoked), you are no longer permitted to work which means you are not earning. It may cost you extra to get your new visa in 2 weeks, but it does mean you'll be earning a new income 6 weeks earlier.
If you need a visa urgently because of travel, then this may help you plan your travel and put you in more control.
Premium Service Centre (PSC) Appointment
Would applying for a same day visa service be quicker?
Very unlikely, same day appointments may not be available for 3-4 weeks and by this time your Tier 2 priority visa is likely to be approved.
Tip
If you already hold a Tier 2 visa, do not quit your job until your new Tier 2 visa has been approved.
If you want the Home Office to visit you and process your visa the same day, you might want to check out their Super Premium Service.
Tier 4 Priority Service
What if I need this Tier 2 priority service, what is involved and does it apply to all Tier 2 visa applications?
Who should use this service?
If you have been issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a UK sponsor, you can apply for this visa service.
You need permission from the Home Office if you are a non-EEA national to be in the UK and the visa you have permits you to switch into Tier 4.
You can only switch into this visa if you hold:
- Tier 2 (General)
- Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer)
- Tier 2 (Minister of religion)
- Tier 4 (Child)
If you hold any other visa type, you cannot apply for Tier 4 or use the priority service.
If you need to switch into Tier 4 visa route and you hold a visa that permits switching and you need a visa urgently to start your course of studies, priority will mean you should get your new visa 6 weeks sooner.
If you need a visa urgently because of travel, then this may help you plan your travel and put you in more control.
Premium Service Centre (PCS) Appointment
Would applying for a same day visa service at a PCS be quicker?
Very unlikely, same day appointments may not be available for 3-4 weeks and by this time your Tier 4 priority visa is likely to be approved.
Priority Issues
What if I want priority, but want to process my family members under non-priority service?
Things you should know when applying under priority visa option
- Did you know if you have any adverse immigration history or criminal record, there's no guarantee your priority will be processed in 10 working days.
- If your Tier 2 UK sponsor had their sponsor licence B-Rated or Suspended or Revoked, you should not submit a priority application, do a standard one if your current visa has been curtailed or is about to expire. If suspended do not apply, obtain legal advice first.
- This is because the sponsor needs to be A-Rated for a visa to be processed.
- If you are about to submit your priority request or submit your visa online and you just learned that your UK sponsor licence no longer has A-Rated, do not use priority service. Save this extra cost as you will be paying the Home Office extra money for nothing as the visa cannot be decided until the sponsor licence outcome is known.
- If your Tier 4 UK sponsor had their sponsor licence issued with an Action Plan (Track 1 or Track 2) or licence suspended, you should not submit a priority application, do a standard one if your current visa has been curtailed or is about to expire. If suspended do not apply, obtain legal advice first.
- This is because the sponsor needs to be either Embedded college offering pathway courses, Higher Education Institution (HEI), Independent school, Overseas Higher Education Institution, Private provider or Publicly funded college. A-Rated on the approved list for a visa to be processed.
- If you are about to submit your priority request or submit your visa online and you just learned that your UK training institute sponsor licence is Sponsor licence under Track 1, Track 2 review or has been suspended, do not use priority service. Save this extra cost as you will be paying the Home Office extra money for nothing as the visa cannot be decided until the sponsor licence outcome is known.
- If you submit your visa application after your curtailment date or your current visa has expired, did you know you can still do a priority visa application if you comply to the 14 day rule. You should seek legal advice as your application could be refused as you're applying for an 'out of time' application.'
- If you delay your new biometric appointment, which is required as part of your visa application, it is likely to delay your application.
- If you're on a Tier 2 and your employment is based on a job contract (your employer places you on another business premises), if the job advert, Certificate of Sponsorship and any contract information provided to the Home Office as part of your visa application looks suspicious or not in order, your priority application is unlikely to be processed in the 10 working days.
Note: The 28 day rule changed to 14 days on the 24 November 2016. The rule change falls under Immigration Rules HC 667.
Settlement via this visa route
Settlement
You can settle in the UK, also known as indefinite leave to remain once you meet the qualifying period
Naturalisation
You can apply for naturalisation that leads to British passport normally after 1 year on your settlement visa.
British Passport
Once you've obtained your ceremony certificate once naturalised, learn how to obtain your first British passport.
