Religious Worker Visa (Tier 5)
If you plan to do religious work in the UK (preaching or working in a religious order) you can choose to apply for a Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visa (Tier 5). Also, to get it you need to be from outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland and, of course, meet all the other UK visa eligibility requirements. Before you can apply to come to the UK to work, you must get a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor. The religious work you plan to do in the UK must relate to your sponsor organization’s work.
You can apply for a Religious Worker visa not earlier than three months before the date you are due to start work in the UK – this date will be mentioned on your certificate of sponsorship. Your visa decision will be made within three weeks after you apply (from outside the UK). Also, you can pay an extra fee to get your visa decision faster – within five working days or even 24 hours. Many UK visa application centers offer this priority service.
The cost of your Religious Worker visa (Tier 5) depends on a number of factors like your situation, where you are, and how you apply. Citizens of Turkey and Macedonia pay £189 for an application, all the other pay £244. The visa holder`s dependants (a partner, children under 18 or children aged 18 or older if they are already in the UK as dependants) must also pay £244 each. Healthcare surcharge is a part of the Religious Worker visa application and its size can be calculated before you apply.
Those who want to extend or switch in the UK need to pay £19.20 for their biometric information. If you plan to apply and extend or switch in the UK you can also pay for priority services at your visa application center. For an extra £500 you can get a decision within 5 working days and for an extra £800 you can get a decision by the end of the next working day (after providing your biometric information and if your appointment is on a weekday) or within 2 working days (after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend). Remember, that the working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.
Religious Worker visa (Tier 5) allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, or up to 28 days more than the time mentioned on your certificate of sponsorship. It is also allowed to be sponsored for a shorter period. Religious Worker visa holders can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of the job.
Religious Worker visa (Tier 5) allows you to study, but you might need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate for some courses; work for your sponsor in the job mentioned in your certificate of sponsorship or you can do a second job. This job must be in the same sector and at the same level as your main job (not more than 20 hours per week outside the hours of your main job). This Tier 5 visa also allows you to do a job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week outside the hours of your main job. You can bring family members with you but you cannot receive public funds.
A certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor and £945 in savings (to prove you can support yourself) are needed for an application. Remember, your certificate of sponsorship is valid only for three months from the date it is assigned to you. There is also a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship, that allows you to leave and return to the UK. It is important that your sponsor must be recognized by the UK government to issue certificates of sponsorship. If your sponsor is fully approved (‘A-rated’) and certifies your maintenance you do not need to demonstrate your bank balance.
When applying for a Religious Worker visa (Tier 5) you need to provide a valid passport or other travel identification; bank statements to prove you can support yourself; tuberculosis (TB) test results (if needed). A blank page in your passport for your visa is necessary. A certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh must be provided by the visa applicant. Additional documents depending on your circumstances may also be needed.
Your application process for a Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visa (Tier 5) must start online. Then, you will need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a chosen visa application center. You will have to collect your biometric residence permit within ten days of when you said you would arrive in the UK. It is also worth mentioning, that you can only extend your existing visa if you are already in the UK.
Remember to apply for the extension of your Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visa (Tier 5) before your current visa expires. To get the visa extension you must continue to meet the UK visa eligibility rules. You are obliged to apply again if you want to change your job within the same organization or move to a new organization. You are allowed to apply to take your stay in the UK up to a maximum of 24 months or you can choose the time mentioned on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days. Also, you are allowed to add dependants to your online application, including children who have turned 18 during your stay in the UK.
When applying for your Religious Worker visa extension, you will be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point. It is necessary to provide your biometric information. Also, you will need to submit your supporting documents. You are forbidden to travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you get a decision.
If you do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device or do not have internet access, you can get help with completing the online form. This service is only available if you are applying to extend your visa in the UK. A decision on your Religious Worker visa (Tier 5) extension will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.
Regards,
SmartImmigrant
