Post Study Work Visa (PSW)

You must have completed your degree studies (undergraduate or postgraduate), or studies for a UK Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Professional Graduate Diploma of Education (PGDE) from a UK recognised or listed body, or an institution that holds a sponsor licence under Tier 4 of the points based system. The PSW replaces the old International Graduate Scheme (IGS).

Qualifying for the PSW

• You must not have been issued with a PSW visa before. E.g. If you studied for your undergraduate degree, then applied for and received a PSW visa, you will be unable to get a PSW visa again even if you went on to study a postgraduate degree in the UK.
• You must obtain the required number of points to qualify for the PSW visa.
• To apply for the PSW visa from inside the UK you must currently hold a visa as a student, a student nurse, a student re-sitting examinations, a student writing up a thesis, a Tier 4 student or a postgraduate doctor or dentist.  
• You must apply for the PSW visa with 12 months of obtaining your qualification.
• All requirements of the immigration Rules must also be met.
• If you hold a points-based system dependant visa and you studied for a degree during the validity of your dependant visa, you can still be eligible for the PSW. However you will be unable to apply for it from inside the UK. You will have to make your application from outside the UK.

Restrictions

• The PSW visa is issued once and cannot be extended. It is valid for a period of 2 years.
• You have no recourse to public funds – this means you will not be eligible for most benefits offered by the UK government.
• You must register with the Police (if applicable).
• You must have the written consent of your sponsor to make the PSW visa application. If your studies were sponsored by a government or organisation at any point, they may have restricted your ability to apply for the PSW visa. It may be a condition attached to your sponsorship and you should confirm this from your sponsor and get written consent before you make your application for the PSW visa.
• You cannot take up employment as a doctor or dentist in training unless you:

-       have obtained a primary degree in medicine or dentistry at bachelors level or above from a UK institution that is a UK recognised or listed body, or which holds a sponsor licence under Tier 4 of the Points Based System; or

-       have, or were last granted, entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain that was not subject to any condition restricting you from taking employment as a Doctor or Dentist in Training, and you have been employed during that leave as a Doctor or Dentist in Training; or

How to Apply

• You must complete the correct version of the Tier 1 Post-study Work visa form.
• You must ensure that your passport size photographs comply with the UKBA photograph measurements.
• You must send all the necessary supporting documents with your application.
• The International Office has provided a sample Tier 1 PSW visa form to guide you when filling your form. You can view this here: link to PSW sample form

Scoring Points

You must score a total of 95 points.

Section 3 – Attributes (Appendix A of the Immigration Rules)

You must score 75 points under this heading.

• Qualification (20 points) – You have studied for and obtained an eligible qualification.
• Institution (20 points) – You have been awarded your qualification by a UK recognised or listed body or an institution that holds a sponsor licence under Tier 4 of the points based system.
• Immigration Status in the UK during the Period of Study or Research (20 points) – When you studied, you had a student visa or a visa that did not prohibit you from studying.
• Date of Award of Qualification (15 points) – You are applying for the PSW visa with 12 months of obtaining your qualification. A qualification is ‘obtained’ from the date when you are first notified in writing that the qualification has been awarded.

Section 4 – English Language (Appendix B of the Immigration Rules)

• English Language (10 points) - If you score 75 points under Section 3, you will automatically be awarded 10 points for English Language under Section 4.

Section 4 - Maintenance and Public Funds (Appendix C of the Immigration Rules)

• Maintenance (10 points)

-       If you are applying from inside the UK: at the date of your application, you must show that you have £800 available to you in your account and you must have held the £800 in your account for at least 90 days before the date of your application.

-       If you are applying from outside the UK: at the date of your application, you must show that you have £2,800 available to you in your account and you must have held the £2,800 in your account for at least 90 days before the date of your application.

-       The account must be in your name i.e. your name must appear on the bank statement. You may use your personal account or a joint account e.g. an account held jointly by you and your spouse.

-       The money can be held in two separate accounts but the total sum must add up to the required amount and the number of days specified must be complied with.

Dependants

• If you have dependants who are with you in the UK on dependant visas, they can obtain an extension as well. They will need to complete the appropriate application form which can be downloaded from the UKBA website.
• There is an additional charge per dependant when you are making the application. If your dependants apply at the same time as you, this charge is much lower than if they apply at a different time separate from you.
• In addition to your maintenance funds for your application, you will need to show the required level of funds for each dependant. This required amount must also have been held in your account for the same 90 day period before the date of your application (in the same way as stated under ‘Maintenance’ above) and your bank statements must show this.
• If you hold a points-based system dependant visa and you studied for a degree during the validity of your dependant visa, you can still be eligible for the PSW. However you will be unable to apply for it from inside the UK. You will have to make your application from outside the UK.

Supporting Documents

ü  Valid and complete Tier 1 Post-study Work visa form

ü  Application Fee

ü  Your passport(s)

ü  Your Biometric Residence Permit (if applicable)

ü  Your passport photographs (with your full name written behind each one)

ü  Your degree certificate

ü  Supporting University Letters from the Registry Department

ü  Your Bank Statements

ü  Written consent from your sponsor permitting you to make the application (if applicable)

ü  Police registration certificate showing your current address (if applicable)

ü  Documents for any dependants (if applicable)

-       Valid and complete PBS (Dependant) Form

-       Application Fee

-       Passports

-       Biometric Residence Permit (if applicable)

-       Marriage Certificate (for spouse or civil partnership)

-       Birth Certificate

-       Passport photographs (with full names written behind each one)

-       Bank Statements

-       Police registration certificate showing current address (if applicable)