The revelation that fraudsters posing as United Kingdom (UK) skilled worker visa agents are preying on unsuspecting foreign nationals including Nigerians, offering them fake job opportunities requires that applicants become more circumspect.
An investigation by Sky News uncovered how victims are losing substantial amounts of money as they fall prey to these fraudulent job offers under the UK Skilled Worker visa system. This validates the need for a guide to understanding the process as well as red flags to avoid.
Skilled Worker Visa System
The UK skilled worker visa system allows applicants to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa and also allows work in UK waters. A skilled Worker visa is granted for up to five years, after which the worker can become eligible to apply for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain.
How to Avoid Scams
Understand the rules. The seeming complexity of the visa system has led many to seek the aid of agents or middlemen. Usually, immigration lawyers play a role, but an applicant needs to understand how the process works.
It starts with attaining 70 points to be eligible. The applicable 70 points threshold for a Skilled Worker visa is made up of 50 points for mandatory or ‘non-tradeable’ criteria (i.e.; the job offer, speaking English, and the requisite skill level for the job on offer), and 20 points for what is classed as ‘tradeable’ criteria.
The table below explains how these points are arrived at.
Find out more on the story : How to avoid UK skilled worker visa scams – Businessday NG