Tier 5 (Government Authorized Exchange)

TIER 5 TEMPORARY WORKERS - GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZED EXCHANGE

What is the government authorised exchange category?

The government authorised exchange category is for people coming to the United Kingdom through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience and best practice and experience the social and cultural life of the United Kingdom. This category must not be used to fill job vacancies or to bring unskilled labour to the United Kingdom.

Your sponsor will be an overarching body who manages the government authorised exchange scheme. This overarching body must have the support of a United Kingdom government department.

Individual employers and organisations will not be allowed to sponsor migrants in this category, even if they are licensed as sponsors under other tiers or other categories of tier 5.

Any work you do must be skilled which means it must be equivalent to N or SVQ level 3 or above. This is unless you are taking part in the scheme set up as part of the European Union's lifelong learning programme, where you can do vocational education and training at a lower skill level.

You are allowed to stay in the United Kingdom for up to 24 months under this category.

Who can apply under the government authorised exchange category?

Before you apply under the government authorised exchange category, you must have:

a sponsor (the overarching body); and
a valid certificate of sponsorship.

When you apply you are awarded points based on your sponsorship and available maintenance (funds).

You can apply under the government authorised exchange category now if you are:

applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the government authorised exchange category;
already in the United Kingdom under the government authorised exchange category and want to extend your permission to stay if you have been here for less than 24 months, which is the maximum time you are allowed to stay.

Switching is not allowed in or out of the government authorised exchange category.

Go to our visa services website if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom. There you can find out more about the process in the country you are applying from and download the relevant application forms.

How long can you stay for?

If you are given permission to stay under the government authorised exchange category, you will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum time of 24 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, which ever time is shorter.

If you need to be able to come and go from the United Kingdom with your job

If you need to leave and come back to the United Kingdom quite a few times as part of the job you are doing, you can get a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship. Your sponsor will give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship that allows you to come and go from the United Kingdom a number of different times during the length of your certificate.

If you have permission to come (entry clearance) for any length of time, you will be able to leave and come back to the United Kingdom during the time you have permission.

If you leave the United Kingdom and you were given six months or less permission to stay (leave to remain), you will not be able to come back as your permission to stay ends when you leave the United Kingdom. You must apply again to be able to come back.

What we can do for you

As British lawyers, we will do our best and even go that extra mile for you. We can help you with the necessary paperwork that will be needed to ensure that your application meets the Immigration requirements.

Please expect us to do the following for you, when you instruct us to represent you or a member of your family:

Full and professional assessment of your case

Advice on whether you should consider a different immigration programme or category

Strong and weak points of your application

Advice on correct list of documents

Advice on evidence required

Instructing your sponsor, relative, employer or college (if required)

Final check of your documents before submission to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post

Creating a professionally looking paginated immigration bundle

Drafting representations and cover letters to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post

Working with interpreters (if required)

Submission your application to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post

Correspondence with the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post

Keeping you updated by post, E-mail or phone on the progress of your application

If something goes wrong : requesting a review or reconsideration

Any further in-country/out-of-country immigration assistance

The above list is not exhaustive as we treat every client's case individually. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a professional immigration advice.

If you indend to make the UK your home, get Settlement in the UK and then get a British passport, Tier 1 (General) Migrant is the best programme for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us, so we could answer all your questions.