Human Resources

Visa information for staff

If you’re a manager or recruiter at Sussex, find out about the points-based system that applies to EU nationals and rules for people with visas.

Immigration permissions

There are different types of visa and immigration status. Some of these relate to Brexit and the subsequent EU Settlement Scheme for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals.

Skilled Worker visas

The UK government’s Skilled Worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.

Find out more about:

Sussex roles eligible for visa sponsorship

See details of salary requirements and tradeable points to find out if specific roles at Sussex are eligible for visa sponsorship. This is useful for both job applicants and managers at Sussex.

Temporary worker visas

The UK government’s Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa is a sub-set of a visa that has replaced the Tier 5 temporary worker visa.

Find out more about the Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa (GOV.UK).

Settled status

If you applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, and were granted settled status, you can:

  • remain in the UK indefinitely
  • continue to work without restriction
  • access any public funds you may be eligible for
  • use the National Health Service (NHS)
  • travel in and out of the UK
  • spend up to five years outside the UK without losing your status
  • choose to apply for British citizenship.

Pre-settled status

If you applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, and were granted pre-settled status, you can:

  • remain in the UK for a further five years from the date you were granted this status
  • continue to study and work in the UK without restriction
  • access any public funds you may be eligible for
  • use the National Health Service (NHS)
  • travel in and out of the UK
  • spend up to two years outside the UK without losing your status
  • Once you have reached five years continuous residence, you can
  • apply for settled status, before your five years of pre-settled status expires.

Indefinite leave to remain

If you missed the application deadline of 30 June 2021 for the EU Settlement Scheme, you may still be able to apply for this instead if you meet later-deadline criteria. Check EU Settlement scheme details (GOV.UK).

If you have a Skilled Worker (tier 2) visa, you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

You will need:

  • a complete record of all overseas travel during the five year qualifying period. Make sure that all travel outside the UK both for private and work reasons is recorded (e.g. in an Outlook diary, calendar or a form provided by the HR contact in your School or Division)
  • to meet the "continuous residence" requirement of "no more than 180 days absence from the UK in any period of 12 months within the five year qualifying period". This means the 180-day limit is now counted within any rolling 12-month period during the five years. This means it is not possible to split a longer period of absence across two consecutive 12-month periods, which you could before a rule change on 11 January 2018
  • to meet salary requirements
  • a document from us to confirm you will continue to be needed for your job and meet the salary requirements after you get ILR.

You will also need dependants applying for ILR to meet the "continuous residence" requirement, but only for absences during time spent under visas issued after 11 January 2018. Dependants should also start to keep a record of all their travel outside the UK in order to meet the "continuous residence" rule when they come to apply for ILR.

See more about:

Managers and recruiters

If you are interviewing people for a job at Sussex, and someone needs a visa or has an EU settlement status, see immigration guidance for managers.

More

For more answers, see

Contact

If you have more questions about international recruitment and staff immigration, email hrcompliance@sussex.ac.uk.