Minister of Religion Visa
Key leading role within a faith-based organisation.
Minister of Religion Visa
The Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa is for an applicant with a key leading role within their faith-based organisation, who has been offered a sponsorship in the UK. The applicant must show that they meet the requirements set out by the Home Office.
Requirement For Minister of Religion Visa
The Home Office require the following requirements to be met in order to grant the visa:
- The offer of a job from a Home Office approved sponsor
- The applicant must show their knowledge of the English language at the B2 level
- The applicant must hold sufficient funds of at least £1,270 or the applicant’s sponsor is providing the funds for them
It is essential for the applicant to show that they meet the above requirements. It can often be difficult and confusing when it comes to showing how the requirements are met, as this is done by providing a number of documents to the Home Office. Depending on your circumstances, the documents can sometimes vary, which is why it is important to take expert legal advice to avoid any issues with the application.
Who can Sponsor me and what is a Certificate of Sponsorship?
In order for, the application to be considered, you are required to have been sponsored by a sponsor who has been listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licenced sponsors.
To show that the applicant has received a sponsorship, the sponsor must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) to the applicant, and this must be issued no more than 3 months before the date of the application. The COS must confirm specific information regarding the applicant and the sponsorship.
Can I switch from another visa?
It is possible to switch from your current visa and apply for the Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa. However, you cannot switch to this visa if you are currently on any of the following:
- a visit visa;
- a short-term student visa;
- a Parent of a Child Student visa;
- a Seasonal Worker visa;
- a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa or an Overseas Domestic Worker visa on immigration bail;
- because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds.
What if I change employers?
Circumstances may rise where you wish to change your employer, or your employer is no longer able to sponsor you, but you have another sponsor. Should a situation like this arise, you will be required to show the new certificate of sponsorship, and make an application for the purpose of changing your employment.
Can my family join me?
When an applicant applies under this route, they can also apply for their dependants to join them. A separate application will need to be completed for each dependant and where the applications are successful, they will be the same leave as the applicant. A dependent can be:
- A spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
- Dependent children
Where an applicant wishes to apply with his dependants, he must show he has the relevant funds to support them in addition to the £1,270 to support himself. The required funds are as followed:
- £285 for a dependant spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
- £315 for a first child
- £200 for each subsequent child
Settlement
If you have been resident in the UK, for a period of 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). When applying for ILR, the applicant must still be sponsored by a Home Office approved, licenced sponsor, as well as meeting the knowledge of Life in the UK.