Can doctors apply for Tier-1 visa?

[momer79]

I am wondering if any can advise here, my brother is working in NHS as a Pathology Docotr. He has 3 yr work permit (arranged by NHS) and it is going to expire in 2010 Feb (the day he is finishing his training in NHS).

He started working in NHS in Aug 2004 and he had doctor Training visa which he transferd to work permit in Feb 2007 and it will last till Feb 2010. I am not sure if the time period before work permit can be counted for 5-yr ILR application.

Can doctors apply for Tier-1 Visa? He can easily get 80 points but i am not sure that doctors can apply for any Tier visa as NHS+HO has changed the rules for doctors.

Thanks

[pencillin]

He certainly can apply and get approved but he won't be able to work as a "Doctor in training" i.e. he won't be able to take training posts and will be limited to trust/staff grade posts,
He would be able to apply for training jobs after he gets his ILR and that's after two years from getting his tier1 (3 years wp + 2 years tier1)

HTH

[drjabberwocky23]

I also believe that he would have been eligible had he already been on a Tier 1/HSMP visa and been a doctor in training before the rule changes came into effect.

For example, if he had been granted HSMP status in February 2007 which would have been up for renewal in February 2009, and he had already secured a doctor in training post, then he would be eligible to reapply under Tier 1 and continue to work as a doctor in training.

If he is on a work permit, the thing to ask him is if he is a doctor in training? If not, then he should be eligible to apply under Tier 1. If he is, then he would be probably better off remaining on a work permit and applying for ILR as and when this becomes possible.

[sanak]

Hi ,

I have a query my friend has been sponsered a Tier2 visa for LAT training post. He qualifies for Tier 1 with the salary he is getting in Training position ... can he apply for Tier1.

Can someone please reply.

[Sushil-ACCA]

applying tier -1 is not issue , only getting job as doc in trianing is issue

so he can get tier-1 and work any other job or do nay business