UK Doctor - Swicth Visa

[Shreakh]

I am posting this question on behalf of one of my friends.

He is a doctor currently a resident in the UK (for more than 12 months) on a student dependent visa. He obtained his full registration with the GMC a few weeks ago after the completion of PLAB exams. Now, he has received an offer with sponsorship to work as a doctor in a hospital in Wales.

The Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) indicates the following:

Tier and Category: Skilled Worker (Switching immigration category - ISC liable
Job type: 2211 Medical practitioners - Speciality registrar (StR) and equivalent

When he applies to switch his visa to the skilled worker visa (Health and Care Worker), the online visa application requires him to prove his English proficiency. However, according to the guidelines provided on the gov.uk website, he shouldn't need to prove his English proficiency because he is a doctor (as mentioned in the last paragraph of the following page):

https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/ ... of-english

I would appreciate clarification on this matter.

Below is the application he has chosen to apply for, and he has completed the ID verification through the Immigration app online by scanning his current BRP:

https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-v ... -this-visa

Is it possible that he has selected the wrong application by any chance?

[Frontier Mole]

No - he just needs to submit the appropriate documentation that in taking his PLAB test it meets the requirements. The COS system is not the Oracle and nor are the visa application caseworkers. They need evidence and I hope the submission of the PLAB pass certificate will be that evidence

[Shreakh]

@Frontier Mole

Thanks for you respose.

He has received the CoS from the NHS Trust on September 4th, and the CoS specifies the work start date as the same date (4th Sep). As his current visa is expiring soon, he doesn't have the luxury of waiting for their slow email responses. Consequently, he intends to submit his visa application, which may be sent on either September 6th or 7th. However, this situation raises a concern. If the application is not submitted before the start date mentioned in the CoS, will it be an issue?

Do you have any suggestions or insights on how to handle this situation?

Thanks

[Frontier Mole]

The COS is valid for 90 days from the date it was assigned so expiry of the COS is not as issue.

Work start date is irrelevant particularly if the NHS HR gave a start date as the same date of issue of the COS . That is a level of stupidity or a lack of understanding that is frankly unbelievable.

His current visa expiry seems to be the biggest driver - there are many ways of overcoming that. The easiest would be to get the confirmation of the PLAB pass meets the English language requirement. That would then make it possibly as easy as including the PLAB pass confirmation.

If the expiry of his dependent visa is imminent then of course he can just apply for an extension on that route until he is in possession of his English language confirmation. Thereafter switch to skilled visa application. Obviously until he gets his work visa he can’t start his doctor role.