Minister of Religion Visas
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Apply for a Minister of Religion Visa
If you are looking to move to the UK to work full-time as a religious worker or religious missionary, then you can apply for a T2 Minister of Religion Visa.
The T2 Minister of Religion Visa has replaced what was previously known as the Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa as part of the UK’s news immigration changes following the end of free movement between the UK and EU.
The T2 Minister of Religion Visa allows both EEA and non-EEA nationals to enter and live in the UK on the grounds that they take on a position as a minister of religion, missionary or religious worker. Once granted, the visa lasts a maximum of three years and one month.
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T2 Minister of Religion Visa requirements
To be eligible for a Minister of Religion, you must score 70 points under the points-based immigration system. You can score 50 points if you have been offered a position in one of the following roles:
- minister of religion;
- missionary; or
- religious worker.
Your job offer must have come from a registered UK Sponsor who is licensed to hire foreign nationals. You will need to receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer to be able to meet this requirement.
You can score a further 10 points by meeting the English language requirements, you must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You can prove this by either sitting an accredited English language test with at least CEFR level B2, or by having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised as being equivalent to a UK bachelors degree, master’s degree or PhD.
The final 10 points can be scored by meeting the financial requirements. There is no minimum salary for this route but you will have to show that you have the funds to support yourself financially whilst in the UK. To do this you must have at least £1270 in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must fall within 31 days of your visa application.
What can you do on a Minister of Religion Visa?
With the Minister of Religion Visa you can live in the UK for up to 3 years and one month, whilst you are here you can work for your sponsor in the job that is described on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). You can also volunteer, take on a second job in certain circumstances and study as long as it doesn’t interfere with your job.
The Minister of Religion visa also allows you to travel abroad and return to the UK and you can also bring family members with you whilst you are living here. The family members that you can bring with your include your partner, children under the age of 18 and children over the age of 18 if they are eligible. If you do wish to bring family members with you, they will have to make separate visa applications.
It’s worth noting that this visa does not allow you to access public funds whilst you are in the UK.
How can IAS help with a Religious Worker Visa application?
The dedicated lawyers at IAS can assist you with your inquiries and application for a Religious Worker Visa UK. We will check that the role you are applying for qualifies for this category of T2 Visa, organise the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your UK Sponsor and perform an extensive document check.
We can fill in the application form and submit it on your behalf. As well as this, we can liaise with the Home Office to stay updated about your applications progress.
We will also prepare a Letter of Representation to accompany your application that will increase your chances of success. Our lawyers will also be here to answer any questions that you may have about the Minister of Religion visa application process.
Contact us today on 0333 363 8577 or make an enquiry online for more information on how to obtain your T2 Minister of Religion Visa UK.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have trained for a year full-time with a ministry, you will be able to come to the UK to work as a Minister of Religion with a Religious Worker Visa. In order to do this, you need to be able to prove that you have trained for a year for this role.
Yes, you may be able to apply for a Minister of Religion Visa extension to stay for an additional three years.
To be able to extend your visa you will have to demonstrate that you are still needed in your minister of religion or religious worker position and must prove that you can meet the same requirements as when you applied for your T2 Minister of Religion Visa.
You can take a second job but this job needs to be either in the same profession, a profession on the UK Shortage Occupation List or unpaid voluntary work. This job cannot negatively affect your visa sponsored job.
At IAS, our team of expert lawyers can advise you throughout each stage of your application process for a T2 Religious Worker Visa.
Our services include:
- verifying your documentation to make sure it is sufficient;
- preparing a Letter of Representation. This letter details your case and its merits and will include supporting immigration laws to accompany your application;
- liaising with the Home Office while your application is processed;
- arranging and liaising with your UK Sponsor;
- procuring your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS);
- completing each form for your application to the highest standard.
Contact us online now or call 0333 363 8577 to arrange a consultation with an immigration lawyer, who can advise on your individual situation.