Costs in Relation to Migration to the UK
Certificate of Sponsorship
The University applies for a Certificate of Sponsorship on behalf of a new employee to the University or an employee who needs an extension to their visa. The cost of this is borne by the University and at present amounts to £175.
Entry Clearance (outside the UK)
Once an individual has received their Certificate of Sponsorship from Human Resources they will need to apply for Entry Clearance through their nearest Visa Application Centre at a cost of £400 (plus an additional £258 for each dependant applied for at the same time). This will be reimbursed by the University (Human Resources) on their arrival in St Andrews on the production of a receipt or proof of payment. Please not that the figures fluctuate depending on local exchange rates.
Leave to Remain
Once an individual has received their Certificate of Sponsorship from HR in connection with their contract of employment, they will need to apply for their Leave to Remain (UK visa) through the Home Office at a cost of £550. This will be reimbursed by the University on the production of a receipt or proof of payment. Individuals can make an application in person at the Public Enquiry Office in Glasgow at a cost of £850, however the University will only reimburse £550 towards the total fee.
Applications for dependants that are submitted at the same time as the main applicant will incur a fee of £275. Dependants applications at the Public Enquiry Offices are charged at £425.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)/Settled Status
Once an employee, who has entered the United Kingdom as a migrant and has been in the United Kingdom continuously for 5 years, they are entitled to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settled Status.
At present, the cost of applying for ILR is £972 and in order to ease the burden of the cost to employees, the University (Human Resources) will pay this initial cost. However, you should note that in the event that the employee leaves the University within 2 years the University will expect a reimbursement of the cost as follows:
- if you leave within 6 months of the payment being made, then you pay back 80%
- if you leave between 6 months and 12 months, then you pay back 60%
- if you leave between 1 year and 18 months, then you pay back 40%
- if you leave between 18 months and 2 years, then you pay back 20%
After 2 years no reimbursement to the University is required.
Please note that the figures quoted are correct as at July 2011.
Please note that the University will only reimburse the main postal application fee. The University will not reimburse any costs associated with having your biometrics taken, postage fees, processing fees, travel costs or any test fees including the Life in UK test fee.
Human Resources
Updated August 2011