Calculating your salary as a skilled worker involves considering various factors and specific guidelines provided by immigration authorities. Here's a breakdown of the key factors to consider:
Basic Gross Pay
The salary calculation for skilled worker visas generally revolves around your guaranteed basic gross pay. This includes the amount you earn before income tax, which incorporates employee pension and national insurance contributions. Make sure to consider this base salary when assessing your eligibility.
Exclusions
Several components are typically excluded from the salary calculation. These exclusions encompass pay and benefits such as fluctuating hours, additional pay (e.g., shift, overtime, or bonus pay), employer pension and national insurance contributions, allowances (e.g., accommodation or cost of living allowances), in-kind benefits (e.g., equity shares, health insurance, or company cars), one-off payments (e.g., 'golden hellos'), immigration costs, and business expenses.
Weekly Working Hours
When determining your salary as a skilled worker for visa purposes, it's important to note that if your work pattern entails more than 48 hours per week, only the salary for the first 48 hours will be taken into account to meet the required salary thresholds.
For example if you work 60 hours per week at a rate of £10 per hour, your annual salary calculation will be based on £24,960 (£10 x 48 x 52), rather than £31,200 (£10 x 60 x 52). The visa authorities consider only the salary equivalent to 48 hours per week when assessing your eligibility against the annual salary thresholds of £26,200, £23,580, or £20,960.
Irregular Working Patterns: If your regular hours vary each week, resulting in uneven pay, certain provisions apply. Work more than 48 hours in some weeks can be considered for the salary thresholds if the average over a regular cycle (typically not exceeding 17 weeks) does not exceed 48 hours per week. Additionally, any unpaid rest weeks count towards the average calculation and are not considered as absences from employment.
For instance, let's consider an applicant who works a pattern of 60 hours a week at a rate of £12 per hour for two consecutive weeks, followed by an unpaid rest week. In this scenario, the average working hours per week are calculated, which would be 40 hours (60 + 60 + 0 divided by 3) over the regular cycle. Based on this average, the annual salary can be determined as £24,960 (£12 x 40 x 52). This calculation ensures that the applicant meets the salary requirements while taking into account the fluctuations in working hours due to the irregular pattern.
Pro-Rating
Going rates for occupation codes listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations are based on a 37.5-hour week. If your working hours differ from this standard, pro-rate the going rates accordingly. The resulting figure is then multiplied by 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 if the required salary is 70%, 80%, or 90% of the going rate, respectively. This calculation ensures the required salary aligns with your working pattern.
Basic Gross Pay
The salary calculation for skilled worker visas generally revolves around your guaranteed basic gross pay. This includes the amount you earn before income tax, which incorporates employee pension and national insurance contributions. Make sure to consider this base salary when assessing your eligibility.
Exclusions
Several components are typically excluded from the salary calculation. These exclusions encompass pay and benefits such as fluctuating hours, additional pay (e.g., shift, overtime, or bonus pay), employer pension and national insurance contributions, allowances (e.g., accommodation or cost of living allowances), in-kind benefits (e.g., equity shares, health insurance, or company cars), one-off payments (e.g., 'golden hellos'), immigration costs, and business expenses.
Weekly Working Hours
When determining your salary as a skilled worker for visa purposes, it's important to note that if your work pattern entails more than 48 hours per week, only the salary for the first 48 hours will be taken into account to meet the required salary thresholds.
For example if you work 60 hours per week at a rate of £10 per hour, your annual salary calculation will be based on £24,960 (£10 x 48 x 52), rather than £31,200 (£10 x 60 x 52). The visa authorities consider only the salary equivalent to 48 hours per week when assessing your eligibility against the annual salary thresholds of £26,200, £23,580, or £20,960.
Irregular Working Patterns: If your regular hours vary each week, resulting in uneven pay, certain provisions apply. Work more than 48 hours in some weeks can be considered for the salary thresholds if the average over a regular cycle (typically not exceeding 17 weeks) does not exceed 48 hours per week. Additionally, any unpaid rest weeks count towards the average calculation and are not considered as absences from employment.
For instance, let's consider an applicant who works a pattern of 60 hours a week at a rate of £12 per hour for two consecutive weeks, followed by an unpaid rest week. In this scenario, the average working hours per week are calculated, which would be 40 hours (60 + 60 + 0 divided by 3) over the regular cycle. Based on this average, the annual salary can be determined as £24,960 (£12 x 40 x 52). This calculation ensures that the applicant meets the salary requirements while taking into account the fluctuations in working hours due to the irregular pattern.
Pro-Rating
Going rates for occupation codes listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations are based on a 37.5-hour week. If your working hours differ from this standard, pro-rate the going rates accordingly. The resulting figure is then multiplied by 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 if the required salary is 70%, 80%, or 90% of the going rate, respectively. This calculation ensures the required salary aligns with your working pattern.
- Health and Education Occupations: The pro-rating of going rates for health and education occupation codes listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations follows specific guidelines stated in the appendix. Make sure to consult the appropriate references for accurate calculations.
- Full Weekly Hours Consideration: When checking your salary against the going rate and the £10.75 per hour salary requirement, include your full weekly hours for assessment, even if you work more than 48 hours per week.