Tier 2 Minister of Religion

This immigration route was created for persons who are given employment to take up a Position/Role/Post in the United Kingdom within his/her faith community either as a Minister of Religion who will partake in giving sermons and other clerical work, a Missionary, or a Religious Order member.

To make an application under this route, the applicant is expected to carry out the following duties:

• Lead prayer and religious meetings.
• Teaching or preaching religious values.
• Officiate events including weddings, burial and special services.
• Offer counselling to members and welfare support to members.
• Conduct HR activities for the purpose of coordinating the work of volunteers in including the training of preachers.

Taking up work as a missionary is not just preaching and teaching it also includes:

• Coordinate the missionary activities with exception to clerical or administrative activities unless filling a position for a senior.
• Observe and direct the activities of other staff.
• Planning and Putting the missionary work in order
• Take charge of activities such as Personnel management, IT, Accounts or Finance; and
• Interpretation of Religious Text

If you seek to study further for a qualification either a full-time course of study or training in an educational institution, which is not overseen by the order, you should not make an application for Tier 2 Minister of Religion but apply for the Tier 4 Student of the Points-Based System.

If you intend to take up work as a Teacher in a School that is overseen by the religious institution or missionary organization, you are required to make an application as a Teacher under the Tier 2 (General) category because working full-time as teacher does not count as missionary work.

In a situation where you were issued Certificate of Sponsorship on the 6th of April 2012 or after, it is required that confirmation is gotten from your sponsor that a resident labour market test was indicated as complete on the Certificate of Sponsorship; or that the role which you will undertake is supernumerary and that you will not be occupying a position that can be occupied by a resident employee; and you have the intention to reside in the United Kingdom for the length time that you will be authorised to stay.

More so, your sponsor will be required to confirm that you will be supported through funds and/or accommodation which will be adequate for your maintenance through your employment period as contained on the Certificate of Sponsorship issued to you. They should also confirm that you will be paid (a traditional salary, lodgings, board, stipend or a fusion of these) equal to or more as resident workers who take up the same role as you.

Entering the UK as a Minister Of Religion

This immigration route was created for individuals who have been offered employment, posts or roles in the UK to take up positions within their religious faith communities such as:

• Ministers of religion who is take up the duty of preaching as well as other pastoral work.
• Missionaries
• Religious orders membership.

For an individual to carry out missionary duties, in addition to preaching and teaching he/she is expected to also:

• Organize the missionary activities, which should not administrative or clerical, except in the absence of the Superior Office holder.
• Take up supervisory duties.
• Be the coordinator of the missionary work.
• Take control of activities like IT, Personnel Management or Accounts/Finance.
• When it is required, be a translator of religious texts as it is a Missionary job not a clerical one.

Work as a missionary is not just preaching and teaching. It can include:

• the organisation of missionary activity (but should not be administrative or clerical, unless filling a senior post);
• supervising staff;
• co-ordinating the organisation of missionary work;
• being in charge of a particular activity such as accounts/finance, personnel management or IT; and
• translating religious texts - this is missionary work, not clerical work.

• Please note that if the applicant, as a member of a religious order seeks to undertake studies for an educational qualification on a full time or part time basis in an educational organisation that is not managed by the Order, they will need to make an application as a student under Tier 4 student visa route and not apply for Tier 2 Minister of Religion.

If the individual’s intention to enter the United Kingdom is to take up a Full-time job as a teacher in a school that is managed by the religious body or missionary organisation, he/she is required to make an application as a teacher under Tier 2 (General) category and not apply for Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) because such job is not seen to be a missionary job.

If the individual is issued a Certificate of Sponsorship that was assigned on or after 6 April 2012, he/she is required to confirm some issues with his/her sponsor. They include:-

• • The indication of the completion of an RLMT.
  • Justification of the role to be undertaken by the individual, the supernumerary nature of the role; stating further that no vacant position which may be filled by a settled worker will be occupied by the applicant.
  • The individual’s intention to reside in the UK for a period of time as specified in the permit granted.

More so, if the Certificate of Sponsorship is to be assigned on or after the 6 April 2012, the individual’s sponsor will be required to confirm some issues, they include:

• • Support of the applicant through sufficient funding for accommodation needs and maintenance during the applicant employment in the UK as stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • That the individual will receive payments as salary, stipend, customary offerings, board and lodgings or a combination of these; and conditions which will be equal to or more than that which is given to settled workers of the same position.

Switching Into Tier 2 Minister Of Religion

The application for a Tier 2 Minister of Religion can be made only after a Licence Sponsor or employer that is approved by the Home Office, United Kingdom Border Agency to offer employment opportunities to foreign nationals, has been granted a certificate of sponsorship giving them the authority to finance an individual’s stay in the UK as a foreign worker. The Tier 2 Minister of Religion being a points-based category offers opportunities for point to be allocated for the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), Suitable funds available for maintenance and English Language prowess.

However, an individual who has been issued authority to enter the United Kingdom under a visa category that permits switching into the Tier 2 Minister of Religion, he/she is permitted to make the application to the Home Office, UKBA from within the United Kingdom seeking authority to switch into the Tier 2 Minister of Religion category.

Tier 2 Minister Of Religion Visa Extension

The application for a Tier 2 Minister of Religion can be made only after a Licenced Sponsor or employer that is approved by the Home Office, United Kingdom Border Agency to offer employment opportunities to foreign nationals, has been granted a certificate of sponsorship giving them the authority to finance an individual’s stay in the UK as a foreign worker. The Tier 2 Minister of Religion being a points-based category offers opportunities for point to be allocated for the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), Suitable funds available for maintenance and English Language prowess.

ILR Tier 2 Minister Of Religion

To be eligible for settlement (Indefinite Leave to remain) as a person on a Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa, you must have continuously resided in the country under the same route (Tier 2 Minister of Religion) for a period of at least 5 years.

In order to lodge a successful application, the applicant has to show reasonable evidence that they have been employed in the UK in the capacity of a Minister of Religion whilst for their sponsor. Importantly, the sponsor will also have to write a letter stating that they have worked for them throughout that period, is still an integral part of the company and will continue to be needed for the role. ILR applications under this route will be submitted using the Form SET (O)

Dependants Of Tier 2 Minister Of Religion

Dependants to an application refers to the husband/wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same sex partner or the child under the age of 18 of a main applicants. Importantly, for child dependants, only children under the age of 18 are eligible to apply as dependants. However, persons over the age of 18 can still qualify as child dependants if they became 18 in the UK.

PBS dependant leave applications are granted in line with the expiration of the main applicant.

Entry Clearance As PBS Dependent Of Tier 2 Minister of Religion

You can submit a PBS Dependent of a Tier 2 Minister of Religion application if you are the husband/wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same sex partner or the child under the age of 18 of a tier 2 Minister of Religion applicant.

Switching Into PBS Dependant Visa As A Dependant Of Tier 2 Minister of Religion

Based on the Immigration Rules which came into force on the 1st of October 2013; it is now possible for a person to make an application to switch into a PBS Dependent of a Tier 2 Minister of Religion migrant whilst they are in the UK. The exception to this are as follows: -

• If such an applicant is on a leave to enter as a visitor
• If the applicant is on a temporary admission or release

It is also important to note that PBS Dependants applying in this category must be over the age of 18 except for child dependants.

Extension Of Stay As PBS Dependant Of Tier 2 Minister of Religion

If you are currently in the UK as a PBS dependant of a Tier 2 Minister of Religion migrant, you may be able to extend you leave to remain in the UK. You will be able to extend your leave when the main applicant is extending their leave to remain.

ILR As PBS Dependant Of Tier 2 Minister of Religion

Under the provisions of old immigration rule which came into force for applications prior to 9th of July, 2012; an applicant will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to remain as a PBS Dependent of a Tier 2 minister of religion if they have resided in the UK for a minimum of two years. In this case, the main applicant must have either already been granted settlement (ILR) or has made an application for ILR as a Tier 2 Minister of religion.

However, for applications granted after the 9th of July 2012, the PBS Dependant will need to have resided in the United Kingdom for a minimum of 5 years as a PBS dependant; whereas the main applicant has either been granted ILR or is just submitting an application for indefinite leave to remain.

Maintenance Funds

In line with PBS applications, applicants will need to show that they can support themselves without recourse to public funds in the UK. They will need to show the maintenance funds for at least 90 days prior to the date of application.

Tier 2 Minister of religion Lawyers

We boast of some of the best PBS application lawyers in London. Our lawyers have over 30 years combined experience in immigration law. Feel free to contact us today for a free assessment on 020 3744 2797 or send us an email on info@reissedwards.co.uk.

Tier 2 Minister of Religion frequently asked questions (FAQ)