Tier 2 Visa Statistics 2008-17: A Guide to UK Work Visa Refusal Rate

Tier 2 and Pre-PBS Visa Statistics 2008-17

Tier 2 General Visa for sponsored skilled workers was launched in November 2008 and gradually replaced its pre-PBS equivalent work visa routes such as work permit.

During 2008-17 a total of 470,083 entry clearance and 330,826 extension grants have been made under the different Tier 2 & pre-PBS equivalent sub-categories. The 10-year average Tier 2 work visa success and refusal rate are 96.21% and 3.34%, respectively.

Tier 2 Visa Statistics for Entry Clearance Applications

During 2008-17, a total of 488,258 entry clearance applications submitted for Tier 2 & pre-PBS equivalent. Accordingly, 488,576 decisions made, and 470,083 entry clearance applicants get Tier 2 & pre-PBS equivalent visa. Apparently and quite understandably the Tier 2 visa success rate was lowest (89.28%) in 2009. However, subsequently, the applicants and all the other stakeholders gradually learnt from their mistakes, which is the major reason for the rise in the Tier 2 visa success rate.

Tier 2 Visa Success and Refusal Rate

From 2008 to 2017, a total of 16,297 Tier 2 and pre-PBS equivalent entry clearance applications refused. And 1,734 applications withdrawn and 462 lapsed. The Tier 2 visa refusal rate was highest in 2009 (9.66%) and lowest (1.72%) in 2013. Moreover, the Tier 2 visa refusal rate in recent years hovers in the range of 2%, which is quite encouraging for the prospective applicants.

Enquiry Form

*What happens next?

Multilingual qualified London based immigration specialists will get back to you, usually within 2-3 working days. If you have not attached any documents, then the UK based Law firm may ask for the relevant Case-Specific Document(s) such as Refusal Letters, Deportation Orders, Application Forms etc. Moreover, after reviewing the papers and information, the legal advisor may advise a course of action and quote the fees for processing the application.

Have a wonderful day!

Tier 2 Leave to Remain Applications (Extension and Switching)

During 2008-17, a total of 330,826 extensions and leave to remain decisions made under Tier 2 & pre-PBS equivalent routes. And 314,141 extensions granted, and 16,685 applications refused under the Tier 2 & pre-PBS equivalent. Moreover, 10 years average Tier 2 extension refusal rate is 5.04%. Therefore, the 10 years average Tier 2 visa refusal rate for entry clearance applications (3.34%) is lower than that for extensions (5%).

Pre-PBS Work Permit

Prior to the inception of the PBS Tier 2 route, the major immigration route for doing work in the UK was Employment with a work permit. Accordingly, ever since November 2008 the number of extension decisions and grants relating to work permit fell quite drastically. Therefore, after 2009 the number of decisions relating to work permit is only an exceedingly small fraction of the total extension grants under Tier 2 and pre-PBS equivalent. However, most of the people still refer to Tier 2 as work permit visa, which speaks for the popularity of the work permit route prior to November 2008.

Pre-PBS Other Permit Free Employment

Other Permit Free Employment Skilled is also a pre-PBS equivalent route for high skilled employment. Therefore, like the work permit route, the number of extensions under this route fell after 2008 and the last extension granted under the route was in 2011.

Pre-PBS Ministers of Religion

Since 2008, the Tier 2 Ministers of Religion has gradually replaced the pre-pbs equivalent category of Ministers of Religion/Missionary. Accordingly, after 2008 and 2009, the number of decisions is negligible. And no decision made after 2012 in this pre-pbs category.

ILR (Settlement)

During 2008-2017 a total of 44,972 migrants have been granted settlement (ILR) under the Tier 2 route. The Tier 2 settlement grants have gradually supplanted the settlements under pre-PBS work permit route.