The Tier One visa is a United Kingdom immigration visa that allows highly skilled immigrants to remain in the country without employer sponsorship. Highly skilled immigrants can be doctors, scientists or other immigrants with a bachelor's degree and adequate English skills.
Tier One visas are awarded based on a point system. More points are given for younger immigrants, ones who have made more money in the past and those with degrees higher than a bachelor's degree.
Tier One visas are only awarded to those who are residing legally in the United Kingdom. The only way one can apply for these visas is if they hold a current legal visa or, should their visa expire, they have an acceptable legal grace period to remain in the country.
One must hold a valid visa during the entire Tier One application process. If the previous visa expires the day someone applies for a Tier One visa, that person is not eligible for a Tier One visa.
