Are you a construction worker who has a dream of moving to England from the US to occupy skilled positions? Do you think you have what it takes to work in the construction market and would love to land a job with visa sponsorship?

Since 70% of the construction market is constantly in need of qualified workers, it will be easy to land a job with an eligible company if you follow the guide provided in this article.

Visa sponsorship was introduced so that organizations and/or individuals can sponsor a foreign national to get a visa and stay in the country. Usually, the organization or individual is willing to make such expenses because the foreigner has high-valued and profitable skills. 

This article will guide both job seekers and construction companies on the proper method of sponsoring a skilled worker’s visa from the US to England.

How to Find Construction Companies that Sponsor Visas (For Job Seekers)

Although the shortage of construction workers is a global problem, there are companies whose need for workers is more urgent than the rest. This means that those countries will be more open to hiring construction workers.

If that is the case, it would be advisable for job seekers to look for those countries and apply for construction worker jobs. For instance, England has a high need for construction workers with an estimated shortage of around 225,000 new workers required by 2027, so this might be an ideal location.

When you’ve found the country you wish to apply to, study their immigration policies to know if it’s favourable for skilled workers. For instance, if you get a job offer from an eligible construction company, you can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa which allows you to live and work in the UK.

You can find a construction company that is hiring on international job boards such as Indeed, LinkedIn, FlexJobs, ConstructionJobs dot com, etc.

You can attend industry conferences and events where you may likely meet company owners and/or recruiters to connect with them. You can also build a professional network on LinkedIn and send cold messages or emails to potential clients highlighting your skills.

Still, on cold emailing, you can search for construction companies who are not just hiring but have a history of sponsoring visas to see if they are hiring. If they are, you can apply with your updated CV, and if they are not, you can still pitch yourself to them.

Whether you are contacting the construction companies directly, or you are going through recruitment agencies, ensure that you craft a compelling cover letter and resume.

It is usually ideal to use recruitment agencies as they streamline the application process for you and give you access to exclusive job opportunities.

How to Sponsor Visas for Construction Workers (For Employers)

Amongst the various visa categories, the Skilled Worker Visa is the main visa category for skilled construction workers, and only an eligible construction company is allowed to sponsor this visa.

The skilled worker visa holder can stay in the UK for five years; after which, they can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

For a construction company to be allowed to sponsor this visa, they need to have the following qualifications:

• Hold a valid sponsorship license with an ‘A’ rating.
• Offer a job that meets the appropriate skill level.
• Prove that they have properly advertised the job role and could not find a local talent to occupy that position.
• Pay the Immigration Skills Charge.
• Provide a Certificate of Sponsorship to the ideal employee.
• Ensure that the potential employee meets the specific requirements.
• Run a criminal record check on the potential employee.

On the other hand, for the employee to be eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa, he/she must meet the following qualifications:

• Have a genuine job offer.
• Have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – this should be issued by an eligible UK employer.
• The job role must be on the list of eligible occupations and skill levels.
• The offered salary must meet the threshold for the job role.
• Be proficient in the English Language.
• Be over 18 years of age.
• Provide a clean criminal record certificate.

Notably, government departments usually conduct an analysis to determine if the employment rate of construction companies will affect the UK job market positively or negatively. For now, the construction industry has contributed trillions to the UK economy.

The visa application process will incur certain costs such as government fees, visa fees, legal fees and other expenses. Both the potential employee and construction company have expenses to make so they need to create a realistic budget for it.

Complying with immigration laws is important for national security and economic stability. There are consequences for both employers and employees if any of them break immigration laws.

For the employee, they could face deportation, difficulty in finding future employment, and legal issues for committing fraud and misrepresentation. The employer will be asked to pay a large fine, lose their ability to sponsor foreign workers, face civil lawsuits or criminal charges, face reputational damage and have their business shut down.

Some visa types require an interview before they are granted, but the Skilled Worker Visa does not require an interview. Nevertheless, you should be ready to answer minor questions that you may be asked during the biometric appointment.

On the rare occasion when you will be interviewed, the questions you may likely be asked will surround your job offer, understanding of the role, your career goals, your qualifications and experience, how you intend to contribute to the economy, ties to your home country, etc.

Usually, the decision concerning your Skilled Worker Visa application should be 3 weeks if you are applying from outside the UK and 8 weeks if you are applying from within the UK.

If your visa processing time takes more time than is mentioned above, then the following factors could be responsible – missing or improperly translated documents, high application volume, incomplete or incorrect paperwork, citizenship or travel history, peak travel seasons, staffing shortages at the embassies, etc,

Visa Application Process for Construction Workers

Construction workers need to have the following documents to start their visa application process:

• A valid passport
• Completed visa application form
• Recent passport-sized photographs
• Job offer letter
• Proof of qualifications and work experience in construction
• Educational certificates
• Police clearance certificate
• Medical examination results
• Proof of funds
• Payment receipt for the application fee

The application form can be found on the official website of the UK government. The applicant should fill it out, pay the application fee and then submit it. They will be required to go for the biometric appointment to present their fingerprints and photographs.

Conclusion

Seeing the consequences of not doing due diligence during this visa application process, both employers and employees are advised to do thorough research throughout each stage.

It is also important to meet deadlines given by the government or immigration authority as that can affect the success of your application. Since the process is a complex one, an immigration lawyer will be needed to guide both the employer and the employee through the process.