1. Introduction

This scheme is a joint venture of the Scottish Executive and the Home Office to encourage people moving to Scotland and pursue their careers while living in Scotland. This scheme will enable non-EEA nationals who have successfully completed an HND, degree course, Masters or PhD at a Scottish university and have lived in Scotland during their studies to apply to stay in Scotland for up to two years after completing their studies to seek and take work.

2. Who Can Qualify?

All persons on a student visa or on a SEGGS scheme visa can apply for FT - WISS while remaining within the UK. Applicants from outside the UK can also apply provided they qualify under the criteria of this scheme. The applicants need to prove that he has lived in Scotland for a considerable time period of his studies of either:

• HND qualification; or
• Under graduation: or
• Masters; or
• PHD

in any Scottish educational institution and has actually completed such qualification. In addition to the above the applicant of this scheme needs to establish that

• He intends to work in Scotland, if his application is approved.
• He can maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants during the duration of his leave to remain.
• He intends to leave the UK on expiry of his leave to remain unless he successfully switches either to:
  • Work permit (For employment in Scotland only); or
  • HSMP; or
  • Business Person; or
  • Innovator schemes.

Please note that only those students who have completed their education in the last 12 months are eligible to apply under this scheme.

3. What Documents to Submit?

The persons intending to apply for a FT-WISS need to provide following documents with duly completed application form.

• Original HND certificate or degree or PHD degree; or
• Letter from the personal tutor that original degree is being awaited.
• Original Passport and of all the dependants.
• Two Pictures of each person named in the application form.
• Proof of relation with the dependants (Marriage / Birth Certificates)
• Proof of residence (Utility bills, bank Statements, Letters from the College or University). It must cover the time period of the claimed residence in Scotland.
• Last three months Bank Statements
• Wage slips (If working)

4. Duration of Visa

The applicants are normally issued a visa for a maximum period of two years. That is the maximum period that a person can stay under this scheme, after that he needs to return to his home country unless he switches to other immigration category as mentioned above. If the applicant has already spent some time under SEGS scheme, he will only be issued with the balance of two years time. For example if he remained on SEGS scheme for 6 months and applies for FT-WISS he will only be given leave for a further 18 months thus making a total of two years.

5. Work Allowed

FT-WISS participants can take any sort of employment (Part time or Full time), or engage themselves in business or can be self-employed for the duration of their leave to remain. . They can therefore legally become a partner / sole proprietor / Director in an existing business or take up a new business.

6. Extension of Visa

FT-WISS participants can apply for an extension of visa if they were issued with less than two years of visa for this scheme in their first application. The maximum extension that can be granted by the Home Office is an aggregate amount of two years.

7. Spouse / Unmarried Partner / Children < 18

FT-WISS participants can always invite their spouse / children to join them as their dependants or include them in their application for this scheme as their dependants, during the time of their leave to remain provided they could support their families without recourse to public funds. The dependants will also be allowed to work in the UK.

8. Switching Rules

FT-WISS participants can always apply for the following immigration categories provided they fulfil all the requirements of the category.

• Spouse Visa (Provided the applicant has been issued a leave to remain / visa for more than 6 months initially and he has got more than 3 months of his current leave to remain).
• Religious Minister (provided they have lived legally in any category for 12 months and fulfil all the requirements to apply as a Religious Minister.
• WP (Only to work in Scotland)
• HSMP
• Business Person
• Innovator

9. Settlement Prospects

There is only one option available for FT-WISS persons to get permanent settlement in the UK i.e. Long-term residence. If a person remains in the UK for ten years legally then he can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. But if the person switches his immigration category that leads to settlement, then he would have another option to get an Indefinite Leave to remain on the basis of that immigration category.

For example if a person after remaining student for two years and on FT-WISS for a year, he changes his immigration status to HSMP, which allows a person to apply for an Indefinite Leave to remain after remaining for four years in the UK. So, in this case that person can apply for an indefinite leave to remain after a total of seven years of living in the UK, although he would still have a right to apply for Indefinite leave to remain after 10 years of continuous residence in the UK.