Environmental Health Professionals

Duncan Lewis Business Immigration Solicitors – Environmental Health Professionals – UK Visa Applications

Improved regulation in housing, food safety and public protection issues such as noise intrusion or environmental offences has fuelled a need for experienced environmental health professionals across the UK – as well as globally, with the US, Australia and New Zealand being just three other countries also facing shortages in EHOs/EHPs.

Tier 2 visa restrictions under UK immigration law can add to the challenge local authorities and public health organisations face when recruiting environmental health professionals from overseas to work in the UK.

Global competition for environmental health professionals means the UK may lose out if Tier 2 visa applications cannot be completed quickly and accurately, to ensure international recruitment targets are fulfilled and environmental health professionals are able to take up appointments in the UK.

Duncan Lewis business immigration solicitors can advise companies on the international recruitment of environmental health professionals – who are eligible to work in the UK under the regulations covering occupations skilled to NQF Level 6.

Duncan Lewis business immigration lawyers frequently advise companies on Tier 2 applications – as well as advising on recruiting recent overseas graduates who have qualified in the UK.

Any Tier 2 applicants can be sponsored for jobs in certain occupations – and the government has drawn up a list of eligible occupations for environmental health professionals wishing to apply for a Tier 2 visa to take up a position in the UK.

UK Visas & Immigration regulations set out in the Codes of Practice for Skilled Workers such as environmental health professionals.

Under the regulations, the sort of roles within a company that would be eligible for a Tier 2 visa application include:
 

• Air pollution inspector
• Environmental health officer
• Food inspector
• Public health inspector
• Technical officer (environmental health).

UK Visas & Immigration rules also set out the types of duties environmental health professionals role might undertake to qualify for a Tier 2 visa, including:

• inspects businesses for compliance with legislation on health and safety, food hygiene and food standards and takes appropriate action in the event of non-compliance
• follows up complaints of unsafe workplaces, investigating accidents
• investigates outbreaks of food poisoning, infectious diseases or pests
• monitors radiation activity, levels of noise, air, land and water pollution and takes appropriate action when safety levels are exceeded
• ensures animal welfare for compliance with legislation, issues licences for premises such as pet shops, zoos and abattoirs
• gives talks at public inquiries and meetings, ensures compliance through education, advice and enforcement
• initiates legal proceedings and gives evidence in court.

The current minimum salary range for environmental health professionals    applying for a Tier 2 UK visa would be £26,000 for an experienced member of staff – and £22,100 for a new entrant.

Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2013.

Duncan Lewis Business Immigration Solicitors – UK Visa Applications & Appeals – Environmental Health Professionals

Applying for a Tier 2 visa for an environmental health professional joining your UK operation requires expert legal advice on the preparation of the visa application to ensure no delays occur.

Companies should be aware that any delays in the Tier 2 visa application process might potentially jeopardise the timely take up of an environmental health appointment.

Duncan Lewis immigration experts are one of the UK’s leading specialist immigration and business immigration solicitors, with a highly successful track record in advising companies and professionals on business immigration law and the UK visa application process.

Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers have offices nationwide and in most major cities – and our national and London immigration lawyers can advise companies wishing to recruit high-calibre environmental health professionals from non-EEA countries on:

• Tier 2 Licence
• Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsor (CoS)
• Tier 2 Visa Applications
• Tier 2 Intra Company Transfers
• Standard UK Visa for Business Visits.

Duncan Lewis business immigration experts are also able to advise on visa appeals for environmental health professionals wishing to take up appointments in the UK.

As immigration specialists, Duncan Lewis is ranked by Legal 500 2015 for its business immigration services.

For further information on UK visa applications for Environmental Health Professionals, call Duncan Lewis Business Immigration Solicitors in confidence on 0333 772 0409 for a FREE initial consultation.