The Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List (SOL) is a list of occupations which the Home Office recognise as being in national shortage. Roles which appear on the Tier 2 SOL are exempt from the advertising requirements, benefit from slightly lower visa fees, and are exempt from the minimum earnings threshold when applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The monthly restricted cycle still applies to overseas Tier 2 applications for SOL roles, unless they also fall within one of the ‘PhD level’ job codes.
Previously the only shortage occupation regularly seen within the collegiate University was bio-informaticians. Following a review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) - which advises the Home Office - the SOL has been significantly expanded and now includes a range of engineering, IT, and medical roles, some of which arise within the collegiate University.
When planning a recruitment for an engineering, IT or medical role it may be worthwhile discussing the role with SIT to check if it is sponsorable under Tier 2 and, if so, whether it would fall under one of the job types in the SOL.
Over time as more roles within the collegiate University are identified as fitting under the SOL SIT will provide more guidance to help identify these cases.
