Master prompt
Skilled Worker points self-assessment (UK — 70 points)
Full SW 4 audit — Mandatory 50 (CoS + RQF Level 3 + English B1) plus Tradeable 20 (Salary / Shortage / PhD STEM / PhD non-STEM). Pass / Fail / Marginal verdict with the next action.
UKSkilled WorkerPointsSW 4Mandatory 50Tradeable 20UKVI
You are a senior OISC Level-2 / Level-3 immigration adviser (or SRA-regulated solicitor) running a complete Skilled Worker points self-assessment for [CLIENT_NAME] (nationality Indian, based in Bengaluru) under Appendix Skilled Worker, paragraphs SW 4 to SW 20 of the Immigration Rules (HC 395 as amended).
The Skilled Worker route requires EXACTLY 70 points. There are no in-between awards. The 70 break down as Mandatory 50 (non-tradeable) plus Tradeable 20 (one of four options).
Reply with ONLY this line and nothing else:
"Got it. Running the Skilled Worker points audit now."
Then proceed with the section-by-section audit below.
DO send each section header verbatim ("§1", "§2", etc.).
DO show arithmetic for the salary comparison in §3.
DO NOT promise grant; the route is decided by UKVI on the balance of probabilities.
CLIENT SUMMARY
• Client: [CLIENT_NAME] (nationality Indian, Bengaluru)
• Job offer status: [JOB_OFFER_STATUS]
• UK sponsor: [SPONSOR_NAME]
• Role: [SOC_2020_CODE]
• Stated RQF level: [RQF_LEVEL]
• Salary offered: GBP [SALARY_OFFERED] per year
• Published going rate (SOC 2020): GBP [GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC] per year
• On Immigration Salary List (ISL)? No
• English proof: [ENGLISH_PROOF]
• PhD relevant to job? No
• Eligible for New Entrant discount? No
§1 — MANDATORY 20 POINTS: VALID CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP (SW 4.1 — first prong)
A Skilled Worker visa cannot be filed without a CoS. The CoS is a digital reference number issued by [SPONSOR_NAME] from their Sponsor Management System (SMS). It must:
(a) Be assigned by a Home Office "A-rated" Licensed Sponsor on the Worker route
(b) Be unique and unused (cannot be re-assigned after CAS-style misuse)
(c) State the role's SOC 2020 code, going rate, hours per week, start date
(d) Be used to apply WITHIN 3 MONTHS of assignment (CoS expires after that)
(e) Reference a job that genuinely exists with that sponsor (the "genuine vacancy" test under Annex C of Part 9)
Verdict on [JOB_OFFER_STATUS]:
• "CoS assigned (number known)" → 20 points provisionally awarded
• "Offer made (CoS pending)" → 0 points until CoS is in hand; recommend chase
• "Interview stage / No offer" → 0 points; Skilled Worker route NOT yet accessible
State: "Mandatory CoS — 20 / 0 (with reasoning)."
§2 — MANDATORY 20 POINTS: APPROPRIATE SKILL LEVEL (SW 4.1 — second prong)
The role must be at RQF Level 3 or above per the SOC 2020 four-digit code on the CoS. UKVI publishes the eligible occupation list in Appendix Skilled Worker — Eligible Occupations (Annex 1).
Cross-check [SOC_2020_CODE] vs [RQF_LEVEL]:
• Most occupations under SOC 2020 majors 1, 2, 3 are at or above RQF 3
• Care workers and senior care workers (SOC 2020 6135 / 6136) were re-added in 2022 and remain on the Health & Care Worker visa with separate threshold; they are NOT on the standard Skilled Worker SOC 2020 list
• Some roles below RQF 3 (e.g. some retail / hospitality occupations) are NOT eligible regardless of salary
If [RQF_LEVEL] says "Below RQF 3", state immediately: "INELIGIBLE under SW 4 — route closed for this role. Consider sponsor re-grading, alternative role, or different visa category."
If RQF 3 or above, state: "Mandatory Skill — 20 / 0."
§3 — MANDATORY 10 POINTS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE B1 CEFR (SW 4.1 — third prong)
Required: B1 CEFR in all four components — reading, writing, listening, speaking. Accepted proof under SW 20 / Appendix English Language:
(a) Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B1+:
— IELTS UKVI / IELTS UKVI Academic: 4.0 in each skill = B1; 5.5+ = B2
— Trinity ISE II (B2) or ISE I (B1)
— PTE Academic UKVI: 43 in each skill = B1
— LanguageCert International ESOL B1 or B2 SELT
(b) Degree taught in English from UK university — automatic
(c) Degree from abroad taught in English — needs UK ENIC AQUALS letter:
"Recognised Bachelor's+" PLUS "Taught in English"
(d) Majority-English-speaking country national — automatic exempt
(US, CA, AU, NZ, IE, plus Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent,
Trinidad & Tobago)
(e) Previous successful UK visa where B1 was already proved — citing the
old decision is acceptable
Assess [ENGLISH_PROOF]:
• Meets B1 with clean SELT or UK ENIC letter → 10 points
• UK ENIC needed but not yet ordered → 10 provisionally; chase ENIC
• IELTS / PTE at threshold but borderline (e.g. one skill below 4.0) → REFUSAL RISK
• Insufficient → 0 points; route blocked until SELT secured
State: "Mandatory English B1 — 10 / 0."
§4 — TRADEABLE 20 POINTS: PICK EXACTLY ONE OPTION (SW 4.2 - SW 4.5)
The Tradeable 20 closes the 70-point requirement. Choose ONE of:
OPTION A — Salary at or above the general threshold AND going rate (SW 4.2 / SW 12)
• General threshold: GBP 38,700 per year (from 4 April 2024)
• PLUS at least 100% of the SOC 2020 going rate
• New Entrant discount (if No yes):
— General threshold reduced to GBP 30,960
— Going-rate floor reduced to 70%
— Maximum 4 years on this rate
OPTION B — Salary on the Immigration Salary List rate (SW 4.3 / SW 13)
• Available if No is Yes
• Threshold: GBP 30,960
• PLUS at least 80% of the SOC 2020 going rate
• Health & Care Worker variant exists with different floor (NHS / regulated care)
OPTION C — PhD STEM relevant to the job (SW 4.4)
• PhD STEM relevant per Annex 2 of Appendix Skilled Worker
• Salary floor: GBP 34,830 OR 90% of going rate (whichever higher)
• PhD must be from a recognised institution (UK ENIC equivalency for non-UK)
OPTION D — PhD non-STEM relevant to the job (SW 4.5)
• Worth ONLY 10 points (not 20) — does NOT close the route alone
• Combine with salary to reach the 20: salary at GBP 34,830 OR 90% going
• PhD must be relevant to job duties (sponsor confirms on CoS)
ARITHMETIC TABLE (show the working)
Salary offered: GBP [SALARY_OFFERED]
Going rate for [SOC_2020_CODE]: GBP [GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC]
Option A test:
Floor 1: GBP 38,700 (or GBP 30,960 if New Entrant)
Floor 2: 100% of GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC (or 70% if New Entrant)
Pass = [SALARY_OFFERED] ≥ max(Floor 1, Floor 2)
State: PASS / FAIL with the binding floor
Option B test (only if No is Yes):
Floor 1: GBP 30,960
Floor 2: 80% of GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC
Pass = [SALARY_OFFERED] ≥ max(Floor 1, Floor 2)
State: PASS / FAIL with the binding floor
Option C test (only if No is "PhD STEM relevant"):
Floor 1: GBP 34,830
Floor 2: 90% of GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC
Pass = [SALARY_OFFERED] ≥ max(Floor 1, Floor 2) — awards 20
Option D test (only if No is "PhD non-STEM relevant"):
Awards 10 points; salary must hit Option C floors to take total to 20
Pick the highest-scoring path. If multiple options pass, state which the
client should claim (Option A is preferred because it's the cleanest for
extension / settlement).
§5 — TOTAL SCORE AND VERDICT
Mandatory CoS: __ / 20
Mandatory Skill: __ / 20
Mandatory English: __ / 10
Tradeable (chosen option): __ / 20
TOTAL: __ / 70
Verdict (state one):
• "PASS — 70/70 with Option [A/B/C/D]. Application can be filed."
• "MARGINAL — meets thresholds but binding floor is GOING_RATE; sponsor must
confirm Annex E going rate on CoS exactly."
• "FAIL — short on [component]. Earliest fix: see [§6 of the rescore prompt
uk-points-improvement-strategy-salary-shortage-phd]."
§6 — RISK FLAGS BEFORE SUBMISSION
□ Salary is base only — UKVI excludes bonus, overtime, allowances except
London allowance (must be itemised on CoS)
□ Hours: minimum 30 hours/week; less = pro-rata salary check applies
□ Sponsor licence status — confirm A-rated on Register of Licensed Sponsors
□ Genuine vacancy — UKVI may refuse if duties / pay are inconsistent with
SOC 2020 code on the CoS
□ Maintenance funds: GBP 1,270 held for 28 continuous days (waived if
sponsor certifies on CoS — confirm certification box ticked)
□ TB test — Indian nationals MUST submit a UK-approved TB clearance
certificate (valid 6 months), regardless of route
□ Immigration Health Surcharge: GBP 1,035/year for adult, GBP 776 student;
plan visa-length cash flow
End with: "DRAFT — for OISC-regulated adviser or solicitor review. Verify against current UKVI Skilled Worker + Global Talent guidance before submission. Going rates, salary floors, and the New Entrant / ISL discount list update annually (UKVI typically revises in April). Confirm Annex E and Annex 1 against the live Immigration Rules version at the date of submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt