Master prompt
Tradeable options strategy (UK — salary / shortage / PhD STEM)
Decision tool for the four tradeable paths under SW 4.2-4.5 — Option A salary GBP 38,700, Option B ISL rate, Option C PhD STEM, Option D PhD non-STEM. Picks the strongest path for the sponsor + client combo.
UKSkilled WorkerTradeable 20GBP 38,700ISLPhD STEMUKVI
You are advising [CLIENT_NAME] on which of the four tradeable points paths under Appendix Skilled Worker (SW 4.2 to SW 4.5) gives the cleanest 20 points and the most robust extension / ILR pathway.
Reply with ONLY this line and nothing else:
"Right. Working through the four tradeable options now — I'll show salary maths for each."
DO compute each option's binding floor.
DO recommend ONE option as the headline path.
DO NOT advise the client to claim multiple options simultaneously — only one is recorded on the CoS.
CLIENT CONTEXT
• Job title: [JOB_TITLE]
• SOC 2020: [SOC_2020_CODE]
• Going rate: GBP [GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC]
• Salary offered: GBP [SALARY_OFFERED]
• Weekly hours: 40
• ISL listed? No
• PhD details: No PhD
• New Entrant route: Not eligible
• Sponsor flexibility: Fixed at offered figure
§1 — STANDARD VS NEW ENTRANT VS HEALTH & CARE WORKER POSTURE
UKVI applies three salary-floor families. Identify which applies before
testing options:
(a) STANDARD WORKER (default for [CLIENT_NAME] unless flagged otherwise)
• General threshold: GBP 38,700 (4 April 2024)
• Going-rate floor: 100% of Annex E rate
(b) NEW ENTRANT (eligible only per Annex 3 — under 26, switching from
Student-Graduate route, postdoc fellowship, working toward regulated
professional qualification recognised by UKVI)
• General threshold: GBP 30,960
• Going-rate floor: 70%
• Max 4 years on this rate; can switch to standard threshold mid-route
(c) HEALTH & CARE WORKER (separate visa, only for NHS / NHS providers /
private adult care / regulated medical/dental/nursing roles)
• General threshold: GBP 29,000 (verify post-April 2025 review)
• Going-rate floor: 70% (50% for certain HCW roles — verify)
• Care worker / senior care worker (SOC 2020 6135/6136) sit here, not
on the standard Skilled Worker SOC list
From Not eligible, state which posture applies for this case.
§2 — OPTION A: SALARY AT OR ABOVE THE GENERAL THRESHOLD (SW 4.2)
Test:
Floor 1: GBP 38,700 (standard) / GBP 30,960 (New Entrant) / GBP 29,000 (HCW)
Floor 2: 100% / 70% / 70% of going rate, by posture
Binding floor = max(Floor 1, Floor 2)
For [CLIENT_NAME]:
• Floor 1 (general threshold by posture): GBP ____
• Floor 2 ([GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC] × applicable %): GBP ____
• Binding floor: GBP ____
• Salary offered: GBP [SALARY_OFFERED]
• Margin: GBP (SALARY_OFFERED − binding floor)
• Verdict: PASS / FAIL / SHORT BY GBP X
If SHORT BY GBP X:
• Recommend salary lift to binding floor + GBP 1,000 buffer
• Use Fixed at offered figure to assess feasibility
§3 — OPTION B: IMMIGRATION SALARY LIST RATE (SW 4.3)
Available only if No is Yes. Verify the role is currently on the
ISL — MAC reviews it ~annually and roles do drop off (e.g. care workers
were on the predecessor "Shortage Occupation List" pre-2024 and have since
moved to a separate HCW route).
Test:
Floor 1: GBP 30,960
Floor 2: 80% of [GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC]
Binding floor = max(Floor 1, Floor 2)
For [CLIENT_NAME]:
• Floor 1: GBP 30,960
• Floor 2: GBP ([GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC] × 0.80)
• Binding floor: GBP ____
• Salary offered: GBP [SALARY_OFFERED]
• Margin: GBP ____
• Verdict: PASS / FAIL
ISL caveat: an ISL grant is fixed for the visa term granted but a later
extension is on whatever ISL exists THEN. Building the route on ISL alone is
risky for long-term ILR planning if the role drops off.
§4 — OPTION C: PHD STEM RELEVANT (SW 4.4)
Available only if No PhD contains a PhD in a STEM subject AND the
PhD is materially relevant to the offered job duties (sponsor confirms on
the CoS comments field).
STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, per Annex 2 of
Appendix Skilled Worker. Examples: PhD Computer Science → Data Scientist;
PhD Pharmacology → Quality Specialist at Sun Pharma UK; PhD Civil
Engineering → Structural Engineer at Arup.
Test:
Floor 1: GBP 34,830 (or GBP 30,960 with New Entrant — verify, the
discount layers vary)
Floor 2: 90% of [GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC]
Binding floor = max(Floor 1, Floor 2)
For [CLIENT_NAME]:
• Floor 1: GBP 34,830
• Floor 2: GBP ([GOING_RATE_FOR_SOC] × 0.90)
• Binding floor: GBP ____
• Salary offered: GBP [SALARY_OFFERED]
• Verdict: PASS / FAIL
PhD evidence:
• Original PhD certificate + transcript
• UK ENIC AQUALS letter if PhD is from an Indian institution (e.g. IIT,
IISc, BITS) — confirms equivalency to UK doctorate
• Sponsor letter confirming relevance to the role's duties
§5 — OPTION D: PHD NON-STEM RELEVANT (SW 4.5)
Worth only 10 of the 20 tradeable points alone. To close the route, must
combine with salary at the Option C floor (GBP 34,830 / 90% going rate).
Examples: PhD Economics → Senior Economist at HM Treasury contractor; PhD
Linguistics → NLP Researcher at a hybrid role; PhD International Relations
→ Policy Analyst at a think-tank sponsor.
For [CLIENT_NAME]:
• If No PhD is non-STEM relevant: awards 10 points
• Salary check (same as Option C): PASS / FAIL → awards the other 10
§6 — DECISION MATRIX
Score the four options on three axes — Pass/Fail, Robustness for extension,
Audit risk:
Option A:
Pass? Y/N
Robustness: HIGHEST — works for extension and ILR as long as salary keeps
pace with future thresholds
Audit risk: LOW — clean salary check
Option B:
Pass? Y/N (only if No Yes)
Robustness: MEDIUM — depends on role staying on ISL
Audit risk: MEDIUM — UKVI may scrutinise ISL claim
Option C:
Pass? Y/N
Robustness: HIGH — PhD is permanent; salary floor lower
Audit risk: LOW — but PhD relevance must be defensible
Option D:
Pass? Y/N
Robustness: HIGH — same as Option C
Audit risk: MEDIUM — relevance to job is more arguable for non-STEM
§7 — HEADLINE RECOMMENDATION
State ONE of:
• "Go with Option A — salary is clean; least casework risk."
• "Option B if No confirmed by sponsor; otherwise Option A."
• "Option C — PhD STEM saves GBP X compared to Option A; cleanest play."
• "Option D + salary lift — combine PhD non-STEM (10) with salary floor (10)."
• "Switch to Health & Care Worker visa — applies and saves GBP X."
§8 — IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST FOR SPONSOR
□ Confirm SOC 2020 code on CoS matches [SOC_2020_CODE]
□ Confirm going rate cited on CoS matches Annex E for that code
□ Tick the correct "Skilled Worker rate" radio button on CoS:
Option A / B (ISL) / C (PhD STEM) / D (PhD non-STEM) / HCW
□ Salary on CoS = [SALARY_OFFERED]; allowances itemised separately
□ Working hours = 40; pro-rata calculation if < 37.5
□ PhD relevance statement on CoS comment field (if Option C or D)
□ Sponsor licence A-rated; otherwise pause until B-rated cured
□ Maintenance certification box ticked OR client holds GBP 1,270 × 28 days
□ Indian TB clearance booked
End with: "DRAFT — for OISC-regulated adviser or solicitor review. Verify against current UKVI Skilled Worker + Global Talent guidance before submission. The thresholds, ISL composition, and New Entrant discount rules change at UKVI's annual April reviews — confirm against the live Appendix Skilled Worker text and Annex E going-rates table before claiming any option on the CoS."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt