S

1. S/NVQ level 3

   This refers to either the Scottish Vocational Qualification or the National Vocational Qualification at level 3. A qualification at this level is one that shows competence that involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of varied work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts, most of which are complex and non-routine. There is considerable responsibility and autonomy and control or guidance of others is often required.

2. Salary

   A regular payment by your employer for the work you have done.

3. Scheduled carriers

   These are carriers (usually of passengers) that operate on fixed routes and to fixed schedules.

4. Sectors-based scheme

   The sectors based scheme allows United Kingdom based employers to recruit Bulgarian and Romanian nationals only, to fill certain, specified posts within the food manufacturing sector. Currently, for non-Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, the scheme operates in the food manufacturing and hospitality sectors if you are applying to extend or change your job.  It only covers those posts within a given sector that are recognised as hard to fill within the United Kingdom. 

5. Self-sufficient

   Have enough money to support and house yourself without needing to seek help from the social assistance system. You will normally need to show you have comprehensive sickness insurance to pay for any medical treatment you may need in the United Kingdom.

6. Semaphore

   Project Semaphore was a pilot project to help us develop e-Borders programme (see also e-Borders) Semaphore received advance information on passengers from carriers on journeys to and from airports outside the United Kingdom Semaphore will continue until August 2009, when it will be replaced by the e-Borders programme.

7. Service of a European Community institution

   A parent's service under a European Community institution may be considered when deciding whether or not a child born outside the United Kingdom qualifies for British citizenship. The list may change from time to time but currently includes the Commission of the European Communities (European Commission), European Parliament, Council of Ministers, European Court of Justice, European Investment Bank, Court of Auditors, Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions.

8. Settled

   You are normally resident in the United Kingdom with no immigration restriction on the length of your stay. To be free of immigration restriction you must have the right of abode or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.

9. Settled status

   You are normally resident in the United Kingdom with no immigration restriction on the length of your stay. To be free of immigration restriction you must have the right of abode or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.

10. Settled worker

    A person who is a national of the European Economic Area or is legally settled in the United Kingdom with permission to work here. In some cases, an employer who wants to employ a person who is not a permanent resident must show that no settled worker could be found to take the job.

11. Shortage occupation list

    The official list of jobs that there are not enough resident workers to fill. Employers who wish to hire a worker from outside the European Economic Area to fill a vacancy that is on a list of shortage occupations may do so without carrying out a resident labour market test.

12. Shortage occupations

    Specific types of work that have been officially listed as ones for which there are not enough resident workers to fill available jobs. Employers who wish to hire a worker from outside the European Economic Area to fill a vacancy that is on a list of shortage occupations may do so without carrying out a resident labour market test.

13. Small sponsor

    An organisation that qualifies as a small company in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, or if you are a charity.

14. Sole trader

    A self-employed person who operates a business under his/her own name, receives all the profit and bears all the losses of the business, and is personally responsible for all debts.

15. Sound mind

    Having the ability to make your own decisions and have some understanding of the meaning and consequences of the action you are taking.

16. Spent convictions

    Convictions for criminal offences may become 'spent' after specified periods of time from the date of conviction if there are no further convictions during that time. Spent convictions will  be disregarded for certain purposes. They will not normally be taken into account when assessing whether someone is of good character. Convictions that are not yet spent are known as unspent convictions and will be taken into account when assessing good character.

17. Sponsor duties

    The responsibilities organisations have when they sponsor migrants under the points-based system. The duties are record keeping, reporting, compliance, co-operating with us and tier specific duties.

18. Sponsor licence number

    The number you are given by us when you are added to the register of organisations that wish to sponsor migrants under the points-based system.

19. Sponsor licensing unit

    The unit that makes all decisions on applications to join the register of organisation wishing to sponsor migrants under the points-based system. It awards licences, including the rating.

20. Sponsor management and compliance procedures

    Any procedure to ensure sponsors comply with their duties when sponsoring migrants under the points-based system.

21. Sponsored skilled worker

    A migrant supported by an employer to work in the United Kingdom in a job at S or NVQ level 3 or above.

22. Sponsorship compliance officers

    These are also called visiting staff and are any person from our sponsor management unit who will help sponsors comply with their duties when sponsoring migrants under the points-based system.

23. Sponsorship duties

    The responsibilities organisations have when they sponsor migrants under the points-based system. The duties are record keeping, reporting, compliance, co-operating with us and tier specific duties.

24. Sponsorship management system

    An IT system used by organisations that sponsor migrants under the points-based system. It allows sponsors to allocate certificates of sponsorship to migrants, carry out the administrative functions necessary to comply with their sponsor obligations and duties, and communicate information to us.

25. Spot exchange rate

    The price that a buyer expects to pay for one foreign currency when buying it in another currency for delivery immediately. The closing spot exchange rate is the rate that is current at the time the market stops trading for the day.

26. Stakeholder relationship manager

    This is the person we assign as our main point of contact with carriers while we are introducing our e-Borders programme.

27. Standalone testing

    The tests a carrier must perform on its interface with our e-Borders systems before we will allow it to connect to our systems.

28. Stateless

    Someone who is not considered as a national by any country under the terms of its laws.

29. Stock exchange

    An exchange on which shares of stock and common stock equivalents are bought and sold.

30. Student category

    Tier 4 of the points based system allows educational institutions to recruit students from outside the European Economic Area to study in the United Kingdom. 

31. Submission sheet

    This is a document used by organisations that wish to sponsor migrants under the points-based system. It must be printed off after making the application to join the register of sponsors online, and sent to us with payment and supporting documents.

32. Supporting documents

    The documents we require as evidence for what you write on your application form.

33. Switching

    Apply for permission to extend your stay in the United Kingdom in another category without leaving the country.

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