Author8th August 2022 | Emma Peacock | Global Mobility, International Presence, Immigration
Some far-reaching business immigration visa changes have come into force this year and Summer 2022 sees the latest expansion of visa routes into the UK. Emma Peacock, Immigration Partner highlights the Global Business mobility Visa in this handy article.
Introduced in April 2022, this route provides various ways for an overseas business to operate in the UK with 5 categories which include:
- Senior or Specialist Worker – for a senior overseas manager or specialist employee, located outside the UK undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK business linked to their employer overseas. Particularly useful where an applicant cannot meet the English Language requirements for a Skilled Worker application.
- UK Expansion Worker visa – allowing an individual to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business, as either a senior manager or a specialist employee.
- Secondment Worker visa – a new route for overseas workers being seconded to the UK as part of a high value contract (at least £10m per annum and at least £50m overall) by their overseas employer.
- Graduate Trainee visa – (previously the ICT Graduate Trainee visa category) – allowing staff working at a connected group company on a graduate scheme to come to the UK as part of their training/graduate placement, with a view to them taking up a senior management or specialist position outside the UK.
- Service Supplier visa – for overseas workers who are either contractual service suppliers employed by an overseas service provider, or a self-employed independent professional and providing services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
In all cases, the business needs to apply for the sponsor licence and meet strict compliance and audit responsibilities in the usual way.
None of the routes lead to settlement and if this is being contemplated, then longer term options such as the Skilled Worker sponsor application should be considered.
To find out more about Global Business Mobility visas, click here to speak to Immigration Partner Emma Peacock.
For other articles in the series, click here to read:
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