The senior or specialist worker route is for senior managers and specialist employees being assigned to a UK business that’s linked to their employer overseas and wish to do an assignment in the UK. This will allow the said worker to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at their employer’s UK branch. This visa has replaced the Intra-company Transfer (ICT) visa, previously the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify for a Global Business Mobility, you must:

• be aged 18 or over.

• currently working as an existing (12 months) employee of an organisation approved by the Home Office as a sponsor.

• If you’re earning more than £73,900 a year, there is no minimum time requirement.

• Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your issued UK sponsor.

• Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations: you need to know its 4-digit occupation code, which can be found from your employer or certificate of sponsorship.

• The job must be genuine and is skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (graduate equivalent).

• Have a salary over £45,800 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job – whichever is higher.

• have sufficient money to be able to support yourself without reliance on public funds.

• Have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

 

If application is successful, you can stay in the UK with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa for:
     - the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
     - or 5 years after the start date detailed on the certificate of sponsorship

 

Whichever is shorter.

 

The maximum total stay allowed for a Senior and Specialist Worker visa is:
     - 5 years in any 6 year period if you’re paid less than £73,900 a year.
     - 9 years in any 10 year period if you’re paid £73,900 a year or more.

 

Any time spent in the UK on one of the following visas will be included in your total maximum stay:

• Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa

• Intra-company Transfer visa

• Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)

• Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

• Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

• Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)

• UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

 

For example, if you have worked in the UK on a Senior or Specialist Worker visa for 3 years, but for the last 6 months you have been working outside the UK on less than £73,900 a year.

 

Your maximum stay in the UK on a Global Business Mobility is 2 years. You would also need to spend another 6 months outside the UK before you would be eligible for a Global Business Mobility visa.

 

If you had a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) long-term staff visa before 6 April 2011 on any of the following visas:

• Tier 2 (intra-company Transfer) Long term staff visa

• Intra-company Transfer visa

• Senior or Specialist worker visa.

 

Annual Salary

You must be paid at least £45,800 or the ‘going rate’ for your job - whichever is higher.

 

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the Global Business Mobility: going rates for eligible occupations.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications are online only and are dependent on your status whether:

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• You are outside the UK and are coming to the UK.

 

When you apply, you will need to provide:
  - Certificate of sponsorship reference number
  - Valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
  - Your job title and annual salary
  - Your job’s occupation code
  - Name of employer and their sponsor licence number
  - Evidence that you have enough personal savings in the form of bank statements (unless your      certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you).
  - Proof of your relationship with your partner or children, if they are applying with you.

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• Inside the UK and you want to extend your stay as a Senior or Specialist Worker.

 

You can apply to extend if:

   - you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
   - your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
   - you are still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship.
   - you have not reached the maximum total stay

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• Inside the UK and switching from a visa.

 

HOW MUCH IT COSTS:

You will need to:

• have enough money to pay the application fee – the standard fee ranges from £625 to £1423 depending on your circumstances.

• Pay healthcare surcharge – this is usually £624 per year

• Support yourself when you arrive in the UK – you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available for 28 consecutive days.

 

If you will be in the UK for:

• Up to 3 years - £625 per person

• More than 3 years - £1,235 per person

 

TIME FRAME:

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the date listed on your certificate of sponsorship. Proof of identity and documents must be provided.

 

You will get a decision within:

3 weeks if you are outside the UK.
8 weeks if you are inside the UK.

 

WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH A SENIOR OR SPECIALIST WORKER VISA:

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What you can do:

• Work for your sponsor

• Bring your partner and children with you as ‘dependents’, if eligible.

• Do voluntary work

• Travel abroad and return to the UK

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What you cannot do:

• Apply for most benefits, public funds, or the State pension

• Change jobs unless you are eligible and you update your visa

• Have a second job – unless you’ve previously had an Intra-company Transfer visa or a Tier 2 Long term Staff visa

• Apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

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We have extensive experience in handling all immigration matters. To discuss about your UK Senior or Speciality Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility) application with one of our immigration Solicitors, please contact us on 01279 312185 or submit our enquiry form given below.