Global Business Mobility Visa
The Changes to the Immigration Rules
The Home Office has recently published its updated Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, with changes phasing in from the 6th of April 2022, bringing about changes such as the new Global Business Mobility Routes.
From the 11th of April, the new Immigration Rules introduce new Global Business Mobility Routes. The purpose is for overseas businesses to establish their business in the UK. In doing so, they can transfer staff over to the UK for business purposes. Additionally, the routes allow family members to apply as dependants. The routes allow family members to apply as dependants. The Global Business Mobility Route does not provide a route to permanent settlement in the UK.
The route consists of the following five subcategories:
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa – Global Business Mobility Route
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is intended for Senior Managers or specialist employees who are assigned to a UK Business linked to their employers overseas. This route replaces the Intra-Company Transfer visa.
What are the Requirements?
- There is no English Language requirement.
- Additionally, applicants must meet the required skill level.
- Additionally, the minimum general annual salary threshold will increase from £41,500 to £42,400.
- Finally, the applicant must have worked for the overseas entity for at least 12 months unless earning an annual salary of £73,900. In this case, you will not need to meet the twelve-month employment requirement.
Read more about Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
Graduate Trainee Visa – Global Business Mobility Route
This route is designed for applicants who are currently on a graduate training course that may lead to Senior Management or a specialist position and who are required to do a work placement in the United Kingdom.
What are the Requirements?
- The minimum salary threshold will increase from £23,000 to £23,1000 per annum.
UK Expansion Worker Visa – Global Business Mobility Route
The UK Expansion Worker Route is intended for senior managers or specialist employees who are assigned to the UK to undertake work relating to a business’s expansion. As a result, the Government will grant permission for an initial twelve-month stay with the opportunity to extend this for up to two years.
What are the Requirements?
- Applicants require sponsorship from a business in the UK that has a sponsor licence. This business must not have started trading yet. Additionally, the business must be a subsidiary of an overseas business that is expanding to the UK.
- The applicant’s salary must meet the minimum general salary threshold of £42,400 per annum, or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
- Finally, the applicant must also have been working for the overseas business for at least twelve months. Exceptions are if the applicant is a high earner or is a Japanese national coming to the UK under requirements set by the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Service Supplier Visa – Global Business Mobility Route
The Service Supplier route is for applicants looking to undertake a temporary work assignment in the UK. Therefore, the worker must be a contractual service supplier, employed by an independent professional based overseas. Alternatively, the worker must be a self-employed independent professional based overseas and must undertake an assignment in the UK. Therefore, the worker must provide services covered by one of the UK’s international trade commitments.
Your sponsor must be authorised by the Home Office to sponsor a Service Supplier and must have a contract with an overseas service provider, where that contract has been registered with the Home Office, and on which an applicant as a Service Supplier will work.
Under the Service Supplier route, workers can stay for a maximum of 6 or 12 months, depending on the type of agreement under which they are providing services.
What are the Requirements?
- The applicant’s job must sponsor them. This job needs to have an occupation code listed in the Appendix for Skilled Occupations to be eligible for the Global Business Mobility route.
- Alternatively, the applicant must have a university degree or equivalent level technical qualification.
Secondment Worker Visa – Global Business Mobility Route
The Secondment Worker route allows individuals to take on temporary work assignments. During their assignment they are ‘being seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their employers overseas’. As a result, the Secondment Worker route allows for individuals to come to the UK for 12 months. The visa can extend by a further 12 months; the maximum time that can be spent under this category is 2 years.
What are the Requirements?
- Applicants will require sponsorship from a business in the UK. This business must already have a sponsor licence.
- Additionally, the applicant must have twelve months of prior service with the overseas business.
- Finally, you must register the contract between the UK company and the overseas business with the Home Office.
How Cartwright King’s Solicitors’ Immigration Lawyers Can Help You
We can help educate you or your business in every aspect of compliance, so you never fall foul of the small print.
Our immigration solicitors are here to guide you through, what can be a complex UK immigration process. Get in touch and see how we can support you or your business by ensuring you comply with the changing immigration laws.