With effect from April 2011, the new UK ‘Highly Skilled’ Tier would be introduced. This new type of visa has replaced the Tier 1 General Visa, which was known as the Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP). The UK Border Agency has stopped accepting Tier 1 (General) applications made from overseas since 23 December 2010.

Under the new Highly Skilled Tier Visa, entry in the UK would be open for entrepreneurs, investors and limited people under exceptional talent category. The new Tier 1 immigration system will concentrate on businessmen and people such as top scientists, artists and sports persons

Thus, from April 2011, only the limited few Entrepreneurs and Investors and people with Skilled Talents would only qualify under the new Highly Skilled Tier Visa and would make it to the UK.

The much awaited and anticipated changes in the UK immigration system have been clarified by the UK Government. As per The UK Border Agency (UKBA), changes that took place in April 2011 include a permanent immigration cap on skilled immigration, a new exceptional talent visa and new criteria for skilled workers with a job offer and intra-company transfers. Furthermore, significant changes in the rules for sponsoring non-EU workers would also come in effect.

It was brought forth that the Tier 1 General skilled immigration visa would end with effect from April 6’ 2011 and a new ‘Exceptional Talent’ visa would be introduced in its place. The UKBA confirmed that with effect from April’6’ 2011, an annual limit of 1,000 visa would be in place for the ‘exceptional talent’ visa category and for Tier 2 visa the annual limit is decided at 20,700.

Clarifying further, the UKBA announced that the total of Tier 2 visa would be divided into 12 monthly quotas of 1,500 places. Also, after the certificate of sponsorship has been granted to the employer, the same is to be assigned to the prospective employer within a span of 3 months. The new laid rules also put forth that the employers would be required to apply for the certificate of sponsorship from the UKBA for a specific post. Currently, an annual allocation of certificates of sponsorship is practiced.

Under the Tier 2 visa, all the Non- EU workers would be eligible if they are working in a graduate level job in the UK, speak at intermediate level English and meet certain salary and employment requirements.

Some changes in the Tier 2 visa intra-company transfer route are also on the cards like the applicants applying under this visa type must be in an occupation on the graduate occupation list. Also, the worker must be in an occupation that pays more than £40,000 per year, in case he intends to stay in the UK for more than one year. A three-year visa with a possibility of extending the visa for another two years is applicable for the workers who earn more than £40,000 a year.

However, no cap has been placed on the number of workers that can enter the UK though Tier 2 visa intra-company transfer route.

The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa category allows the senior representative to travel to the UK in order to establish the company in the form of registering the company, conducting business matters, opening offices and acting as the sole representative of said company.

This visa is favorable for growing international businesses that have no presence in the UK and are looking for an access to European markets without any trade barriers. Since this program involves no investment requirement, it is often seen as a more flexible option than the Entrepreneur visa.

The United Kingdom – Quick Facts

• Capital – London
• Passport Rank – 8^th
• Population – 65 Million
• Language – English

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT

In order to qualify for a Sole Representative of an overseas business visa, you need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that your overseas company sending you to UK fulfills the following criteria:

• It must be a genuine company, incorporated overseas and established for a min of one year.
• Sending the employee must be for the company’s benefit.
• The budget allocated for UK expansion should be realistic keeping in mind the company’s size, nature of business & its revenue.
• When the visa is granted & the employee comes to work on behalf of the company in the UK, the majority of company’s business must always be conducted out of the UK.

WHICH EMPLOYEE QUALIFIES AS A SOLE REPRESENTATIVE?

To qualify for a Sole Representative visa, applicants must fulfill the following eligibility criteria,

• The applicant must hold a senior position within the company but not be major shareholder. You can be recruited and employed outside the UK by a company whose headquarter of business are outside UK.
• Applicant may hold senior position in the company and have full authority to make decisions on its behalf. However, the employee cannot be an owner or a manger & cannot own more than 49% of company’s business.
• You can be recruited and employed outside the UK by company headquarters of business are outside the UK
• Meet the English Language requirement with at least CEFR level A1 or having an academic qualification taught in English and is recognized by UK NARIC

VISA EXTENSION FOR SOLE

The overseas representative visa lasts for a period of three years and can be extended after this. The extension lasts for a further two years. After the holder has been in the U.K for a total period of five years, they can then apply for permission to settle permanently in the United Kingdom.

INVESTMENT OPTIONS

• Investment Amount: Depending on Business Requirement. GBP 50,000 and above.
• IELTS – 5 Bands and above are required.

WWICS – OFFERING EXPERT GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT ON SOLE REPRESENTATIVE VISA

WWICS provides guidance for applicants looking to obtain Sole Representative Visa and will assist you throughout the application process right from first consultation till the granting of the visa as well as visa extensions.

STEP 1 – Client will Sign the Contract with WWICS, makes the Initial payment

STEP 2 – WWICS does the preliminary check on applicants’ profile and provides the basic due diligence report to client. WWICS staff will release the necessary documents checklist and application forms to client

STEP 3 – Complete file preparation and reviewing of documents

STEP 4 – Preparation of business plan and submission to UK authority

STEP 5 –   Invitation for Interview Received (if required by UK authority)

STEP 6 – Attend interview if required

STEP 7 – Client received visa sanction confirmation

STEP 8 – Client received the Sole Rep Visa after 3 weeks of Visa Sanction time

Being a part of the European Economic Area (EEA) the United Kingdom permits free passage to the EEA nationals between Member States. An economically functioning EEA national who resides in the UK, or who intends to reside in the UK, may sponsor a dependent Child, Fiancé (e), Grandchild, Great Grandchild, Grandparent, Great Grandparent, Parent or Unmarried partner.

Dependents of Non-EEA nationals exercising their Treaty Rights in the UK may be eligible for a maximum period of five (5) year residence family permit. The EEA Family Visa allows the visa holder to live, work and study liberally in the UK.

On fulfillment of additional criteria, the applicant may eventually be eligible to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British Nationality.

EEA Family Visa Basic Requirements

To qualify for an EEA Citizen Family visa there are certain prerequisites set by the UK Immigration Authorities that must be met.

In the case of spouses/partners, the sponsor and the dependent must be at least 18 years and in a genuine relationship.

In the case of other family members the applicants must demonstrate that they are dependent on their EEA relative.

EEA Family Visa Entitlements

Validity period of the EEA Family visa varies consequently to the information submitted to show how long the EEA family member will practise their Treaty Rights in the UK. The maximum duration of validity is five (5) years.

On completion of five (5) years in the UK and satisfying the requirements, the EEA Family visa holder becomes eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR entitles individuals to permanent residency in as well as visa-free travel to and from the UK. ILR holders may be eligible to apply for British citizenship and also be able to sponsor their non-British relatives into the UK.

Visa holders under this category are permitted to work and study in the UK without any restriction.

Partner Visa

Partners (husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partners) of British citizens and persons settled in the UK may apply for temporary visits. The Partner Visa program may extend the possibilities for the applicant to become a permanent resident of the UK

Partner Visa Basic Requirements

The most important eligibility criteria to acquire Partner Visa is to be an eligible partner of a UK citizen or to be an eligible partner of a permanent resident currently living or who intends to reside permanently in the UK.

An eligible partner, as per the UK Partner visa regulations is a spouse (husband, wife or civil partner), unmarried or same-sex partner, or fiancé (e) or proposed civil partner.

Partner visa applicants must meet certain criteria like minimum age, English language proficiency, and accommodation & maintenance (funds) requirements during the stay. The applicants have to prove the existence and sincerity of their relationship. Additionally, certain health and character requirements may also need to be furnished.

Partner Visa Entitlements

A Partner visa entitles the holder to arrive in the UK and live with their partner for an initial probationary period. The probationary period may vary depending on the type of relationship.

• Spouse: Applicants are permitted a stay of 33 months. After the initial probationary period, they may apply for a further leave to remain for another 30 months. Holding a visa for a total of 60 months under this program, qualifies the visa holders to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
• Unmarried or same-sex partner: Initial probationary period is 33 months after which the visa holder may apply for an additional 30 months of leave to remain. Holding a visa for a total of 60 months under this program, qualifies the visa holders to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
• Fiance (e) or proposed civil partner: Visa under this category, entitles the applicant to stay in the UK for 6 months. During the initial stay of 6 months, the applicant must marry or undertake a Civil Partnership Registration with their partner. After the formal procedure, the visa holder may apply for a Partner visa as a Spouse. This visa program doesn’t permit the visa holder to work in the UK.

Dependent and unmarried children under 18 years of age may be included on the visa application to accompany their parent/s to the UK.

United Kingdom, the birthplace of the Shakespeare and The Beatles is a majestic place to live, work and explore. A globally influential centre of culture and finance, UK is also the site of neolithic Stonehenge, Bath’s Roman spa and centuries-old veteran universities at Cambridge and Oxford. Anyone planning to pay a short visit to the idyllic nation of United Kingdom to study, seek business opportunities, explore the historic locales or get a medical treatment must apply for a UK visitor visa.

Basic Requirements:-

There are certain basic requirements that must be fulfilled by individuals in order to be considered for a UK Visitor visa:-

• You shall leave the geographical boundaries of the UK at the end of your visit.
• You have enough funds to support your stay in the nation without having to work or seek help from the public funds.
• You will be able to pay for your return or journey onwards and any other costs associated with your visit.
• You shall conduct business activities in the nation that are only allowed by the Visitor Rules

Extended stay

All visitors to the United Kingdom, whether for social, business or study related reasons, can only stay in the nation for a period of six months. However, if you have been granted a visitor permit for less than six months, then you can file an application for extension for up to six months in total. Individuals from certain nationalities have the liberty of applying for different visa types to extend their trip in the UK.

There are many other situations, wherein individuals may be able to stay for longer. These may be cases if:-

• You shall leave the geographical boundaries of the UK at the end of your visit. you have applied (and paid an extra fee) for a long-term visit visa and prove that you need to pay a visit the nation on a regular basis over a longer period of time
• you are coming to the nation for a private medical treatment – up to a period of 11 months
• you are an academic on sabbatical and visiting the nation for research work – you, your civil partner or spouse may also be able to stay in the UK for up to a period of 12 months.

Long Term UK Visitor Visa If you are applying for a long-term UK visitor visa, then you must prove that:-

• you have an ongoing and frequent need to visit the UK,
• the reason behind your consistent visit to the UK is unlikely to change while your visitor visa stands valid
• you plan to leave the nation at the end of each visit.

Application Requirements

In order to make an application for a UK Visitor Visa, you will need:-

• a duly completed VAF1- Non-settlement application form
• two recent passport sized photocopies, 45 mm x 35 mm in size with a white background
• pay the visa fee (generally non-refundable in nature). The fee is usually required to be paid in the local currency of the country where the application shall be filed.

Processing Times

An individual can apply for a UK visitor visa up to three months prior to the intended date of travel. A decision on the visa application, in general, is given within three weeks. However, some visas may take longer than usual to process. These situations may arise in case the application is incomplete, the supporting documents submitted are incomplete or irrelevant, or the information furnished is false. Let WWICS Global Law Offices, a leading immigration consultant, serve you and be your facilitator to immigrate to the UK. Pay a visit to our relevant links for extensive information about visitor visas and immigration to UK, in general.

A flourishing business culture of the United Kingdom attracts investors from across the globe. It is obvious that individual businesspersons may want to visit the UK for short periods. Purpose of such trips may be to negotiate the terms of a contract with individuals or firms in the UK, to perform research in relevant business sectors, or to attend conferences. This category of visa is also for doctors and dentists undertaking clinical attachments or clinical observer posts, or for the practitioners intending to take the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test.

The Business Visitor category of visa is also applicable to sportsmen and entertainers willing to stay in the UK for a short period and fulfill their performance assignments.

Business Visitor Visa Basic Requirements

Before applying for the Business visitor visa category, the applicants must fulfill certain basic requirements. Applicants must express that the intent of their visit is to attend meetings or conferences, arrange deals, negotiate or sign trade agreement or contracts, visit sites, carry out promotional activities, and conduct other business activities relevant to their venture.

Business personnel applying for the visa under this category are permitted to stay in the UK for a maximum of six (6) months. The applicants must establish his financial capability to support themselves during their stay and the ability to meet the cost of their onward journey. If necessary, the applicants may be allowed to seek monetary support from friends and family. They must not engage in any form of paid or unpaid employment in the UK.

Business Visitor Visa Entitlements

This visa entitles holders to visit the UK for up to a maximum of six (6) months; permitting them to conduct their business activities. They may also be allowed multiple entries during the applicable period of six (6) months. Visa holders may apply for an extension of their visa, given that the total duration of their stay in the UK is less than six (6) months.

Business Visitor visa entitles the holders to carry out the permitted business activities as described in the visa application as long as they’re employed and paid by a company based outside of the United Kingdom.

UK Child Visitor visa is applicable to candidates under the age of 18 years who intend to travel to the UK to visit their UK based friends and family. Applicants may travel on own or they may choose to be accompanied by a designated guardian.

The applicants must prove to the UK Immigration Authorities that suitable arrangements have been organised for their reception in the UK and for their care during the stay. Also, they must prove that they have a parent or guardian, in their home country, otherwise responsible for their care.

Child Visitor Visa Basic Requirements

To qualify under the Child Visitor visa category there are some prerequisites that must be met.

The applicants must be aged less than 18 years and they may visit the UK only for a maximum of six (6) months. Applicants are required to show that they will be accommodated and they must be able to financially support themselves (with the support of friends and family) during their stay in the UK. Applying candidates must demonstrate their ability to meet the cost of their onward journey. The Child Visitor visa does not allow the visa holders to take up any paid or unpaid employment in the UK.

Visa regulations under this category require the candidates to furnish details of the accompanying individual at the time of lodging their application. If granted, details of the accompanying individuals are endorsed on the child’s visa. In specific scenarios, a visa holder found to be travelling without the endorsed individual might have their visa cancelled.

Child Visitor Visa Entitlements

This visa permits the successful applicants to visit the UK for up to a maximum of six (6) months and experience the life and culture in the UK. They may also be allowed multiple entries during the six (6) month period.

The United Kingdom hosts some of the highest quality health care facilities in the world. UK hospitals, doctors, and medical research centers are globally known for quality and technology.

The UK Government is always striving to extend their medical provisions to individuals from other countries. Visa under Private Medical Treatment Visitor category is regulated to facilitate provision of the United Kingdom’s advanced medical treatment and care to the world.

Medical Visitor Visa Basic Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria for a general Visitor visa and in addition show that their proposed treatment is for a pre-stipulated duration. Evidence of the medical condition, the estimated costs of the treatment, and the applicant’s ability to meet those costs must be demonstrated in the application.

Medical Visitor Visa Entitlements

This visa entitles holders to visit the UK for up to a maximum of six (6) months. During their stay, the visa holders are entitled to undertake the required course of treatment and they may be allowed multiple entries during the approved validity period.

The UK is extremely diverse in its landscape and has a wealth of culture, history, and scenic beauty that attracts tourists from all over the world. A Tourist Visa allows the applicants to visit the country without having to prove that they have friends or family in the UK.

All applicants in this category must prove to the UK Immigration Authorities that they can financially maintain and accommodate themselves in the UK without resorting to public funding or working.

Tourist Visa Basic Requirements

Any applicant aged 18 years or above, intending to visit the UK for leisure, may qualify for a Tourist visa.

Applicants must visit the UK only for a maximum of six (6) months. They must establish that they will be able to financially support themselves and be able to meet the cost of their onward journey. An applicant is permitted to receive financial support from friends and family but they must not take up any paid or unpaid employment in the UK.

Tourist Visa Entitlements

The Tourist visa entitles the holders to visit the UK for up to a maximum of six (6) months purely for leisure activities, allowing them to experience life and culture in the UK. The visa holders may be allowed multiple entries to the UK during the stipulated period of six (6) months.

A Sports visitor visa is for sports people, support staff, and officials who want to visit the UK to participate in a sporting event, competition, or related activity.

If the applicants are considered employed (paid or unpaid) for their visit or those who do not meet the sports visitor visa requirements, they may apply for a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa or Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa.

Sports Visitor Visa Requirements

The applicants must be at least 18 years of age and they must be participating in a sporting event, competition, or related activity in the UK.

Sporting activities permitted under this category are:

 

• Participating in a charity, exhibition or competitive sports event, tournament, or series of events;
• Enter an amateur sports team;
• Attendance at a personal or promotional nonsense;
• Negotiating a contract or sponsorship deal;
• Participating in a trial or short period of training, either as part of a sporting team or as an individual sportsman.

Sportspeople, their officials, and support staff visiting the UK, are not allowed to be paid or sell goods or services to members of the public.

Visitor visa is granted for a maximum 6 months. The applicants are required to show that they have sufficient funds to support their stay in the UK and their return or onward journey.

Visitor visa applicants may also be required to fulfill certain health and character requirements.

Sports Visitor Visa Entitlements

A Sports visitor visa entitles the holder to participate in sporting event, competition, or related event in the UK. This category of visa is valid for up to 6 months and visa holders are expected to leave the UK at the end of their pre-stipulated duration of stay. In some instances, it might be possible to switch to a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa category of the points-based system.

A visitor visa does not entitle the holder to indulge in any financially gainful activity in the UK. It implies that the visa holders may not receive payment for their nonsense in the UK or involve in trading any goods to the public