UK Expansion Worker Visas

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UK Expansion Worker Visas

A UK Expansion Worker visa permits a business professional to come to the UK and set up a new branch of an overseas business. Eligible companies can sponsor one of their specialist workers or senior managers to take on work in the UK that’s related to the company expansion.

IBB Law’s business immigration solicitors are experts in UK Expansion Worker visas. With our in-depth knowledge and specialism, we can improve your chances of a successful Expansion Worker visa application.

Our solicitors provide tailor-made support throughout each stage of the application process. We can help you to ensure that a UK Expansion Worker visa is right for you, advise you on alternative immigration routes and offer legal advice if your application has been refused.

Our lawyers work with clients from across the world and can offer Expansion Worker visa guidance for a range of different circumstances. With our help, you’ll have the best chance of securing a UK Expansion Worker visa.

Not sure if a UK Expansion Worker visa is right for you? We can help with all other types of UK work visas.

Complete support for UK Expansion Worker visas

Our immigration experts at IBB Law can offer UK Expansion Worker visa advice on a range of circumstances, including:

  • Assessing your eligibility for a UK Expansion Worker visa
  • Preparing supporting documents for your visa application
  • Assistance to make a UK Expansion Worker visa application
  • Guidance with UK Expansion Worker visa rejections and refusals
  • Renewing a UK Expansion Worker visa application

Why choose IBB Law for help with applying for a UK Expansion Worker visa?

The UK immigration experts at IBB Law can offer you:

  • In-depth knowledge of UK Immigration laws, policies and procedures.
  • Hands on support from experts who keep up-to-date with developments in the law so that you always receive practical and accurate advice.
  • A cost-effective and timely service with great attention to detail.
  • Independently accredited immigration expertise with our team being ranked by leading client guide the Legal 500 for Immigration Law.

Looking for immediate help with a UK Expansion Worker visa application?

If you need expert advice and support with a UK Expansion Worker visa application, our highly experienced business immigration team will be happy to assist.

To discuss your situation with our industry-leading business immigration solicitors, you can call us on 03456 381381 or email immigrationteam@ibblaw.co.uk.

How to apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa

In this guide you can find more information on the following key areas:

What is a UK Expansion Worker visa?

Using a UK Expansion Worker visa, business professionals can come to the UK to set up a subsidiary or branch of an overseas company. To apply for the visa, you must be working for the company in question as a specialist employee or a senior manager.

The visa is part of the Global Business Mobility scheme, which allows employees to complete work in the UK to expand an overseas company. Those who sponsor such businesses can send up to five employees at one time.

Who can apply for an Expansion Worker visa?

Expansion Worker visas have certain eligibility requirements. As a candidate, you will need to prove to UK Visas and Immigration that:

  • You have been working outside of the UK for the organisation or business in question for at least 12 months.
  • You are working for a company or organisation that is linked to their UK sponsor in terms of control or common ownership.
  • You must have obtained a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job you’ll be doing.
  • The role you’re undertaking in the UK is rated at RQF Level 6 (which is graduate equivalent).
  • Under some circumstances, there are exceptions to the above rule (for example, if you’re earning over £73,900 per year).
  • The salary that you’ll receive must exceed or be equal to £42,400 per year.
  • The role you are taking on must be on the list of eligible UK occupations.
  • You must be able to support yourself financially with no need to access public funds.

How do I get an Expansion Worker visa?

To get an Expansion Worker visa, you’ll need to complete the application forms, provide the correct supporting documents, prove your identity and cover the fees. When you are going through the application stages, it’s best to gain the support of a business immigration solicitor.

To complete the application, you’ll need supporting documents, including:

  • Your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
  • Your annual salary and your job title
  • The occupation code for your job
  • Your passport or another document that proves your nationality and identity
  • Your employer’s name and sponsor licence number
  • Proof of your relationship with your children or partner (if you are bringing dependants with you).
  • Evidence that you can financially support yourself in the UK

How long can I stay in the UK on an Expansion Worker visa?

If you obtain a UK Expansion Worker visa, you will have permission to remain in the UK for one of the following timeframes (whichever of the two is shorter):

  • 12 months from the job start date shown on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • The time period indicated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days.

Can my family members come with me on an Expansion Worker visa?

Yes, Expansion Worker visa holders can bring their family members as dependants, so long as they meet the eligibility requirements as follows:

  • You and your partner must be in a marriage, civil partnership or have been living together in a relationship for two years.
  • If your child is over 16 years old, they must be living with you (unless they are currently staying at university, college or boarding school).
  • Your child must be financially supported by you and they must not have any children, be married or in a civil partnership.

Can an Expansion Worker visa be extended?

It is possible to extend your UK Expansion Worker visa by 12 months if the following circumstances apply:

  • The role you are working in has the same occupation code as when you were initially granted your Expansion Worker visa.
  • You are still working in the same job as when you were first granted permission to work and stay in the UK.
  • You must still be working for the same employer who initially provided you with your Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • You have not yet reached the maximum total stay of 2 years.

How long can you extend an Expansion Worker visa?

You can extend an Expansion Worker visa by 12 months. The maximum amount of time that you can stay in the UK on this type of visa is two years.

Is an Expansion Worker visa permanent residence?

The Expansion Worker visa is part of the Global Business Mobility scheme and these routes do not lead to permanent residence in the UK. If individuals would like to take up permanent residence in the UK, they will need to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, involving a lengthy and complicated process.

For more Expansion Worker visa guidance or more information, get in touch with our expert business immigration solicitors at IBB Law.

How can a business gain sponsor approval for the UK Expansion Worker route?

If a business would like to send staff members to the UK to set up a new branch, the business will first need to gain a sponsor licence.

Businesses who would like to sponsor workers under the UK Expansion Worker scheme need to meet certain requirements, including:

  • A presence trading overseas
  • Evidence of a UK premises to trade
  • Evidence of a credible business plan and finances

Once a business has been granted a sponsorship licence, that licence is valid for a period of 4 years. After the 4-year period has passed, that business will have the opportunity to renew their sponsorship licence, if necessary.

What are the sponsorship fees for businesses?

Organisations applying for a sponsorship licence incur a fee of £536. The visa fees are £259 per applicant and there is a healthcare surcharge of £624 per year.

How long does it take to get an Expansion Worker visa?

Applicants can apply for an Expansion Worker visa 3 months before they are due to begin working in the UK. The correct date will be listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship. You’ll need to provide supporting documents and prove your identity as part of the process. Under some circumstances you may need to attend an appointment to prove your identity.

Once you’ve completed your online application and proved your identity, you should get a decision about your visa in 8 weeks if you are currently in the UK or 3 weeks if you are currently outside of the UK.

UK Expansion Worker visa fees

When you apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa, you’ll need to pay a £259 application fee plus a healthcare surcharge of £624 per year. When you arrive in the UK, you’ll need a minimum of £1,270 in your bank account and you’ll need to ensure that the money has been available for at least 28 days consecutively.

UK Expansion visa rejections and refusals

It’s certainly a big disappointment if your UK Expansion Worker visa application is rejected. Fortunately, our business immigration solicitors can offer Expansion Worker visa advice for those who’ve had their applications refused.

Our lawyers will conduct a thorough check of your application to understand the issues that lead to your refusal and help you to resolve them. Often, visa rejections are down to application errors, for example, failure to provide all of the correct supporting documents.

If there are no mistakes in your application and you believe that your visa has been incorrectly processed, we can guide you to pursue an administrative review of your application.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be refused if you do not meet the eligibility requirements. If this is the case, we can assist you to explore an alternative immigration route.

Alternatives to a UK Expansion Worker visa

The Global Business Mobility visa has several other immigration routes that include:

Service Supplier

If you are working as a self-employed individual overseas or offering a contractual service, you may be eligible to be transferred to the UK to work on a temporary basis.

Graduate Trainee

A graduate trainee visa is for overseas employees who would like to be seconded to the UK for a training-based graduate work placement. The placement must be a route to either a senior or a specialist management role.

Specialist Worker

The specialist worker route refers to an option for senior managers or specialist workers who’d like to take on temporary employment in the UK.

If none of the above routes are suitable, candidates might consider applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa. This is one of the most common visa types for people looking to live and work in the UK. Our solicitors can provide more information about this type of worker visa if required.

Get immediate expert advice on applying for a UK Expansion Worker visa

If you need expert advice and support with a UK Expansion Worker visa application, our highly experienced business immigration team will be happy to assist.

To discuss your situation with our industry-leading business immigration solicitors, you can call us on 03456 381381 or email immigrationteam@ibblaw.co.uk.

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