WH Solicitors
Global Mobility
The Secondment Worker visa is intended for overseas workers who are taking up a temporary work position in the UK as part of a high-value contract, investment, or project. This is a brand-new visa scheme that was launched by the Government alongside reforms to other types of Global Mobility Visa.
There are strict entry requirements for anyone who wishes to apply for a Secondment Worker visa. This makes it even more important to put forward the strongest possible application with supporting evidence to demonstrate exactly why you qualify and how you’ll be an asset to your employer and the organisation you’ll be on secondment to.
This guide explains more about the Global Business Mobility: Secondment Worker visa. Read on to learn more about how the experienced WH Solicitors team could help you to file a successful visa application.
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H2: What is the Global Business Mobility Visa Scheme?
On 15 March 2022, the UK Government launched a new set of visa schemes under the revised points-based immigration system. The Global Mobility visa scheme was established at this time, and provides skilled workers with a variety of routes to enter and work in the UK for a temporary period.
H2: Global Business Mobility Visa –Requirements for Secondment Workers
To qualify for a Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa, you will need to show that you meet the relevant requirements. You must:
- Get a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer with a sponsor licence from the Home Office.
- Have been approved for a secondment to a UK business or organisation that has a contract with your overseas employer for the work that you will do.
- Have worked for your overseas employer, or a member of the same business group, for at least 12 months before making an application.
- Have been sponsored for a job that is on the government’s list of eligible occupations.
- Be paid at least the minimum eligible salary for the role you are taking.
- Be able to show that you have sufficient funds to maintain yourself when you come to the UK.
H2: Getting a Certificate of Sponsorship
To get approved for a Secondment Worker visa, you will need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK business that has received a sponsorship licence from the Home Office. The sponsorship certificate will provide details of the work that you will do whilst in the UK, and show that your overseas employer is connected to the secondment business by common ownership or control.
In some cases, the Home Office may consider whether there is a genuine need for the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship. They may also wish to investigate the sponsor’s history with the immigration system to determine whether they are likely to comply with the relevant rules including those relating to pay and working conditions for migrant workers.
H2: Visa Conditions
Once you have been approved for a Secondment Worker visa, you will be able to stay in the UK for the shorter of either a period of 12 months, or for a maximum of 14 days longer than the date shown on your sponsorship certificate.
Whilst in the UK, you will be permitted to work for your sponsor in the job that is described on your certificate of sponsorship, start an educational course and study, bring your dependant partner, spouse or children to the UK if they are eligible, undertake voluntary or charity work, and travel overseas and return to the UK.
Secondment Worker visa holders are not permitted to do the following:
- apply for public funds, most benefits, or the State Pension;
- change to another job without updating their visa;
- take on a second job;
- apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain to stay in the UK permanently.
H2: How We Can Help
WH Solicitors is a specialist immigration law practice that offers expert advice and practical help that allows businesses and individual migrants to navigate the UK legal system. We make it easy for clients to apply for a visa and assist companies as they apply for a sponsorship licence.
For a personal, professional approach to immigration law, contact our expert team today by calling (+44) 01483 608 786 or by emailing contact@whsolicitors.co.uk.
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Secondment Worker Visa
FAQs
Yes, all Global Business Mobility visa routes require sponsorship from an employer with a valid sponsorship licence. You will not be able to gain leave to remain as a secondment worker without a valid certificate of sponsorship.
When applying for a Secondment Worker visa, you will usually need to pay:
- the £259 application fee; and
- the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay in the UK.
You will also need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and any dependants when you come to the UK.
If you will not be coming to the UK on secondment for a project or major contract, you will need to apply for leave to remain under another visa category and will not be able to attain a valid certificate of sponsorship.
Applications for a Secondment Worker visa can be made up to 3 months before the day you intend to start work in the UK. This date should be listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
Once your application has been submitted, it could take up to three weeks for a decision to be made if you are applying from outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you’re already in the country.
The contents of this webpage are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. All information is correct as of the date of publication, and any individual or organisation should be careful to seek qualified advice from a specialist immigration lawyer before acting on any of the topics referenced by this content.
WH Solicitors
High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
High Potential Individual (HPI) Visas: What Are They and Who Is Eligible?
Are you a graduate from a top international university? You might be able to apply for an HPI visa to work in the UK. Find out more about it here
The High Potential Individual or HPI Visa was introduced in 2022 as part of the UK Government’s immigration reforms. The idea is to attract top graduates from the world’s most prestigious universities to work in the UK without requiring a job offer. HPI visas allow graduates to come to Britain to progress their career ambitions, and UK employers can take advantage of a global pool of talent.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for a High Potential Individual Visa?
Applications are based on a points system. Applicants must attain 70 points across the scheme, which covers educational, English language, and financial criteria. Candidates may also have to pass a TB test. The 70 points are split as follows:-
- Global Universities List degree requirement – 50 points
- English Language requirement (B1 level) – 10 points
- Financial requirement – 10 points
Any application that falls short of the 70-point level is rejected, and the Home Office will provide details of this in the letter of refusal.
What is a Top Global University?
This is a university that appears in the Home Office Global Universities List. The award must be either bachelor or postgraduate degree level, and the university awarding the degree must be on the Global Universities List in the year the graduate was awarded their degree. The list of universities can change.
English Language Requirements for an HPI Visa
A High Potential Individual Visa requires the applicant to have a specified level of English on the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) scale. The level required is B1, which is intermediate, but the requirements for proof can vary according to the applicant’s country of origin.
If you come from a mainly English-speaking country, then sometimes all that is required is proof of your identity and nationality. If you cannot prove you meet the requirements, then you must take and pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) with an approved provider.
The Financial Requirements for an HPI Visa
If you want to apply for a High Potential Individual Visa, you must demonstrate that you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK without reliance on public money.
There is a requirement of at least £1,270 in funds when you make the application, and you must be able to demonstrate that the money has been in your account for a period of 28 days before you apply.
If you are already in the UK and are switching visas and have been in the UK for at least a year, then you will not need to evidence any funds.
Keen to Apply for an HPI Visa?
Immigration to the UK is a complex and highly regulated process. Even with a good standard of English, the process can seem daunting to a young person who recently graduated from an international university.
Using an immigration expert takes the stress out of applying for an HPI Visa. You don’t have to worry about finding the correct paperwork or making mistakes in the application, as there is a qualified professional to oversee the whole process.
WH Solicitors, Experts in Immigration
WH Solicitors are experienced immigration lawyers with an established reputation and many years of experience. We offer practical and friendly advice, and our fees are reasonable and affordable.
Why Use WH Solicitors?
WH Solicitors are immigration experts and the route to a painless HPI Visa. Our qualified professionals can coordinate the entire application process. Our service is practical, friendly, and accessible, with reasonable fees and no hidden extras.
Here’s how we can help.
- Check your degree is from a university listed on the Global Universities list on the date the degree was awarded
- Verify English language proficiency to the appropriate CEFR level
- Evidence financial means, if necessary
- Identify and collate the appropriate documents to make an online application
- Represent you throughout the process, including handling Home Office requests for more information
- Contest any Home Office refusal on the points-based system
- Discuss and offer guidance on other visas which may be suitable for your circumstances
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of an HPI Visa?
An HPI Visa holder can come to the UK for up to two years, and during this time, there are hardly restrictions on what they can do, certainly compared to other work visas. HPI Visa holders can take on employment, self-employment, or voluntary work and enter the UK without any prior job offer. Visa holders can also switch jobs during the two-year period, and this visa is also suitable for entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Britain.
Are there any types of work prohibited under the HPI Visa scheme?
Work as a sports coach or professional sportsperson is barred under the scheme, but this is the only prohibited type of work.
Is there a time restriction on the graduation date?
An applicant for an HPI Visa must have graduated within the last five years of the date of their application.
How much does it cost to apply for an HPI Visa?
There is a fee of £210 to Ecctis (an information services provider) to check the validity of your degree; the cost is £252 if you’re applying from the UK. The application itself carries a fee of £822, and there is a healthcare surcharge of £624 per year that you remain in the UK.
What is the healthcare surcharge?
The healthcare surcharge is paid as part of the HPI Visa application process and grants a visa holder access to free NHS health services in the UK. This charge was introduced in 2015 to avoid medical tourism, where people actively look to come to the UK in order to access free healthcare.
Contact WH Solicitors for expert help on a High Potential Individual Visa application. Our expert team offers advice that is accessible and practical, with everything explained in simple terms and no jargon. We take all the stress out of the application process. Our rates are affordable and transparent, and the costs, including the visa application fees, are set out clearly from the start.
The contents of this webpage are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. All information is correct as of the date of publication, and any individual or organisation should be careful to seek qualified advice from a specialist immigration lawyer before acting on any of the topics referenced by this content.