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
Long Residence
Long Residence Visas and Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK: Who is Eligible?
Staying in the UK for ten continuous years is known as ‘long residence’ under Immigration Rules Appendix Long Residence. If you have been in the UK legally for this period, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also called settlement.
Settlement gives you the right to work, study, and live in the UK for as long as you want. You can use settlement as a basis to apply for British citizenship, and you are also entitled to claim benefits if you satisfy the eligibility criteria.
The Eligibility Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain
You must be within a recognised immigration category (or more than one category) and have permission to stay, also known as ‘leave to remain.’ You will need continuous residence, meaning you have legally been in the UK for ten years without any gaps overseas.
Continuous Residence
Continuous Residence is time spent in the UK without any intervals. You can leave the UK for holidays for up to 184 days at a time and a total of 548 days without contravening this requirement.
There have been changes to the rules after 11th April 2024, whereby there is a removal of the 548 days limit on absences for the 10 year period which extends beyond 11th April 2024.
You cannot count time spent in the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa, Seasonal Worker Visa, Short-term Study Visa, or time on immigration bail, in prison, or a young offender institution. Time spent in Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands also does not contribute towards the required total.
Knowledge of Language and Life
If you’re between 18 and 65, you must pass the Life in the UK Test and demonstrate that you have the requisite English language skills.
The Life in the UK Test costs £50, and there are different test centres across the UK. There is an official handbook to help you prepare for the test, which is available in hard copy, as an eBook, via e-Learning, or in audio format. The concept behind the test is to promote integration into British culture, customs, and traditions.
Are you thinking about Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK?
UK immigration law is complex, and it’s worth taking expert advice to ensure your application for Indefinite Leave to Remain is correctly presented.
An immigration professional will handle all the complexities of the process for you, including assessing your eligibility and organising which documents are required to support your application.
WH Solicitors, the Experienced Immigration Professionals
WH Solicitors are experts in processing visa applications and have a long track record representing clients of all nationalities who want to come to the UK or are already here legally and wish to stay permanently. Our friendly team offers practical and informative advice in plain English that is simple and easy to understand.
Why Use WH Solicitors?
WH Solicitors’ specialist immigration service comprises experienced experts who will make the application process for Indefinite Leave to Remain straightforward and stress-free. All our pricing is transparent and discussed before we start work, so you’ll know exactly what it will cost.
Here’s how we can help.
- Review your situation and check your eligibility
- Confirm that you have the requisite continuous ten years of ‘long residence’ and that any absences from the UK fall within the permitted allocation
- Verify your English language competency and offer guidance on the Life in the UK Test and English Language Test if required
- Arrange for legalised translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh
- Submit an online application
- Represent you throughout the entire process, including dealing with any queries from the Home Office
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there other ways to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?
If you or a family member started living in the UK on or before 31st December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. You can also apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if you have a visa based on your private life. If you don’t have this visa, you may be able to extend your time in the UK by another two years – this is called ‘leave to remain.’ You must have been here for ten continuous years without any gaps. This ten-year period is known as ‘continuous residence’.
How much does it cost to apply?
If you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, the fee is £2,885. If you cannot apply for ILR but want to extend your stay by a further two years, then the price is £1,048. Decisions usually take about six months, but you can pay an extra £1,000 for a super-priority service for a quicker outcome. This service gives applicants a decision by the end of the next working day after they have supplied their biometric information if their appointment was on a normal working day or, after two working days, if the appointment was at the weekend.
What level is required to prove knowledge of the English language?
The levels required for applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain are an English qualification at B1, B2, C1, or C2 or a degree taught or researched in English. Some nationalities don’t need to prove their knowledge of English, and there is also no requirement to do so if you are over 65 or unable to because of a long-term health condition (physical or mental). However, a doctor will need to confirm this.
What is biometric information?
You will need to attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services location (UKVCAS) centre to provide fingerprints and a photo – this is called biometric information and is required as part of your application for Indefinite Leave to Remain. You can also scan your supporting documentation at your UKVCAS appointment if you don’t want to or can’t use the online service.
Contact WH Solicitors for expert advice on Long Residence Visas and Indefinite Leave to Remain from our friendly and professional team of immigration specialists. Our cost-effective service is affordable, and the charges are completely transparent, so you’ll know in advance how much it costs before we start work.
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.