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
Medical Visa
Coming to the UK for Medical Treatment? Everything You Need to Know about Medical Visas
Want to come to the UK for medical treatment? You’ll need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa and give details about your health condition. Learn more here
You can visit the UK for medical treatment at a private hospital, clinic, or sometimes, an NHS hospital. The NHS care must be paid for by your own government or under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement. The visit can last for up to six months. There are other circumstances where a visa may be granted for medical treatment, including donating an organ to a family member or close friend.
How does it Work?
If you need a visa to visit the UK, you must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa online, and you’ll need to meet those eligibility requirements first. There is also an extra layer of conditions you must satisfy depending on the type of medical treatment.
Private Medical Treatment
If you want to visit the UK for private medical treatment, you must prove that you have a medical condition or healthcare problem that requires private health services in the UK.
You will need the following documents:-
- A letter from your doctor or consultant that confirms the health issue you have which needs treatment
- An estimate of the cost of the treatment
- How long the treatment will take
- Where you will be treated
You’ll need to arrange the services you want and have enough money to pay for the consultations and any treatment. You must leave the UK once your treatment is complete or when your visa expires, whichever is the soonest. You may not enter the UK if you have an infectious disease and/or pose a danger to public health.
Treatment at an NHS Hospital
To receive treatment at an NHS hospital, there must be a reciprocal healthcare arrangement between the UK and your home country, or your government will need to pay for the treatment.
If your government pays for the treatment, you must supply an official authorisation form detailing this.
Organ Donation
Specific criteria apply if you’re visiting the UK to donate organs. You can only visit to donate to a family member you are related to genetically or someone you have a close personal relationship with; the latter usually means a partner but can include friends in certain circumstances. The recipient of the organ must also have legal status in the UK.
You will need a formal letter from an appropriate medical professional involved in the transplant confirming that you will be tested to see if you are a potential donor or if you are a match for the recipient. The letter must state your relationship with the organ recipient and where and when the medical procedure will take place. The letter date should be no older than three months before your intended arrival in the UK.
Are you thinking about Coming to the UK for Medical Treatment?
The criteria for medical treatment in the UK are precise and well-defined, whether that treatment is within the private sector or provided by the NHS. Expert help can ensure your documentation is correctly presented to ensure you can come to the UK and receive the medical treatment you need.
An immigration specialist can manage the technical aspects of the entry process to the UK, including providing advice on whether your planned visit is legal and which documents you require to support your stay.
WH Solicitors, Immigration Professionals for Everyone
WH Solicitors are immigration experts with many years of experience supporting different cases and people who want to come to the UK for medical treatment. Our friendly team offers up-to-date and pragmatic advice presented in a straightforward and accessible way.
Why Use WH Solicitors?
WH Solicitors’ specialist immigration team is made up of expert and experienced professionals. We aim to make the application process for entry to the UK for medical treatment as stress-free and straightforward as possible. We understand that this is a worrying time for you and your family. Our fee structure is transparent and easy to understand, and all our charges are discussed before we start work. There are no hidden costs.
Here’s how we can help.
- Review your situation and advise on the different visa options appropriate to your circumstances.
- Check your eligibility for a Standard Visitor Visa
- Submit an online application for a Standard Visitor Visa
- Collate the relevant information required to satisfy the additional requirements for the type of medical treatment you will receive, the location, and how long it will take
- If you are visiting for organ donation purposes, assess whether your case complies with the relevant requirements and review the legal status of the recipient
- Advise whether you will need a clear TB test certificate
- Arrange for legalised translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh
- Manage the entire application process, including any requests for more information
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reciprocal healthcare agreement?
The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements (RHCAs) with several countries, including some non-EU countries and territories. The majority of RHCAs apply to short-term visitors only. Migrants are not generally allowed to come to the UK specifically for medical treatment. However, this stipulation does not apply to those receiving planned medical treatment under the RHCAs with Eire and the European Union. NHS treatment received under these agreements is reimbursed by the relevant EU Member State or Irish government.
What happens if my medical treatment requires me to stay longer than six months?
People who need to stay in the UK for longer than six months will require a Standard Visitor Visa, irrespective of nationality. Standard Visitor Visas last for eleven months. You can apply before you arrive or visit for six months and then apply to stay for another six months.
How much does a Standard Visitor Visa cost?
If you apply for a Standard Visitor Visa before you come to the UK for medical treatment, there is a fee of £200. If you have already been in the UK for six months and want to stay for a further six months, then the cost is £1,000.
Contact WH Solicitors for quick, professional, and friendly advice from an immigration expert. We will coordinate and support your application to come to the UK for medical treatment. Our fees are affordable, and there is always a friendly face ready to answer all your questions and queries.
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.