GLOBAL BUSINESS MOBILITY - UK EXPANSION WORKER VISA
The Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa is designed for senior managers and specialized employees temporarily assigned to the UK to facilitate the expansion of an overseas business. Sponsors are limited to sending up to 5 workers at a time. This visa route is exclusive to businesses not yet trading in the UK; existing UK-based businesses may explore the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa instead, while those interested in establishing or already owning a UK business may opt for a Skilled Worker visa via self-sponsorship.
To obtain a UK Expansion Worker Visa, sponsorship for a specific job meeting skill and salary requirements is necessary from a Home Office-licensed employer. Although it doesn't directly lead to settlement, applicants can switch to other settlement-eligible immigration routes, and they may be accompanied by partners and dependent children.
UK Expansion Worker Visa Requirements:
If applying for a Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa and your gross annual salary is below £73,900, apart from Japanese nationals establishing a UK branch or Australian nationals seeking to establish a UK subsidiary under specific trade agreements, you must have worked for a linked business outside the UK for at least 12 cumulative months. This work can be as an employee, self-employed contractor, or in another capacity. The 12-month requirement can be met historically, with breaks permitted only for specific statutory reasons. However, if your salary exceeds £73,900 annually or you fall under the mentioned exceptions, you must currently work for a linked business, but there's no specific overseas employment duration requirement.
To qualify for a Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa, you must demonstrate to the Home Office the legitimacy of the job you're being sponsored to undertake. If suspicions arise that the position is fictitious or solely created for visa purposes, your application will likely be rejected. Furthermore, you must not engage in arrangements where you'll fulfill a role with a third party unrelated to your sponsor, or provide continuous services to such a third party, whether temporarily or permanently, to ensure compliance with Home Office standards.
Upon approval of your application for a Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa, you will receive entry clearance for either one year from the commencement date of the job specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship or the duration indicated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus an additional 14 days, whichever is shorter. Should you intend to prolong your stay in the UK, you can apply to extend your visa for an additional 12 months, allowing for a maximum tenure of 2 years under the UK Expansion Worker Visa scheme.
UK Expansion Worker Visa Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirements:
To obtain a Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa, you must possess a valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by a Home Office-authorized employer for the intended job. Your sponsor must be A-rated on the Home Office’s register, unless specific conditions apply. The Certificate should be issued within 3 months of your visa application and contain essential details like your name, job, and salary. It must confirm your employment outside the UK for at least 12 months, unless exceptions apply based on salary or nationality. Additionally, it should specify a start date within 3 months of your visa application and ensure it hasn't been previously used or withdrawn.
Salary Requirements:
Under the Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa route, the general salary benchmark stands at £48,500 annually. This entails that applicants typically need to receive a salary equal to or surpassing this amount, along with 100% of the prorated going rate for their occupation as delineated in the SOC 2020 occupation code, whichever figure proves higher. Assessment of the salary encompasses guaranteed basic gross pay (capped at 48 hours weekly) along with allowances guaranteed for the UK employment tenure, such as London weighting, or those designated as mobility premiums or to cover the augmented cost of living in the UK. Should the applicant's work pattern involve varying hours weekly, exceeding 48 hours on occasion, this excess work can contribute to meeting the £48,500 threshold, provided the average over a regular cycle, spanning up to 17 weeks, does not surpass 48 hours weekly.
English Language Requirements:
UK Expansion Worker Visa applicants do not need to satisfy an English language requirement.
Settlement with Global UK Expansion Worker Visa:
While the Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa does not offer a direct path to settlement in the UK, there are opportunities for transitioning to other immigration routes that do lead to settlement, once you are in the UK.
Our business immigration advisors are skilled in assisting companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large multinationals, in securing UK Expansion Worker visas for their employees. With expertise in navigating the complexities of Home Office rules and policies, we guide clients through the immigration options available.
Additionally, we provide support to UK employers in obtaining and maintaining UK Expansion Worker sponsor licences while ensuring compliance with sponsor duties.