Skilled Worker and Global Mobility visa applications
The Skilled Worker visa allows qualifying individuals to come to the UK to work for an approved sponsor in an eligible role. Global Business Mobility (Senior or Specialist Worker) visas allow individuals in certain occupations and roles to come to the UK and work at a UK branch of their overseas employer. The above two routes are different, and each route has its own specific requirements and can be complex to navigate. It’s important to understand the differences in order to assess which is applicable to your circumstances.
The Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa and allows foreign workers to come to the UK for work with a pre-approved employer with a sponsorship licence. The job in question must be at the required skill level – RQF 3 or above and the individual must speak English to the required standard. There is also a minimum salary threshold. However, a Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement in the UK, whereas the Senior or Specialist Worker visa is only a temporary visa.
Global Business Mobility visa
Global Business Mobility visas are for overseas businesses which wish to establish a presence in the UK, or to transfer staff, for specific business purposes. It replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, previously the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa. It provides five different work routes for specific types of workers namely Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker. This route is suitable for a higher level of employment than the Skilled Worker Visa and has a higher minimum salary requirement than for the Skilled Worker visa. There are also other strict conditions to be met and it is a temporary visa.
The UK Expansion Worker visa
The UK Expansion Worker allows workers to come to Britain to set up the first UK branch or subsidiary of their overseas business. It allows eligible businesses to sponsor senior managers or specialist workers so that they can be assigned to the UK for a temporary period for work connected to the expansion of the overseas business in the UK. The UK Expansion Worker Visa route can only be used when the UK business has not yet started trading and once again, there are specific requirements to be met.
Dependent Family Members visa
The Dependent Family Member visa allows family members to join the main visa holder in the UK. Eligibility will to some extent dependent on the immigration status of the main visa holder and the dependent’s relationship to them. The application can be made from inside or outside the UK and our team can advise on eligibility as well as help with the application process.
Get in touch for more information
Our experienced team is on hand to both advise on the appropriate application and assist with the application process and outcome. Our immigration team has considerable experience of all types of visa applications across a variety of sectors.
If you require advice or assistance with any aspect of your visa application, contact us today.
Or visit Immigration Services for more information.
