UK Global Expansion Worker Visa

UK Global Expansion Worker Visa
(Global Business Mobility)

UK Global Expansion Worker visa allows the applicant to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not yet started trading in the UK to undertake temporary work assignments. The applicant must already work for the overseas business as either a senior manager or specialist employee.
This visa route is part of the Global Business Mobility route.
The Global Business Mobility routes are for workers based outside the UK who are undertaking a temporary work assignment in the UK as a Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier or Secondment Worker.

Tenure of Visa

Initial permission as a UK Expansion Worker can be granted for up to a year
(12 Months and 14 days).

This can be renewed for a further year, to a maximum of two continuous years. Upon second renewal the branch office can apply for the Skilled Worker Immigration License for it to give COS to its senior employee to keep residing in the UK to see the branch office operations.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a UK Expansion Worker visa the applicant must:

  • Have a valid certificate of sponsorship from employer

  • Have worked for his/her employer outside the UK

  • Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations

  • Being paid the minimum eligible salary

Period of Job with the Employer (Outside the UK)

You must have worked for your employer outside of the UK for at least 12 months.

Business Plan

A comprehensive Business Plan is required to be enclosed with the application including the complete market research, competitive analysis, financial projections etc.

Investment Funds

Sufficient funds are required as per the Market target available in the business bank account of the parent company.

Maintenance Funds

Maintenance funds are required to be maintained in the bank account of the main applicant for a consecutive period of no less than 28 days for Main Applicant, for Partner/Spouse and for First and each additional child.

English Language Requirements

There is no any requirement for the Knowledge of English language.


Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

The Employer/parent company outside the UK will issue you the (CoS). Your employer - also known as your sponsor - will give you a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ with information about the role you will do in the UK. It’s an electronic record, not a paper document.

You’ll need the reference number from the certificate of sponsorship for your visa application. You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.

SPONSORSHIP LICENSE OF THE PARENT COMPANY

The Parent company has to apply for the Sponsorship License and then issue a certificate of sponsorship to their employee before the employee apply for this visa, below is the detail and procedure to obtain the Sponsorship License of the Parent company under the UK Global Expansion worker visa;

Eligibility of Business to get the license

To get a license as an employer, the parent company and the employer can’t have:

  • Unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering.

  • Had a sponsor license revoked in the last 12 months.


Sponsorship Management Role

You need to appoint people within your business to manage the sponsorship process when you apply for a license. The main tool they’ll use is the sponsorship management system (SMS).

Authorizing officer

A senior and competent person responsible for the actions of staff and representatives who use the SMS key contact – your main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Level 1 User

Responsible for all day-to-day management of your license using the SMS These roles can be filled by the same person or different people.

Level 2 User

You can also appoint an optional level 2 user once you have your license. This is an SMS user with more restricted access than a level 1 user, for example they cannot withdraw a certificate of sponsorship.

License Rating

You’ll get a ‘provisional’ rating instead of an A-rating if your authorizing officer is based outside the UK. You’ll only be able to assign one certificate of sponsorship, which must be assigned to the authorizing officer so they can enter the UK.

Once they’ve got their visa, you can upgrade your license to an A-rating and request additional certificates of sponsorship using the sponsorship management system (SMS).

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