Immigration Solicitors London
Est. 2002+44 (0)20 7038 3980
info@rlegal.com
RLegal Solicitors, 162-168 Regent Street London W1B 5TG
RLegal is regulated by the SRA, Reg No: 00380691
RLegal Solicitors, 162-168 Regent Street London W1B 5TG
RLegal is regulated by the SRA, Reg No: 00380691
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) is aimed at UK based employers who hold a Sponsorship licence and wish to relocate their overseas workers to the UK who are employed through a connected entity to work on projects for periods of time. This visa has replaced the Tier 2 Intra-company transfer visa and predecessor routes.
Workers need to have been employed oversees for at least 12 months if they are earning less than £73,900 per year, but there is no minimum period they need to have worked for the company if the salary is above that amount to be sponsored through this route.
The proposed role for which the Senior or Specialist Worker will be sponsored for must be for a ‘skilled role’ as stated on an approved list by the Home Office and meet a minimum salary requirement of £42,400 per annum or what is stated as the ‘going rate’ on the list, whichever is the higher.
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is part of the points-based system where an applicant needs to score a minimum number of points, see below.
Senior or Specialist Workers are subject to time restrictions on their period of stay in the UK which is determined by their salary as follows:
Furthermore, time spent on the following visas will count towards the time restrictions:
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa does not lead to settlement status following working in the UK for a period of time, typically 5 years. If the UK based employer or the proposed Senior or Specialist worker intend to settle, it would be more appropriate to consider the Skilled worker visa, as this does lead to settlement status following 5 years of continuous work.
However, a Senior or Specialist Worker can bring their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner and children under 18 to the UK.
The Senior or Specialist Worker does not need to meet an English language requirement in order to be sponsored through this route.
RLegal can of course provide advice and assistance for businesses who would like to sponsor Senior or Specialist Workers or on other immigration related issues, we can be contacted on +44 207 038 3980, by sending an email to info@rlegal.com or by completing our online form. Our immigration lawyers have a wealth of experience, and the firm is recommended to assist in immigration matters by the Legal 500.
A Senior or Specialist worker needs to be:
The Senior or Specialist Worker is subject to a points-based test.
An applicant needs to score 60 points from the following:
The role must be genuine and therefore needs to exist, cannot be a sham or have been created to simply assist the applicant to obtain a visa.
The applicant will need to show they have held £1270 in an approved regulated bank account for a minimum of 28 days unless their maintenance is ‘certified’ on the Certificate of Sponsorship by their prospective employer – which means the employer will assume this financial responsibility to maintain and accommodate the applicant or dependants (if relevant) for the first 28 days of their stay in the UK.
An applicant needs to:
The visa processing time is approximately 3 weeks but can be expedited subject to paying additional processing fees.
An applicant needs to pay:
Dependants including the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or children under 18 will need to submit their application through the online form, upload supporting documentation and provide their biometrics in the same way as the main applicant.
The dependants may need to provide a tuberculosis test certificate if they are nationals of specified countries.
Dependants will need to show they have held the following funds for at least 28 days:
The above funds are in addition to the £1270 the main applicant needs to hold.
If the employer ‘certifies’ maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship the dependants do not need to provide any evidence.
If the applicant and dependants have been in the UK for 12 months and are applying for an extension no maintenance is required.
RLegal Solicitors is an established, niche law firm specialising in UK immigration and nationality law. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
The firm was founded in 2002 by David Robinson and Evan Remedios, the partners. Evan has practiced immigration law since 1991 David since 1996.
RLegal has provided our Group with excellent legal advice for over a decade. Their service had been personal, detailed, timely, and, most importantly, has resulted in successful applications in every case undertaken.
Stephen M Tishler The Pacifico Group Limited
