Foreign citizens interested in corporate immigration in London should be familiar with the legislative framework in this sense. The British authorities provide several immigration visas available for corporate individuals which are awarded on a point-based system. Persons who want to apply for a corporate immigration visa can receive assistance on this matter from our immigration solicitors in London who can offer legal advice on various matters related to this subject.
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Tier 1 investor visa in UK
One of the business visas available for individuals interested in the financial environment in UK is the Tier 1 investor visa, awarded for persons who want to invest in government bonds or in companies located in UK. In order to apply for this type of visa, the investor has to fulfill several requirements:
- the businessman is willing to invest at least 2,000,000 pounds in a UK vestment project</strong> ;
- the person is a citizen of a country situated outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland;
- the age of the person is above 18 years old and his or her financial funds are kept in a regulated financial institution.
It is important to know that a person can apply for an entrepreneur visa with a minimum of three months prior to the arrival in UK and an official answer on the application can be obtained in three weeks; our UKimmigration lawyer can provide you with more information on the application procedure.
Tier 2 intra-company transfer visa
Another type of business visa available for foreign citizens is the Tier 2 intra-company transfer visa which can be obtained by persons who have received a job offer available in UK from their employer; this type of visa is necessary only for persons working in multinational companies who have set up a branch in UK. It is important to know that a person can apply for this visa if he/ she can meet the above-mentioned criteria, as well as the following:
- the person is a foreign national of a country outside the EEA and Switzerland;
- the person has received a certificate of sponsorship;
- the individual is required to attest the fact that his/ her savings have a minimum value of 945 pounds; the rule is no longer available if the employer can certify it can provide accommodation for the first month of employment.
Tier 2 work visa in UK
pPersons interested in receiving a corporate visa can also apply for a Tier 2 general visa, which is a work visa available for persons who have received a job offer in London, UK. It is necessary to be a citizen of a state outside EEA and Switzerland and it is required to receive a certificate of sponsorship. There are a couple of work permit visas that are issued by the authorities and among these, the tier 2 visa for sportspersons, the tier 5 visa for temporary workers in fields like charity, religion, or sports, for domestic workers in private households. Work permits are also issued for awarded students, but they will have to apply for the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme. Among the conditions for obtaining the UK work permit we mention that foreigners need to prove they have experience of at least 3 years in the field, they have a Higher National Diploma and a degree which is recognized in the UK. In the case of domestic workers in UK, they need to have at least one year of experience and they can work as chauffeurs, medical assistants at domicile, chefs, or cleaners. As for charity workers in UK, they will have to obtain the certificate of sponsorship with a validity of 3 months and deposit GBP 945 in a bank account. All these conditions plus others can be explained by our London immigration lawyer.p
Leave to enter UK as a business delegate
pIndividuals who are delegates or representatives of companies outside the EU (European Union) or EEA (European Economic Area) can enter the UK with special visas and documents issued by the UK Immigration Office. The leave to enter the UK is an important status offered for foreign business representatives with an executive position in the company abroad, full power of making decisions, and the clear intention of setting up a business in the country. It is good to know that a delegate of a foreign business can enter the UK for three years, the time in which the visa is available. We mention that this kind of document will not allow foreign delegates to bring family members or to apply for public funds in UK. A London immigration lawyer will explain the main conditions of leave to enter the UK as a delegate of foreign business and will help you prepare the documents in this matter.p
Tier 2 visa for employees of multinational companies in UK
Short term employment, graduate recruits or skilled transfers are subject to a tier 2 visa for employees of multinational companies in UK. This type of visa is available for persons who received a job offer in UK and a certificate of sponsorship from the corporation interested in hiring workforce from abroad. A tier 2 visa for employees of multinational companies in UK can be issued for one year if a position in the company must be fulfilled for only 12 months, in cases where the local staff cannot meet the requirements.
Are medical examinations necessary for obtaining a visa?
There are specific requirements for certain countries and their citizens when it comes to obtaining a UK visa. The tuberculosis test is an example in this sense, and citizens from countries like Ecuador, Suriname, Ethiopia, North Korea, Kenya, Laos, India, Ghana, Dominican Republic, Morocco, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Panama, Lesotho, Mauritania, Zambia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Georgia, Iraq, Malaysia, Nepal or Ukraine will have to align with this important condition for obtaining the UK visa. Moreover, a medical examination needs to be taken at the clinics working with the UK Embassy or Consulate, and additionally, foreigners will have to provide the medical history showing the vaccination schemes or records. It is important to know that if you are obliged to take the medical exams and you also intend to travel with your family members, they will have to take the same tests too. In the case the tests are failed, the authorities in UK cannot issue the needed visa to enter the country. Instead of dealing with all sorts of misunderstandings, mostly due to language barriers or requirements, we recommend you talk to one of our specialists and correctly prepare your application. Our UK immigration lawyer has experience in this field and can assist foreigners in obtaining the needed visa.
Other special visa categories in UK
Providing temporary services or work in UK is subject to visas. According to the UKVI, tour group couriers with international deliveries, employees of foreign manufacturers, personal assistants, translators, film crew employed by overseas companies, professors from foreign academic institutions, workers of customers of UK trading companies, and overseas lawyers are considered corporate migrants for which specific visas are needed. For corporate visa matters, it is beneficial to discuss with an experienced solicitor in this field and obtain complete legal support and assistance.
Dealing with illegal immigrants in UK
There is high attention on the immigration phenomenon in UK, so the authorities continue to prevent any risks that might occur in the working field by periodically verifying the employers in the country. Besides being registered as licensed sponsors for non-EU immigrants, companies or employers in UK must comply with the legislation preventing illegal working. This means that the Home Office in UK makes periodical visits, inspections, and verifications, in order to see if they align with the regulations of sponsorship and visas. The authorities are aware of the fact that certain industries or areas might be subject to high risks in terms of illegal workers, so it is an obligation to periodically verify all sorts of companies in the UK. It is important to know that the support of our immigration solicitors in London will prove vital for companies wanting to hire foreigners from non-EU countries and respect the applicable laws. Below we have gathered information and statistics about the immigration and visitors in UK:
- approximately 143.9 million passenger arrivals in UK during March 2018 and March 2019 (returned UK residents included);
- approximately 3 million visas were granted to foreigners, in the period between March 2018 and March 2019</span> ;
- more than 2.3 million visitor visas were issued between March 2018 and March 2019;
- around 243,000 Tier 4 student visas were granted to foreigners between March 2018 and March 2019;
- more than 162,000 family visas were granted for foreigners in UK, as stated by the latest statistics for the period between March 2018 and March 2019.
Persons who are interested in obtaining a corporate visa in UK can receive legal assistance on this matter and can contact our team of immigration solicitors in London.
