Get in Line for Global Business Mobility Visas
Business immigration lawyers advise that the Home Office is not currently offering priority processing under the new global business mobility route. In this article our London immigration solicitors take a look at visa applications under the global business mobility visa and how employers and individuals can best ensure speedy processing of applications for work visas and business visas.
UK Online and London Based Immigration Solicitors
For immigration advice and help with sponsor licences, work visas and business visas call the expert London immigration lawyers at OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Processing applications for visas under the global business mobility route
On the 11 April 2022 the government opened up applications under the global business mobility route and closed new applications for the intra company transfer visa and the sole representative visa.
The rationale behind the five visas in the global business mobility route is that they are all visas for overseas based businesses who want to transfer workers to the UK on a time limited basis to carry out work that can't be undertaken by a settled worker.
The five routes under the global business mobility route are:
- The senior or specialist worker route – replacing the intra company transfer visa
- The graduate trainee route – replacing the graduate intra company transfer visa
- The UK expansion worker route– replacing the sole representative visa
- The service supplier route
- The secondment worker route.
Understandably, once a business has taken the decision to transfer an existing employee to work in the UK or has decided that a senior employee is to be tasked with setting up a UK base or subsidiary company, the head office is keen to move forward with their plans, with the minimum of fuss or delay.
Sponsor licences for UK expansion worker sponsorship
Under the old sole representative visa route an overseas company did not require a sponsor licence to sponsor a senior employee on a sole representative visa. With the UK expansion worker route, a sponsor licence is required before a UK expansion worker applicant can apply for their work visa.
Sponsorship Licence lawyers therefore recommend that businesses factor in the need to secure their sponsor licence when looking at the time it will take from deciding to set up a branch office or subsidiary in the UK , finding the best employee to send to the UK and to then secure their UK expansion worker visa to enable the worker to secure UK entry clearance.
Processing times for the global business mobility visa routes
One of the first questions immigration solicitors are asked is ‘ how long will the visa application take the Home Office to process?’ Immigration lawyers are also asked a follow up question, ‘what is the best way to speed up the work visa and business visa application process?’
The old adage ‘time is money’ springs to mind as most businesses will tell you that delay costs as they can't progress business plans or start work on a new project etc until the work visa or business visa comes through from the Home Office and the employee is in place in the UK.
Previously immigration solicitors would say the best way to secure a speedy work visa or business visa decision was to use the Home Office premium service, with its fast turnaround times, assuming that speed was more important than the additional priority and premium service Home Office fees. However, the Home Office is not currently providing a priority service for global business mobility visa applications.
Best global business mobility visa processing times
In the absence of a priority service to jump the queue of visa applicants, businesses want to know how long it will take the Home Office to process a work visa or business visa application and the best ways to speed up the visa application process.
The Home Office is advising that they hope to make a decision on visa applications under the global business mobility scheme route within around three to eight weeks of receipt of an application provided that the application has been completed correctly and the right supporting paperwork has been supplied. The time taken will depend in part on whether an application is being made from within the UK or outside the UK. Those time estimates are a lot longer than the turnaround time of twenty four hours or days under the priority and premium Home Office services.
Experienced business immigration solicitors say the best way to get a quick global business mobility visa decision, in the absence of a priority Home Office service, is to:
- Get expert legal advice on whether the route under the global business mobility visa is the best option.
- Make sure the application is completed fully.
- Do not assume the Home Office will know things about your business or the visa applicant – if in doubt, spell it out and provide evidence in support.
UK Online and London Based Immigration Solicitors
For advice on any aspect of immigration law call the immigration team at OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.