The UK Business Visitor Visa Immigration Rule Changes
On 7 December 2023, the government published planned changes to the immigration rules on the business Visitor Visa. If you are a UK employer with an overseas-based branch, staff working overseas or an individual needing a Visitor Visa it is worth knowing about the changes to permissible business activities in the business Visitor Visa route.
In this blog, our Immigration Solicitors assess the planned changes.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For immigration advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Changes to the business Visitor Visa rules
If you are coming to the UK on a business Visitor Visa or if you are a UK-based employer you need to know what activities can be undertaken as permissible activities on the business Visitor Visa route.
The planned changes to the business Visitor Visa mean that:
- Individuals will be able to work directly with clients if the activity is incidental to their employment overseas
- Remote work will be a permitted activity provided remote working is not the primary reason for the visit to the UK
- Pilots and cabin crew members will be able to travel to the UK as part of a Civil Aviation Authority-approved wet leasing agreement. This arrangement will be allowed each year between the months of March to October.
- Scientists, researchers and academics will be allowed to conduct research in the UK as part of their UK visit
- The permitted activities for legal professionals are to be expanded
Why it is important to comply with permissible business activities on the business Visitor Visa route
You need to ensure that your business or that you as an individual understand the revised permissible business activities. If you do not understand the rules, and immigration officials do not believe you will follow the rules whilst in the UK, then you could be refused UK entry clearance.
Once you are in the UK if it is discovered that you are doing work outside the permitted business activities your visa could be curtailed and your immigration record will be marked. That could result in future work visa, business visa or family visa applications being refused.
How OTS Solicitors can help you with all your business Visitor Visa needs
At OTS Solicitors our business Immigration Solicitors help individual visa applicants as well as UK business owners and overseas companies with all their business visa and work visa needs, such as:
- Advice on the best visa route. For example, your planned activities may mean that the Senior or Specialist worker visa or the Skilled Worker Visa is the best visa for you
- Business Visitor Visa refusal assistance if a business Visitor Visa application is refused
- Advice on whether your planned work activities fall within the definition of ‘permissible activities’
- Work visa applications including the Skilled Worker Visa, Graduate Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa and visas under the global business mobility visa route
- Remote working and visa requirements in the UK
- Business immigration services including sponsor licence and work visa applications and sponsor licence management services
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For immigration advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
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