How to Apply For a UK Expansion Worker Visa
With the UK Expansion Worker Visa, you can send trusted employees to the UK to expand your business in the UK market. Our immigration law experts will work closely with you to develop tailored solutions that ensure your global mobility expansion workers are able to work in the UK as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Our Clients:
How We Can Help Your Firm
How We Can Help Your Firm
At Rove Legal, we are committed to helping your business succeed in a global market. As an overseas business, you can send up to five employees to the UK to undertake expansion-related work, but complicated UKVI requirements can make this a challenging process. Our seasoned immigration lawyers work with you and your team to minimise the headaches associated with obtaining visas for your expansion workers.
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UK Expansion Worker Visa
What is the UK Expansion Worker Visa?
What is the UK Expansion Worker Visa?
The UK Expansion Worker Visa was introduced on 11 April 2022. This visa enables foreign employees to move to the UK for the purpose of establishing a subsidiary for an overseas business. To qualify for this visa, the applicant must already hold a senior position (managerial or specialist) in the foreign company, and the business should not have any existing subsidiary in the UK.
The applicant must apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa if the business is already operating. Additionally, individuals looking to start their own business in the UK might consider the Innovator visa routes, depending on their situation and business plans.
What Makes Rove Legal Your Ideal Partner?
What Makes Rove Legal Your Ideal Partner?
Consultation
We will assess your situation and requirements to check if the UK Expansion Worker visa is the right option for you. If your business is already trading in the UK, you may need to apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa instead.
Review
We will evaluate each of your nominated employees and their job roles to ensure they meet all of the UKVI point requirements for this visa, in all three categories (sponsorship, skill and salary).
Application
We will help you and your employees to gather any documentation required by UKVI, including the issue of valid Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).
UK Expansion Worker Visa Eligibility Criteria
UK Expansion Worker Visa Eligibility Criteria
The UK Expansion worker visa is a points-based system (PBS) visa which requires applicants to score 60 points against three criteria: Skill, Salary and Sponsorship. To be eligible for a UK Expansion worker visa, you must meet the following requirements:
Sponsorship Points:
To score 20 sponsorship points, it is necessary to have an employer with a valid sponsor license who is willing to sponsor you for a position that meets overseas work requirements. To qualify for the 20 sponsorship points, it's essential to be employed for at least 12 months by an employer linked overseas, meeting specific exemptions if applicable, and to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). In most cases, eligibility requires current employment with a linked overseas employer for at least 12 months, except for high-earners over £73,900, Japanese nationals working for Japanese companies expanding to the UK, or Australian nationals or permanent residents opening a UK branch or subsidiary of their Australian employer. These exceptions do not necessitate a specific duration of work outside the UK.
Skill Points:
To score 20 points for skill, your COS should be issued for an eligible role at or above the minimum skill level.
Salary Points:
To score 20 points for salary, your annual salary should be £48,500 or the ‘going rate’ for that job, whichever is higher.
Additional Conditions
Beyond the point-based criteria, UK Expansion Workers originating from specified countries are required to satisfy additional conditions for UK entry or stay authorisation. This entails submitting a legitimate TB test certificate and adhering to a financial stipulation. Workers residing in the UK for under a year need to demonstrate financial solvency with a minimum of £1,270 in funds, except when a sponsor affirms their financial support for this period. Furthermore, the applicant must have had the required amount of money available for 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the application date.
Who Can Sponsor an Expansion Worker Visa?
Who Can Sponsor an Expansion Worker Visa?
The UK Expansion Worker pathway is designated for firms that are either branches or wholly-owned subsidiaries of a foreign business yet to be operational in the UK. For sending a senior or specialist staff member on a temporary assignment to a UK-based business already active, the appropriate visa would be either a Senior or Specialist Worker visa or a Skilled Worker visa, provided the UK employer holds the necessary sponsorship license.
For the sponsorship of a UK Expansion Worker, it is mandatory for the sponsor to possess a valid license specific to this worker category and confirm that the job position in the UK complies with the applicable skill and salary criteria. A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) can be issued only once these criteria are satisfied.
To obtain a sponsorship license for the UK Expansion Worker route, the sponsoring entity is required to exhibit a UK ‘footprint,’ evident through proof of business premises in the UK or registration with Companies House. Additionally, they must demonstrate an active trading presence abroad along with convincing plans for UK expansion.
Who Can Sponsor an Expansion Worker Visa?
Who Can Sponsor an Expansion Worker Visa?
The sponsoring entity is required to demonstrate that the foreign business has been operational and conducting trade for a minimum of three years, with a plan and capability to set up a new branch or wholly-owned subsidiary in the UK within two years post-licence issuance.
The classification awarded to a UK Expansion Worker sponsor hinges on the location of the Authorising Officer (AO) specified in the sponsor licence application—whether they are presently in the UK or abroad. The AO, who must be the top executive in charge of hiring migrant workers, influences the sponsor’s rating.
An A-rating and a full Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation, with a limit of five, will be assigned if the AO resides in the UK. Conversely, if the AO is outside the UK, the sponsor begins with a provisional licence and a single CoS allocation.
The licence’s validity extends to four years, with the expectation from the Home Office that the foreign business will have fully commenced trading in the UK within two years, thus precluding licence renewal. Failure to initiate trading within this period leads to the sponsor’s CoS allocation being nullified, rendering them unable to sponsor new worker applications or extensions for current workers, and possibly resulting in licence revocation.
Our Process
Applying for a UK Expansion Worker Visa
Applying for a UK Expansion Worker Visa
For a UK Expansion Worker visa application, you must fill out an online form using your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number, verify your identity, and provide the necessary documentation.
Essential requirements include a valid CoS issued by a UK-licensed sponsor, your passport, and evidence of at least 12 months’ employment with a company outside the UK.
Additionally, if required, you must also submit financial proof and a tuberculosis test certificate that is still valid. Once you’ve provided all the necessary information, paid the fee, and proven your identity, a decision should be made within 3-8 weeks.
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Our Testimonials
Our Testimonials
This firm can only be described as excellent. Their knowledge of immigration law is second to none. The fast efficient way that they deal with situations is first-class professionalism at its very best. Once you have used Jay and his team you will never use anyone else.
Jay Moghal of Rove Legal is extremely professional and has deep and impressive knowledge of all aspects of immigration law and procedure. He is creative and a great communicator, fierce and energising, encouraging the pursuit of his clients’ cases with impeccable judgement. I would not hesitate to recommend Jay. His knowledge and professionalism shines through in every event.
Jay and his team assisted with switching over from a student BRP to a spousal one. All I had to do was show up to my appointment and take my fingerprints/photos. They handled the rest! What a dream.
Rove Legal were an absolute dream to deal with. Jay Moghal was our appointed lawyer and he was excellent to deal with. He ensured we submitted all of the required documents and when our application was delayed with COVID challenges he chased the UK Government to expedite the issue and ensure a successful outcome. Highly recommend Rove Legal and Jay to anyone who needs immigration to support.
Highly recommended. Jay is a thorough professional, who reviewed the case in depth, looked after all the aspects and his suggestions on what I should submit with the case were spot on. I don’t think my case would have been accepted without his help.
I had a very good experience with Mr Jay Moghal. I faced a couple of problems and appreciate his professionalism and transparency to deal with my issues and solve the problem. I highly recommend him.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the UK Expansion Worker visa cost?
How long can a UK Expansion Worker stay in the UK?
Once an application is approved, the UK Expansion Worker visa is valid for up to 12 months. If the worker wants to stay in the country beyond this, they will need to apply for an extension of up to 12 months. The maximum stay on a UK Expansion Worker visa is two years.
What are the salary requirements?
Each UK Expansion Worker Visa applicant will be required to earn a minimum of £42,400 or the ‘going rate’ for their role, whichever of the two is higher.
What are the fees associated with a UK Expansion Worker visa application?
If you’re planning to apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa, it’s important to note that there are several expenses involved. Along with having at least £1,270 in funds, you’ll also need to pay a £259 application fee and the annual immigration health surcharge. Furthermore, businesses need to account for the expenses related to obtaining sponsorship and the charges for each Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued. The sponsorship license fee for a Temporary Worker is set at £536, regardless of the business’s size or if it’s a charitable organisation. Additionally, the cost to issue a CoS for a UK Expansion Worker is fixed at £25.
How long does a UK Expansion visa last?
If your visa application gets approved, you will be granted leave for a maximum of 12 months from the start date of your job, as specified in the sponsorship certificate, or 14 days after the end of the job, whichever is shorter. To extend your stay beyond this period, you can apply for another visa, but only for 12 months.
The UK Expansion Worker visa allows an individual to stay in the UK for a maximum of 2 years. However, if you have already spent time in the UK on any other GBM visa or as an intra-company graduate trainee or transferee, your maximum stay period could be affected. In such cases, the maximum cumulative period for all GBM routes is five years in any 6-year period.
It’s crucial to understand that the UK Expansion Worker visa doesn’t provide a pathway to permanent residency in the UK. Nonetheless, senior or specialist employees might qualify for an alternative immigration path that offers the possibility of indefinite leave to remain, provided they fulfil the specific requirements of that route.
