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Hong Kong BN (O) Visa

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.

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Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

We can help you. It’s what we do.

Overview

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

International Sportspersons visa

This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.

Indefinite leave to remain

The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.

What is the Hong Kong BN (O) Visa?

In 2021, the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa was implemented by the UK Government to enable Hong Kong British National (Overseas) to live, work and study in the UK. Applicants may be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong or the UK. The Hong Kong BN (O) Visa route can lead to settlement in the UK, after five years. 

Who can apply for the Hong Kong BN (O) Visa?

Under this route, applicants who intend to study at school, college, or university and to work in a legal capacity, except as a sports coach or professional sportsperson, are eligible to apply. Additionally, the applicant must have British National (Overseas) status and be aged 18 or over – you must live permanently either in Hong Kong, or if you are applying from the UK, you reside in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man.  

It is possible to apply for a Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa using either a valid or expired BN(O) passport as evidence of your BN(O) status. Additionally, dependent family members may also be eligible to apply with you if they meet the requirements. 

What are the requirements?

To be eligible for the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

  • Be aged 18 or over. 
  • Have British national (overseas) status.  
  • Ordinarily be resident in Hong Kong, the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man 
  • You can be self-sufficient in the UK for at least 6 months. 
  • You can accommodate yourself in the UK.  
  • Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal. 
  • If required, you can provide a valid TB certificate. 

What is the Hong Kong BN (O) Visa processing time?

If you apply for a Hong Kong BN(O) Visa, from overseas you should receive a decision within 12 weeks – the same processing time currently applies to applications to extend a Hong Kong BN(O) visa from within the UK.  

However, if you are applying for settlement on the Hong Kong BN(O) route you should receive a decision within 6 months.  

How to apply for the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa?

The application process for the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa will vary depending on your circumstance.  

(How to apply from overseas)  

To apply from overseas, the applicant will be required to complete the BN(O) visa application online – this will include a requirement to prove your identity. This can be achieved either using the UK Immigration ID Check app, in which you will scan your BNO, HKSAR or EEA passport, or to attend an appointment at a local visa application centre, where you can then submit your biometric appointment. It is advised that the applicants await the decision on their application before deciding to travel to the UK. 

(How to apply from the UK) 

If you are currently in the UK on an alternative visa, you can apply to switch to the BN(O) visa. This application must be completed online – you will be advised at the time of your application if you need to verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. Or, if necessary, you may need to arrange an appointment at a UKVCAS centre. 

How long does a Hong Kong BN (O) Visa last?

Once approved, the Hong Kong BN (O) Status Visa enables the applicant to enter or remain in the UK for a period of either 30 months or 5 years, depending on the period of leave applied for. Please note that the initial period of 30 months is extendable by a further 30 months.  

After 5 years in the UK under this route, Hong Kong BNO visa, holders can become eligible for UK indefinite leave to remain. After 12 months with the ILR status, they can become eligible for British citizenship. However, please note that you should make the ILR application no earlier than 28 days before the expiry of your BN(O) visa.  

How much does it cost to get a Hong Kong BN(O) Visa?

The BN(O) visa application fee is £180 for a 2-and-a-half-year visa, or £250 for a 5-year visa – this fee is payable per applicant. Most applicants will be expected to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at the time of the application, to cover the relevant visa period (30 months or 5 years).  

Currently, the Immigration Health Surcharge is at £624 per visa holder per year, with a reduced rate for dependent children. In effect, for a 5-year visa, this will result to £3,120 per adult and £2,350 for applicants under 18 years of age.  

Additionally, each applicant will need to pay £19.20 to submit their biometric information.  

Can my dependants be included as part of my Hong Kong BN(O) Visa?

Under this route, your dependants may be eligible to apply with you for the BN(O) visa, if they meet the requirements. Dependent family members could include your: 

  • Spouse or civil partner 
  • Unmarried partner, where you have been cohabitating for a minimum of 2 years at the time of the application. 
  • Child or grandchild under the age of 18  
  • Child aged 18 or over, born on or after 1st July 1997 (and their partner or child under 18) 
  • Parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son, or daughter (18 or older) if they live with you and are very dependent on you for their care.  

How can I apply to include my dependants as part of my Hong Kong BN(O) Visa?

To ensure a successful outcome for the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa, as a dependent of the main applicant, each family member will need to apply for the same period of leave – e.g., two and a half years or 5 years.  

Once the main applicant has submitted their application, they will be issued with a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). In effect, the dependant family members will need to use this reference number to submit their own application. It is highly recommended that dependent applications are made on the same day as the main applicant’s application.  

Unless one parent or grandparent has sole responsibility for the child under 18, the child must apply with both of their parents.   

Furthermore, you and your family members will need to prove in your individual applications that you have a qualifying relationship and live with one another – it is important to be aware that it is not possible for a dependant to submit their application once your visa decision has been made.

How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?

At Bridge Partners, we offer expert advice and support regarding the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa route and can guide you on your eligibility as well as any questions you may have about the application process. With our friendly but reliable approach, we are confident that we can best advise you on your immigration journey via this route, for both you and perhaps your dependants also. Please contact us today for any enquiries you may have.  

Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa​ Application Questions

Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.   

The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement. 

You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.  

The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.   

Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.  

For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.

Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.  

Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.