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GBM – UK Expansion Worker 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 GBM UK Expansion Worker Visa?

The GBM UK Expansion Worker visa allows you to enter the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that is yet to start trading in the UK. It is crucial that you already work for the overseas business as either a senior manager or specialist employee – sponsors may send a maximum of 5 workers at a time.  

Who can apply for a GBM UK Expansion Worker Visa?

To obtain this visa route, you will need to be sponsored to do a specific job, which meets certain skill and salary requirements, by a licenced employer who is approved by the Home Office. 

 The GBM route does not lead directly to settlement in the UK, however you may be eligible to switch into another immigration route which does not lead to settlement. Applicants may be able to switch into another immigration route which does lead to settlement. Also, applicants can be joined or accompanied by a partner and dependent children.  

What are the requirements?

To qualify for this visa, you must meet the following criteria: 

  • Be aged 18 or over. 
  • You are currently working for a business or organisation that is linked to your UK sponsor. 
  • You have evidence of working outside the UK for the linked business/ organisation for a period of at least 12 months. 
  • You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by your UK sponsor for the job you intend to do. 
  • The job you are planning to do is genuine. 
  • The job you are planning to do is skilled at least RQF Level 6. 
  • Your salary must be equal or exceed both £45,800 per year and the ‘going rate’ for the job. 
  • You should be self-sufficient without relying on public funds. 
  • You can provide a valid TB certificate, if necessary. 

 

As part of your application, you will need a valid certificate of sponsorship for the job you are planning to do in the UK. Your sponsor must be listed as A-rated according to the Home Office’s register of licenced sponsors. It is important that your certificate of sponsorship is not issued more than three months before your GBM application. There are several requirements that your certificate of sponsorship must include, for example: 

  • Details of your name, job, and salary. 
  • Confirmation that you have worked for your employer outside the UK for at least 12 months. 
  • A start date which is no more than 3 months after the date of your GBM application. 
  • Confirmation that the certificate of sponsorship has not been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused and has not been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office.  

 

Additionally, to be granted for this visa you will need to demonstrate to the Home Office that the job you are being sponsored for is a genuine job. If there are any doubts or reasonable grounds to believe that the job has been created mainly for the visa application, or does not exist, then your application will be refused.  

You must also prove to the Home Office that you have not entered into an agreement whereby you will fill a temporary or permanent position with a third party, who is not a sponsor.  

Moreover, the job that you are applying for must be above a minimum skill level – it should be equivalent to a graduate level role.  

What is the GBM UK Expansion Worker Visa processing time?

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity, and supplied your documents, you should get a decision on your visa within: 

  • 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK. 
  • 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK.  

How to apply for a GBM UK Expansion Worker Visa?

To apply for this visa, the applicant will need to complete an online application, making sure to include their CoS reference number. Once the application is submitted, you would then need to provide supporting evidence and may need to attend an appointment to supply this biometric information. You will be informed if an appointment is need.   

How long does a GBM UK Expansion Worker Visa last?

If the application is successful, you may remain in the UK with this visa for whichever is shorter of: 

  • 12 months after the start date of the job on your certificate of sponsorship. 
  • The time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days. 

If you wish to extend your stay in the UK, that is possible by 12 months. However, please note that the maximum time you can stay in the UK on this visa is 2 years.  

Unfortunately, this kind of visa does not provide a path towards settlement in the UK, however a senior or specialist employee may be able to apply for leave to remain under a different immigration route.  

How much does it cost to get a GBM Expansion Worker Visa?

To apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa, there are various fees involved. Alongside meeting funds of at least £1,270, where applicable, the applicant may be required to pay an application fee of £259 plus the annual immigration health surcharge.  

One may need to consider the cost of applying for sponsorship also, plus a fee for issuing each CoS. As a temporary worker route for sponsor licencing fee purposes, the fee will be the standard fee of £536. The fee for issuing a CoS for a UK Expansion Worker is £21.  

Can my dependants be included as part of my GBM UK Expansion Worker Visa?

As part of your application, your partner and children can apply to join or stay in the UK if they are eligible according to the following criteria.  

For your relationship with a partner, you must be able to prove that you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK or that you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least two years when you apply.  

Similarly, if your child lives with you, you’ll need to demonstrate evidence of their address such as a bank statement, a driving licence, NHS registration document or an official letter from their university or college.  

How can I apply to include my dependants as part of my GBM UK Expansion Worker Visa?

To include dependents as part of this visa application, each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the relevant visa fees. It’s critical that they apply before they decide to travel to the UK.  

Additionally, your partner and children will need to prove their identity for instance through attending a visa application centre to get their biometric data collected.  

We can assist with the process of arranging their appointment at the visa application centre if needed. 

How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?

Here at Bridge Partners, we can support your organisation’s plans to expand into the UK. We can provide guidance on the Home Office’s requirements under the Expansion Worker route, including advice on the sponsorship obligations for employers. We can work closely with you to ensure that all aspects of your sponsor licence and visa applications are taken care of. Contact us today for more information.  

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.