Immigration Update: Summer 2022
Over the past few months many new immigration routes were introduced by the UK. These include the High Potential Individual Route as well as multiple Global Mobility Visas. In this blog, we’ll give a brief explanation of these updates, including eligibility criteria and length of stay in the UK.
High Potential Individual Route
Firstly, on the 30th of May 2022, the new High Potential Individual (HPI) route opened for application. This is a short-term work visa for individuals who have attended and been awarded a degree from an eligible global university in the last five years. The list of eligible universities can be checked on the gov.uk website.
Generally a HPI visa will last two years, and those with a PhD or doctorate qualification can stay for three years. Those applying for this visa must:
Have the equivalent of a UK Bachelor’s degree, Postgraduate degree, PhD or doctorate
Prove their knowledge of English
Prove they have enough personal savings to support themselves in the UK (unless they have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months)
They do not need to have a job offer to apply. It is also important to note that the HPI visa cannot be applied for if the individual already has a Graduate visa, or has come to the UK as a Doctorate Extension Scheme student. This new visa can only be applied for once.
With a HPI visa, individuals can:
Work in most jobs
Look for work
Be self-employed
Live in the UK with a partner and children, if they’re eligible
Do voluntary work
Travel abroad and return to the UK
They cannot:
Apply for most benefits or the State Pension
Work as a professional sportsperson
Extend this visa
Apply to settle permanently in the UK
If an individual on a HPI visa wishes to stay in the UK after this visa has expired, they may be able to switch to a different visa, e.g. a Skilled Worker visa.
Global Mobility Visas
Recently Global Mobility Visas have also been introduced. These are “routes are for workers based outside the UK who are undertaking a temporary work assignment in the UK” (Gov.uk)
All of these visas allow your partner and children to apply to join you or to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.
One: Graduate Trainee Visa
This allows you to come or to stay in the UK to work for your employer in their UK branch. Your job must be eligible and part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. It has replaced the Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa, previously Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee visa.
To qualify, you must:
Be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
Have worked for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before you apply
Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK
Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
Be paid at least £23,100 per year
It allows you to stay in the UK for whichever is shorter of:
The time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
12 months
You cannot extend this visa, but you can apply for another Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK.
Two: UK Expansion Worker Visa
A UK Expansion Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK yet.
To be eligible for a UK Expansion Worker visa you need to:
Must already work for the overseas business as either a senior manager or specialist employee
Have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer
Have worked for your employer outside the UK
Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
Be paid the minimum eligible salary required for your job
You can stay in the UK with a UK Expansion Worker 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 want to stay longer in the UK, you can extend your visa by 12 months. The maximum time you can stay in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa is 2 years. But if you’ve spent time in the UK on this or another visa, you might not be able to stay on a UK Expansion Worker visa for as long.
Three: Secondment Worker Visa
The Secondment worker visa is for people who are being transferred by an overseas employer to the UK to do an eligible job for a different organisation.
To be eligible for a Secondment Worker visa, you must:
Be an existing employee of an overseas organisation that has a high-value contract with your UK sponsor
Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your UK sponsor with information about the role you’ve been offered
Have worked for your overseas employer for 12 months
Do a job in the UK that’s on the list of eligible occupations
You can stay in the UK with a Secondment Worker visa for whichever is shorter of:
12 months after the start date of the job detailed in your certificate of sponsorship
The time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can extend your visa by 12 months. The maximum time you can stay in the UK on a Secondment Worker visa is 2 years.
Four: Service Supplier Visa
You can apply for a Service Supplier visa if you have a contract to provide services for a UK company, either as:
an employee for an overseas company
a self-employed professional based overseas
To be eligible for a Service Supplier visa, you must:
Be an employee of an overseas business, or a self-employed service provider based overseas
Be providing a service to a UK business under a contract that is covered by a valid trade agreement
Be doing an eligible job - if your job is not eligible you may still qualify if you have relevant qualifications and experience
Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your UK sponsor with information about your work
Have worked for your employer for at least 12 months outside the UK, or have at least 12 months’ professional experience if self-employed
How long you can stay in the UK depends on the type of trade agreement you’re providing services under. You can stay for whichever is the shorter of:
6 months or 12 months - this depends on the trade agreement you’re providing services under
The time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
These are some of the recent immigration updates. Interested in learning more about these immigration routes and how you can apply? Get in touch with us to discuss what we can do for you.
The above information is correct as of 9/06/2022 and may be subject to change. The above does not constitute legal advice. Furthermore, these are just some of the basic requirements and further legal advice should be sought regarding your individual circumstances.