Representative of an Overseas Business visa

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1. Overview

You can apply as a representative of an overseas business if you바카라 사이트檙e an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK.

If you바카라 사이트檙e a representative of an overseas business planning to set up its first UK branch, apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) instead.

You must also meet the other eligibility requirements.

If you바카라 사이트檙e already in the UK as a sole representative, you can still apply to extend your stay.

How long it will take

If you apply from outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Example

You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

If you apply from inside the UK

You will get a decision within 8 weeks.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will contact you if your application will take longer, for example:

  • if your supporting documents need to be verified
  • if you need to attend an interview
  • because of your personal circumstances (for example, if you have a criminal conviction)

Once you바카라 사이트檝e applied you can stay in the UK until you바카라 사이트檝e been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expires.

Fees

If you apply from outside the UK, a Representative of an Overseas Business visa costs 拢769.

If you apply from inside the UK, the visa costs 拢885. You바카라 사이트檒l also need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there바카라 사이트檚 no fee for this.

Healthcare surcharge

You must pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

How long you can stay

The visa lets you stay in the UK for an initial period of 3 years.

You may be able to extend your visa for another 2 years.

After you바카라 사이트檝e been in the UK for 5 years, you can apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

You cannot:

2. Eligibility

To be eligible for this visa you must:

You can come to the UK if you바카라 사이트檙e an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation and you바카라 사이트檙e being posted here on a long-term assignment.

3. Knowledge of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

  • passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening
  • having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by as being equivalent to a UK bachelor바카라 사이트檚 degree, master바카라 사이트檚 degree or PhD

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you바카라 사이트檙e a national of one of the following countries or territories:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • the Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • the British overseas territories
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Jamaica
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • USA

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

4. Documents you must provide

When you apply you바카라 사이트檒l need to provide:

  • a current passport or other valid travel identification
  • evidence that you can support yourself and any dependants during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
  • proof that you meet the English requirement
  • a full description of the parent company바카라 사이트檚 activities, including details of assets and accounts
  • confirmation that you will be representing them in the UK in a long term, full-time role

If you바카라 사이트檙e applying from overseas, you바카라 사이트檒l also need to provide:

  • details of where you바카라 사이트檒l be staying during your stay
  • your tuberculosis test results if you바카라 사이트檙e from a country where you have to take the test

If you바카라 사이트檙e applying from overseas, you바카라 사이트檒l need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

All applicants need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Read the guide for a list of documents you can provide.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

5. Apply from outside the UK

Read the Representative of an Overseas Business guidance before you apply.

Apply for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa

You must apply online for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you바카라 사이트檒l be asked to make an appointment at a visa application centre to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken.

You바카라 사이트檒l also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

  • upload them into the online service
  • have them scanned at your UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Once you바카라 사이트檝e applied you can stay in the UK until you바카라 사이트檝e been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

6. Your partner and children

Your family members (바카라 사이트榙ependants바카라 사이트�) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa.

A 바카라 사이트榙ependant바카라 사이트� is any of the following:

  • your husband, wife or partner
  • your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
  • your child over 18 if they currently have permission (바카라 사이트榣eave to enter바카라 사이트� or 바카라 사이트榣eave to remain바카라 사이트�) to be in the UK as your dependant

If your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child바카라 사이트檚 parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child바카라 사이트檚 visa will end on the earlier date.

If you바카라 사이트檙e a sole representative, your husband, wife or partner cannot be in the UK as your dependant if they own or control a majority of the overseas business you will be representing.

Apply from outside the UK

Your family members must .

They바카라 사이트檒l need to have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre as part of their application.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

If you extend or switch your visa, your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 current visa will still be valid until its original end date. Your partner or child need to apply to extend or switch their visa, either:

  • at the same time as you
  • at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Members of your family cannot apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.

If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can only switch if they have either:

  • completed the course they were sponsored to study
  • studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

Get help to apply online

Your family can get help with completing the online form if they:

  • do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
  • do not have internet access

Your family can only use this service if they바카라 사이트檙e applying to extend or switch to your visa in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Children born while you바카라 사이트檙e in the UK

If you have children while you바카라 사이트檙e in the UK, you can .

You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

You바카라 사이트檒l need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

What your partner or child can and cannot do

Your partner or child can:

  • work, except as a sportsperson or coach
  • study
  • travel abroad and return to the UK
  • apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 바카라 사이트榠ndefinite leave to remain바카라 사이트�) if they바카라 사이트檝e lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

If their application is successful, they바카라 사이트檒l get a full list of what they can and cannot do.

7. Extend your visa

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Representative of an Overseas Business visa. You must apply before your current visa expires.

Your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.

They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Eligibility

You must already have this visa as either:

  • a representative of an overseas business
  • an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation

You must also meet the following conditions:

  • you바카라 사이트檙e still working for the same employer as when you were issued your previous visa
  • your employer바카라 사이트檚 principal place of business is still outside the UK

If you바카라 사이트檙e a sole representative, you must also still be supervising the UK branch or subsidiary you established for the overseas business.

You must be in the UK to extend your visa.

Documents you바카라 사이트檒l need to apply to extend your visa

There are different documents you바카라 사이트檒l need to provide depending on your role.

Sole representatives

When applying to extend as a sole representative of an overseas business you바카라 사이트檒l need to provide:

  • a full description of the UK business바카라 사이트檚 activities, including accounts, copies of invoices or letters from UK organisations you바카라 사이트檝e worked with
  • a Companies House certificate of registration as a UK establishment (for a branch), or a certificate of incorporation (for a subsidiary)
  • evidence that the UK business is wholly owned by the overseas business
  • a letter from your employer confirming you바카라 사이트檙e continuing work in the same role
  • your salary details

Newspaper, news agency or broadcast employees

When applying to extend as an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation you바카라 사이트檒l need to provide:

  • a letter from your employer confirming you바카라 사이트檙e continuing work in the same role
  • your salary details

How long you can stay

A Representative of an Overseas Business visa can be extended for up to 2 years after the original visa duration of 3 years.

Your visa can be extended for 3 years if your previous Representative of an Overseas Business visa was issued before 1 October 2009.

You can apply to settle once you have been in the UK for 5 years and you have an ongoing job with the same company.

Fees

For each person applying, you바카라 사이트檒l need to pay the visa extension fee:

  • 拢885 if you바카라 사이트檙e applying from inside the UK
  • 拢769 if you바카라 사이트檙e applying from outside the UK

You바카라 사이트檒l also need to pay the healthcare surcharge.

You바카라 사이트檒l need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there바카라 사이트檚 no fee for this.

Apply to extend your Representative of an Overseas Business visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you바카라 사이트檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you바카라 사이트檒l be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken.

You바카라 사이트檒l also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

  • upload them into the online service
  • have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

  • do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
  • do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you바카라 사이트檙e applying to extend your visa in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

How long it takes

A decision will be made within 8 weeks.

You바카라 사이트檒l be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

  • if your supporting documents need to be verified
  • if you need to attend an interview
  • because of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

Once you바카라 사이트檝e applied you can stay in the UK until you바카라 사이트檝e been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

8. Using a solicitor or an agent

You can use a solicitor or other agent to help with your application or extension.

They must be registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), unless they are exempt.

Application decisions will be sent to your representative, provided they are registered or permitted to give immigration advice.

Exemptions from IAA registration

An adviser who is a member of one of the following professional bodies (or working under their supervision) does not need to be registered with the IAA:

Members of the following UK bodies (or advisers working under their supervision) are also exempt:

  • state education institutions and their student unions
  • health sector bodies
  • employers giving immigration advice to their employees or prospective employees only

Advisers from outside the UK

You can use an adviser who is not in the UK. They do not need to be registered with the IAA.

Passports or other travel documents cannot be sent or returned to advisers outside the UK.

9. Switch to this visa

You might be able to apply to change (바카라 사이트榮witch바카라 사이트�) to a Representative of an Overseas Business visa if you바카라 사이트檙e already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.

They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Who can apply to switch

You can switch to this visa if you바카라 사이트檙e both:

  • an employee of an overseas media organisation (including newspapers or broadcasters)
  • working on a long-term assignment in the UK

If you바카라 사이트檙e currently in the UK on a Student visa, one of the following must also apply:

  • you have completed the course you were sponsored to study
  • you have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

Who cannot apply to switch

You cannot apply to switch to a Representative of an Overseas Business visa if you바카라 사이트檙e currently in the UK with any of the following:

You must leave the UK and apply for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa from abroad if you바카라 사이트檙e in one of these categories.

You also cannot switch to this visa if you are a sole representative of a business.

Fees

The visa costs 拢885.

Healthcare surcharge

바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트媃ou must pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you바카라 사이트檒l need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you바카라 사이트檙e from and the type of passport you have.

You바카라 사이트檒l either:

  • use the 바카라 사이트楿K Immigration: ID Check바카라 사이트� app to scan your identity document - you바카라 사이트檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
  • have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You바카라 사이트檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to switch to a Representative of an Overseas Business visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you바카라 사이트檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you바카라 사이트檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

You바카라 사이트檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You바카라 사이트檒l be contacted if your application will take longer, for example:

  • if your supporting documents need to be verified
  • if you need to attend an interview
  • because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you바카라 사이트檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You바카라 사이트檒l only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You바카라 사이트檒l get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.