Who is eligible for a UK Senior Specialist Worker Visa in the UK?

The UK Senior Specialist Worker Visa authorizes overseas nationals to arrive in the UK and undertake the job role they have received sponsorship for. The Validity of the Visa usually corresponds to the duration of the job offer an extra 14 days. Successful candidates can travel to the UK along with the family members dependent on them. They can exit and arrive in the UK during the validity of the Visa and also enroll in the Study Program. However, this must not hinder the job role they are sponsored for. The maximum duration of residence on the Senior Specialist Worker Visa in the UK will depend on the earnings/salary. Those who get an annual salary of less than £73,900 can remain in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in a period of 6 years. The calculation of the authorized residence period will be based on the cumulative permission through both ICT and GBM routes. However, those who work in the UL and get a higher annual income of £73,900 or higher can reside and work in the UK for 9 years in a period of 10 years. The Senior or Specialist Worker or Global Business Mobility Visa does not offer a pathway to ILR- Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. Nevertheless, they transition to another UK Visa like the Skilled Worker Visa route that offers a pathway to long-term settlement or ILR. They can later apply for UK PR Visa / ILR subject to fulfilling eligibility criteria.

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Requirements

The applicants of the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa have to be aged eighteen years or more and have to fulfill the following criteria:

• Sponsorship Criteria: Possess lawful COS – Certificate of Sponsorship from a sponsor with a license in the UK
• Overseas Work Criteria: Be working currently for the linked employer overseas and if applicable fulfill the overseas work criteria
• Job Criteria: Be employed in an occupation included in the eligible occupations list of the UKVI
• Salary Criteria: Get paid the minimum qualified salary needed for their occupation
• Financial Criteria: Have the ability to support themselves monetarily after arriving in the UK, if applicable
• Medical Criteria: Offer TB Test Certificate if arriving from a listed nation

Application Process

The process of submitting the application for the Senior or Specialist Worker or Global Business Mobility Visa is identical to the previous ICT Pathway. Applicants have to complete the Visa application process online by using the COS reference number. It must be noted here that the COS must not have been offered more than 80 days before the application date and have a confirmed commencement date of not beyond 90 days after that application date. Applicants must also make payment of the applicable fee and file diverse extensive documents supporting their application based on their nation of residence. Further, according to their passport type, they may have to offer their photographs and fingerprints. It is to enable them to obtain a Biometric Residence Permit. After scheduling the appointment, applicants have to carry along with them the supporting documents for the purpose of scanning. Once the Senior or Specialist Worker or Global Business Mobility Visa is approved, the applicant will be allowed to be employed in the UK in the occupation for which they have received sponsorship. They will also be allowed to take up voluntary work and based on specific criteria also study in the UK.

Visa Application Processing Times

The Senior or Specialist Worker or Global Business Mobility Visa has started accepting applications recently. So as of now, it is not clear the exact processing time required for deciding the Visa applications. Nevertheless, because it is a direct replacement for the ICT Visa, it is expected that the processing times will also be identical. Usually, as per the previous regulations, the processing of ICT Visa applications submitted overseas would be a maximum of three weeks. Further, 8 weeks were required for processing applications submitted onshore/ in the UK. If you are keen to immigrate to the UK on a Senior or Specialist Worker or Global Business Mobility Visa, contact Immigration Experts at the Best UK Immigration Consultants in India.