UK Permits and Visas

The United Kingdom has different kinds of permits and visa for people intenting to visit UK.

Applications for Work permit must be filed by the employer and not the individual. Work permits are usually issued for 18 months but it is not uncommon to be issued with a 5-year work permit. If you change employment, your work permit becomes invalid and your new employer must file your work permit application before you begin work.

Work permits are almost always multiple entry visas which means that you can enter and leave the country any number of times as long as your passport hasn't expired and your work permit is still valid. Work permits can be extended by your employer when they expire and you do not need to leave the country to do so.

You are not allowed to indulge in any work or business other than the work for which you are issued the work permit.

The HSMP visa is designed to allow highly skilled people to migrate to the UK to look for work or self-employment opportunities. You do not need a specific job offer in the UK to apply for HSMP. Applications for HSMP can be made from abroad or within the UK if you are living in UK legallyon certain work related categories. If you are visitor, you can not apply for HSMP in UK but will have to apply for it abroad in your home country.

HSMP is a points-based immigration scheme. Points are scored in four main areas:

You will also be required to supply specified required evidence to meet the mandatory English Language requirement

There are also separate arrangements for those who are applying through the MBA Provision.

You need to score 75 points or more and meet the English language requirement in order to qualify as a highly skilled migrant.

HSMP is normally issued for 24 months. You can apply for an extension of HSMp towards the end. Extension of leave is based on your circumstances. If you are gainfully employed or self-employed and have been living in Uk continuously for those 24 months, this should not be a problem.

Business visa is normally issued for 6 months. As a visitor, you may do business that is directly linked to your employment or business abroad. You must not do work for which you would need a work permit. You should get your salary from abroad. You may receive reasonable travel and living expenses from sources in the United Kingdom.

You can come to the UK to act as a sole representative to establish a wholly owned subsidiary or register a branch in the UK for an overseas parent company. The company must have no branch, subsidiary or other representative in the UK . If the firm has a legal entity in the UK but this does not employ staff or transact business then you may be able to enter the UK as their sole representative.

The working holidaymaker scheme is an arrangement where a Commonwealth citizen aged between 17 and 30 can come to the United Kingdom (UK) for an extended holiday for up to two years. You can work, but only provided this is incidental to the holiday. The holiday should be the primary reason for your stay.

The Innovators scheme aims to attract to the UK outstanding entrepreneurs with new and creative ideas from overseas whose business proposals will result in exceptional economic benefits for the UK . Although it is open to applicants who want to set up UK businesses in any sector, it is mainly aimed at those specialising in high-tech areas, in science and technology based sectors. A successful applicant, therefore, will usually have not only an entrepreneurial track record or evidence of potential but also technical skills. The successful business proposal will aid the development of e-commerce and other new technologies in the UK .

If you want to visit the UK for upto 6 months for tourist etc, you can apply for a visitor visa. You must have enough funds to support yourself during your stay in UK without working or needing any help from public funds.

If you are the spouse / partner / child of a person working in the UK, you can apply for a dependent visa

To apply for a student visa, you must be able to show that you have been accepted on a recognized full-time course of study at an educational establishment that is on the UK's Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Register of Education and Training Providers.

work for more than 20 hours a week during term time unless your placement is part of your studies, has been agreed with your educational institution and leads to a degree or qualification awarded by a nationally recognised examining body
do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or
work full-time in a permanent job.

If you are coming to UK on a student visa for less than 6 months, you need permission to work.

Your husband, wife or civil partner and any of your children under 18 can come to the UK with you during your studies, as long as you can support them and live without needing any help from public funds.