If you’re reading this article then you must have taken interest in the possibility to expand your business in the UK. But you need a visa to do this, right? Global mobility is the right option for you, in this case. Once you obtain it, it will allow you, or your special employees to temporarily come to this country and initiate the work needed for the business to run smoothly in the UK. This must sound tempting.
Well, it is an opportunity worth taking because you can send as many as 5 people at a time to do the job needed to be done.
It’s important to emphasize the term initiate, in this case, because this type of visa is only for a business that is yet to start. If it has already started, then another type of visa is required.
Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when applying for this type of visa, which you should be aware of, in order to avoid them
Naturally, the first one is failing to meet the requirements
The first one is that you need to be at least 18 years old, and already running a business that is linked to a UK sponsor. This business of yours has to be existing for at least a year unless it is a specific type of business making a lot of money in which case this may not apply.
About the sponsor, you’ll need to have proof of sponsorship. Besides these two, the third most important criteria people fail to meet is the amount of salary per business year. It needs to be no less than 40,000 pounds.
All other requirements are varying on one business to another. In order to avoid making a mistake, we highly advise you to get help from global business mobility visa lawyers, as they will make sure all mistakes are minimized.
Completing the visa application correctly
This is usually done by filling out the form on a website. It seems simple, just start answering questions and follow the instructions in the application. However, things start to be complicated once you realize it is for a business purpose, you’re doing this, and tons of information is needed. Here you may want to consult professionals in the field, to avoid getting rejected.
When you are done with the application, you will receive a confirmation email and instructions to print it and bring it to the interview, and that is the next thing you need to do.
Payment and selection of an appointment for the interview
To apply for a visa you need to pay a fee, and the money is non-refundable even if you are rejected for the visa. You will receive all payment instructions after completing the application. After payment, you will have the option to choose an appointment that suits you for the visa, i.e. for an interview. You will have all the instructions on the website, just read carefully. It is where most people make mistakes – not reading through the specific guidelines.
Also, do not leave the visa application at the last minute, because you do not know when the first available appointment for the visa interview will be. You can also change the appointment later on the website.
When it comes to the documents people you send to inspect the possibility of expanding your business need to have, they include standard things like a passport that must be valid, one 5 x 5 cm photo taken within the last 6 months, a passport with your previous visas if you had them.
This means you need to launch your business activity here. The second common mistake is not complying with the rules and regulations.
You can become a sole trader in the UK, expand your existing business, or start it as an individual. You can do this by starting a company for which you will then “trade” or simply work as a self-employed person. Whatever the choice you make, consulting with a lawyer will most definitely minimize the chances of making a mistake that will obstruct your normal business activities. Therefore, hiring professionals in this field that already work with cases like yours, will result in saving time you would otherwise have to spend on pausing your business expansion plans.
As for the 12 months we’ve mentioned your business needed to be operational, it also refers to employees you’re planning to send there. In other words, they too have to be in continuous work engagement, in order to be eligible. Emphasis on continuous. It means there must not be any pauses in your engagement, such as maternity or paternity leaves before you have submitted the application. Another one of the most common mistakes is connected to understanding this, as people think it refers to the contract duration. Even sick leave can sometimes be an obstacle in the process.
Why all the fuss with such conditions?
When reading about the terms and conditions the UK has when it comes to work migration, in general, one can’t help to wonder why is all this necessary. Especially when you are planning to do business in the country, which means paying taxes, and doing other activities that are in the country’s best interest. Anyway, you can’t just show up and start doing what you do in other countries, because there are rules everywhere, and the UK is a very careful country. The expansion has to happen after a process of carefully following the rules.
One of which is obtaining an adequate visa, based on what governments are keeping up with regarding who is coming into the country and why. Especially because of why, as it shows you’re planning to do business and participate in its economy, determined to oblige all the rules and regulations.
