If you wish to apply for a visa in this category then our team at Hunter Stone Law will be able to guide and assist you throughout every step of the process. In order to qualify for this visa you would have to meet the requirement of the relevant section of the Immigration Rules. However we have attempted to simplify the requirements below.
You can apply to come to the UK as a representative of an overseas business if you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland and you’re either:
How long you can stay
You can come to the UK for an initial period of 3 years. You may be able to extend your visa for another 2 years. After you’ve been in the UK for 5 years, you can apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this visa you must:
Sole Representatives
If you are coming to the UK as a sole representative you must:
Newspaper, news agency or broadcast employees
As an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation, you can come to the UK if you’re being posted here on a long-term assignment.
Knowledge of English
You will need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply,
You can prove your knowledge of English by either:
You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways and you won’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of a majority English speaking country. A full list of countries is available from the Home Office website. You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.
Documents you must provide
When you apply you’ll need to provide:
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
Sole representatives
When applying as a sole representative of an overseas company you’ll need to provide:
You should also provide evidence that you:
Newspaper, news agency or broadcast employees
As an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation you must also provide:
How to apply
If you’re applying from outside the UK. Then you must apply online for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa. You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.
If you’re applying in the UK then you can only extend your existing visa if you’re already in the UK.
Extend your visa
You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Representative of an Overseas Business visa. You should include any dependants who are on your current visa on your application to extend - including children who have turned 18 during your stay. You should apply before your current visa expires.
Eligibility
You must already have this visa as either:
You must also meet the following conditions:
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. Please note that 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.
How to extend your visa
Within the UK you can download the form and apply by post - the address is on the form. As part of your application, you’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a Post Office. Find a Post Office that offers the enrolment service - choose ‘Home Office Biometric Enrolment’ from the drop down list.
Family members
Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa. Your family members must have a visa if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:
If your dependants applying from outside the UK then your family members must apply online. They’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of their application.
If your dependants applying from inside the UK. Your dependants can apply to extend or switch their visas to stay with you if they’re already in the UK. They should apply using the dependant application form. It’s best to send your dependants’ applications at the same time as yours.
Please be aware that members of your family can’t apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.
What you can and can’t do
You can:
You can’t: