Global Mobility routes were introduced in the Spring of 2022. These are Immigration routes for overseas workers based abroad who intend to undertake temporary work assignment in the UK.
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Global Mobility routes were introduced on 11th April 2022. They are Immigration routes for overseas workers based abroad who intend to undertake temporary work assignment in the UK in the following categories:
All routes currently fall under the Point Based System and require sponsorship.
The Senior or Specialist Worker Immigration route is for foreign workers that intend to undertake temporary work assignments in the UK. Applicants for this Immigration category must be senior or specialist employees in the overseas businesses or organisations linked to a UK sponsor by common ownership or control.
To be eligible for this Immigration category, applicants must have worked for their overseas employer for a minimum of 12 months.
This Immigration route requires applicants to score 20 points in each of the following categories, including obtaining Sponsorship, being offered a job at an appropriate skill level and a salary at a required level.
The maximum length of time an applicant can stay in this Immigration category cumulatively, is 5 years in any 6 year period, but the exception to this, is where the applicant is a high earner, being paid at least £73,900. High earners are permitted to remain on the Senior or Specialist Immigration route for up to a maximum of 9 years.
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer (ICT) Long Term visa, so persons intending to extend their leave under this previous visa category may be eligible to switch into this new Immigration route.
Applicants can bring their partner and children under 18 to the UK as their dependants.
If you require assistance with a Senior or Specialist visa or extension application, our experienced Immigration solicitors are able to provide advice and representation.
This is an Immigration category for senior managers and specialist employees who have been tasked by their employers abroad to expand their business in the UK. The Expansion Worker visa is for senior employees who intend to set up a branch or subsidiary for their overseas employer in the UK.
Companies and organisations sending their employees to expand their businesses in the UK using this Immigration category must not have been actively trading in the UK, even though they are required to already have a “footprint in the UK”.
The UK Expansion Worker route is within the Point Based System and requires sponsorship.
To satisfy the eligibility requirements, applicants must score points for being issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship, intending to undertake a job at the appropriate skill level and for being paid at the required salary level.
Applicants for the Expansion Worker Visa are expected to select an appropriate occupation code from the Skilled Worker visa eligible codes and occupations.
The Home Office must be satisfied that the applicant is going to fill a genuine position and not one that is primarily aimed at facilitating entry into the UK.
Expansion Workers Applicants are required to have worked for their employer overseas for at least 12 months. The only exception to this requirement is where an Expansion Worker will be paid at least £73,900 a year based on a maximum of a 48 hour working week.
Potential Expansion Workers applying to enter the UK, like many other Immigration categories are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves in the UK.
Applicants are permitted to enter the UK with their dependants, including a partner and children under 18.
We are able to provide comprehensive advice and full representation with regard to UK Expansion Visas and extension applications.
The Service Supplier immigration route is for foreign workers undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK, where the worker is a contractual service supplier employed by an overseas service provider or a self – employed professional based abroad and intending to render services under one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
The Service Supplier route is part of the points based system as with other Global Mobility Routes. Applicants intending to enter the UK as Service Suppliers must score a total of 40 points to satisfy the requirements for this Immigration category. This includes 20 points for Sponsorship and 20 points for obtaining a job at an appropriate skill level.
Persons applying for Service Suppliers visas are also expected to satisfy the nationality requirement as set out by the Home Office.
Applicants must currently be working for the overseas service provider and are required to have worked for that provider for a cumulative period of at least 12 months.
Applicants are also required to demonstrate that they can maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants they intend to have with them in the UK.
Our experienced Immigration Team are able to provide detailed advice and adequate legal representation for persons interested in making Service Supplier visa applications or extensions.
The Secondment Worker route is an Immigration category for foreign workers intending to carry out temporary work assignments in the UK, where the worker being seconded is part of a high value contract or investment by their employer abroad.
This Immigration route requires the applicant to be sponsored by a UK employer who has a Sponsorship Licence and is able to issue the overseas worker with a Certificate of Sponsorship.
The Secondment Worker Immigration category falls under the point based system. Applicants intending to satisfy the requirements for this Immigration route must score a total of 40 points. They will need to score 20 points for Sponsorship and a further 20 points for been offered a job at an appropriate skill level.
The UK Sponsor should have a contract with the organisation based abroad that must be registered with the Home Office. The contract or investment must be one considered to be of high value.
Secondment Workers must currently be working for an overseas business that has a contract with the Home Office. They must also have worked for the overseas organisation for a cumulative period of 12 months running up to the date their application is submitted.
Those intending to apply to enter the UK as Secondment Workers may bring their partner and children under 18 to the UK.
If you require information or representation on how to make a successful Secondment Worker application under the Global Mobility route, please contact our Immigration Team.
The Graduate Trainee route, often referred to as the intra – company transfer – graduate trainee or ICT is for overseas workers that intend to undertake temporary work assignments in the UK. The job being taken on by the graduate trainee must form part of a structured training programme leading to a managerial or specialist position within the sponsor organisation.
Applicants must be sponsored by a UK employer who has a Sponsorship Licence and is able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the Graduate Trainee.
Graduate Trainee applicants must score a combined total of 60 points for Sponsorship for having a job at an appropriate skill level for a Graduate Trainee and a salary at the required level to satisfy the eligibility requirements for this Immigration category.
Graduate Trainees are also required to satisfy the financial requirement when submitting their application.
Our Immigration Team is able to assist with advice and representation in relation to all Graduate Trainee applications.
Our experienced solicitors are on hand to give you advice and assistance.
Call our team on 01582 514000 or Contact Us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
