UK Expansion Worker Visa

The UK Expansion Worker visa allows foreign workers to come to the UK and set up a United Kingdom branch of an overseas business that hasn’t started trading in the UK yet.

Only applicants who already work for the business as a senior manager or specialist employee are eligible for this visa.

Note that if the business is already trading in the UK, applicants should apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa instead.

This visa is a part of the UK government’s Global Business Mobility category of work visa

Eligibility

To be eligible for the UK Expansion Worker Visa, you must meet the criteria and provide evidence to support your application.

• Have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer, who must be a UK sponsor
• Have worked for your employer outside of the UK for at least 12 months unless you’re one of the following:
• Be paid at least £42,400 per year or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher

What Can I Do with an Expansion Worker Visa?

1. Work for Your Sponsor

2. Change of Employment: You can switch jobs within the same company or move to a different company

3. Additional Employment: You can take up part-time or supplementary work (up to 20 hours per week) in the same occupation and at the same professional level as your main job

4. Travel In and Out of the UK: Multiple Entries

5. Study: You can study in the UK

6. Dependants: You can bring your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner, and children under 18 to the UK as your dependants. They will be eligible to work and study in the UK.

How Long Can You Stay in the UK?

With a UK Expansion Worker Visa, you can initially stay in the UK for a maximum period of 3 years. After this initial period, you may be eligible to extend your visa for another 3 years, with no maximum time limit on the total time you can spend in the UK as an Expansion Worker.

Cost and other Financial Requirements?

• The Expansion Worker visa costs £259 to obtain.
• You will also have to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge when applying. This will be £624 per year, for every year you’ll be in the UK.
• You must also have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK.
• You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of your date of application.
• You’ll normally need to show proof of this when you apply, unless you’ve already been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more

Steps in the Application Process and Estimated Time

1. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Issuance: Time taken by your UK employer to apply for and obtain a CoS (can vary).

2. Visa Application Submission: Typically, 3 weeks for standard processing, 5 working days for priority service, and 24 hours for super priority service.

3. Biometrics Appointment: Usually within a few days to a week after submitting the visa application.

4. Decision on Visa Application: After the biometrics appointment, you will receive a decision on your visa application within the processing timeframes mentioned above.