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UK Business Visiting / Visas

Updated: Mar 7

Working in UK, and Visa rules – post Brexit

 

These notes concern business visits to uk, not re-locating permanently to uk.

The uk is keen to remain as a major world hub for business, however we live in difficult times, and the easy-going ways of up to c.1980s can no longer apply. So we have evolved to some fairly sophisticated rules designed to permit legitimate business visits to uk, whilst weeding out those masquerading as businessmen, in order to relocate to uk.

And of course the new rules meaning fighting an online system, rather than a friendly chat in your local british embassy with some chap with a handlebar moustache.

 

We quote below the text of HM Government’s guidance:-

Visit on business

You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to do the following business activities:

Ø                  attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars

Ø                  negotiate and sign deals and contracts

Ø                  attend trade fairs to promote your business (you cannot sell things)

Ø                  get work-related training if you’re employed overseas and the training is not available in your home country

Ø                  give a one-off or short series of talks as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event - you can only be paid for speaking at certain engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’)

Ø                  carry out site visits and inspections

Ø                  oversee the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK company to your overseas company or organisation

Ø                  deliver training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company you work for overseas

Ø                  install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation

 

You should:

Ø                  check you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor (tourist)

Ø                  check if you actually need a visa to visit the UK

Ø                  apply for a Standard Visitor visa online

Ø                  As a visitor, you cannot work for a UK company or as a self-employed person unless you’re coming to the UK for a permitted paid engagement (see above).

Ø                  You’ll need to apply for a work visa if you want to do any paid or even unpaid work that’s not included in the business activities on this page.

 

Doing activities as part of an overseas job role

You can do certain activities in the UK as a Standard Visitor, if you’re (truly) employed overseas as:

 

Ø                  an archaeologist

Ø                  an artist, entertainer or musician

Ø                  a bodyguard

Ø                  a camera operator

Ø                  a driver

Ø                  an internal auditor

Ø                  a journalist or correspondent

Ø                  a lawyer or expert witness

Ø                  a market researcher or analyst

Ø                  a personal assistant

Ø                  a pilot or cabin crew member coming to work in the UK under a ‘Wet Lease Agreement’ approved by the Civil Aviation Authority

Ø                  a professor from an overseas academic institution

Ø                  a religious worker

Ø                  a scientist or researcher

Ø                  a seafarer (someone whose normal place of work is on board a ship)

Ø                  a sports person or sports official

Ø                  a tour group courier

Ø                  a translator or interpreter

Ø                  a member of a film crew, including actors, producers, directors or technicians

Ø                  a member of the production team / technical staff supporting an artist, entertainer or musician

 

 

The above all seems pretty straightforward….until you try and do it !

When applying online for the visitors visa always speak the truth for your visit – at Heathrow the man at the desk will always grill you, and detect if your knowledge of the workings of a Da Vinci Robot v98.3a  you say you have come to repair, is scanty.


Keen to see  if you qualify?

And remember remember, don’t fly here on a one way ticket as you will definitely not be allowed in, you must have a Return ticket, even if the return date is Open.

Make sure your accommodation is booked in your name, and you are carrying a printed confirmation showing all the details so Mr. P Assportman can read it easily, and check it. Preferably pay for everything in advance, so he can see you won’t need support of any kind.

If your visit is for some meetings about maybe selling some stuff to a uk customer, make sure you’ve printed some emails showing it’s a genuine visit – they won’t take your word for it!

If you’re visiting a Trade Show, make sure you’ve already got your tickets, and maybe made some appointments.

If you turn up with a large family for a first time visit for business, don’t be surprised if he questions you closely, as he will suspect you of re-locating to uk, so travel unaccompanied a couple of times before bringing partners etc.

If you’re standing there waffling he will definitely say “No”, because it’s his default setting.

Welcome to Britain – open for business!

 


 

 








Queries? Please do Email us.

 

Notes by abell limited ©

 

Contact us with any queries about this post

on abell@chartered.org or 0207 148 4785






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