A UK visitor visa allows a person to visit UK and study there for up to six months. It also covers people coming to the UK for medical treatment and those passing through the UK.
This visa is for an individual wishing to travel for a period of up to six months to the United Kingdom. Whether the trip is for 1 week or 5 months a visitor visa will be required.
Visitor visa holders are prohibited from working, paid or unpaid, during their visit in the United Kingdom.
All visitors to the United Kingdom, whether for business or social reasons, can only stay for six months. If you are given permission to stay for less than six months, you can apply to extend your stay in the United Kingdom for up to six months in total. People from certain nationalities are able to apply for different visas to extend a trip in the United Kingdom.
There are some basic requirements of the visa you must satisfy if you are to be considered for the business visitor visa to the United Kingdom.
These are:
You will need:
Individuals looking for a job in the UK under the current system cannot apply for a work permit. Interested individuals have to first find a job, and then the employer must apply for the work permit for the Individual. Majority of the employers do not directly deal with candidates interested for work permits.
Work Permit Application procedures are different depending upon situation. An individual already on work permit to UK changes an employer and work then he would have to apply a new work permit application to work permits UK. Additional application for further leave to remain (IED) will need to be made at the same time to enable to the employee to take up work with the new employer.
An employee currently outside the UK who wishes to take up a new job in UK will need to lodge a new work permit application to work permits UK. Upon approval of work permit application, a visa application would be required to be made at the British Embassy or Consulate where the employee is a resident. Subsequent to which his passport is endorsed with the Work visa.
At the same time if the visa is approved at a British Embassy or Consulate or a further leave to remain (IED) application is approved from within the UK it gives the employer permission to employ a specific person in a specific job at a specific location.
Work Permit applications are dealt with by Work Permits (UK), part of the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Work Permits (UK) can in many cases deal with work permits in one or two weeks. It will take longer to obtain a work permit if an employer needs to advertise the vacancy and have not yet met the advertising requirements for the work permit application. If the job is in a shortage occupation, for example in the healthcare sector or in teaching, then an employer can apply for the work permit for a suitable worker without advertising the vacancy.
During the application process for work permits to UK, the candidate is allowed to visit the UK. But until the work permit application is approved, the candidate cannot begin work in UK. These candidates can only participate in activities entitled for Business Visitors for UK.
Duration of Work Permits to UK. Work permits are granted for up to five years. After spending the majority of five years physically in the UK on a work permit, a sponsored candidate can usually obtain permanent residence.
The length of the work permit depends on a number of factors which are normally more related to the employer and the job/project than the strength of the candidate. A candidate should not worry if he gets only a short term permit as it will normally be possible for it to be extended if he is still needed by his employer (and if a candidate is not needed by his present employer, then he may well be able to find a new UK employer who can get another permit for him to stay in the UK).
Start up companies will generally not be granted work permits of more than 18 months duration; these permits are extendable, but copies of the first year's audited accounts will need to accompany the application for extension.
Permits for staff to work at a client's site will be limited to the duration of the contract existing with the client. Applications for any extension will need to be accompanied by proof that the contract has been extended (or that another contract has begun).
It used to be the case that, only in exceptional circumstances, or for board level staff, would work permits be issued for an initial 5 year period. Now it is Work Permits (UK) policy to issue for long periods wherever possible – although staff working on client projects are still restricted by contract length. However if a work permit expires, and you have a continuing need for the candidate, it is now very easy to obtain an extension to the permit (the need to re-advertise the post on extension has been formally scrapped).
Work permit extensions: As with the initial application, extensions of work permission can be requested for up to five years, although most work permit holders who meet the criteria will apply for indefinite leave to remain after four years. All applications for extension must be made before the current leave to remain expires. Note that extensions cannot be applied for in the case of Multiple Entry Work Permits but a fresh application for a further permit can be made once the individual concerned is outside the UK.
Skills Shortage Occupations
If the job is in a shortage occupation you can apply for a work permit without advertising the vacancy. The following UK Skills Shortage Occupation list (updated January 2006) is the current list of occupations inshortage in the UK:
Railway engineers
For jobs that are listed below the person must have a degree with at least 2 years relevant experience from a civil, structures or electrical background.
Railways Planner or Engineer
Railways Modeller
Railway Track Design or Permanent Way Engineer
Signaling Engineer, Communications Engineer
Power Supply Engineer or Electrification Engineer
(Senior positions in the above posts would be expected to have at least 5 years relevant experience)
Structural/bridge engineers
For jobs that are listed below the person must have a degree with at least 2 years relevant experience from a structures background.
Structural Engineer
Infrastructure Engineer or Buildings Engineer
Bridge Engineer or Highways Structural Engineer
(Senior posts would generally require appropriate chartered status and a minimum of 5 years relevant experience)
Transportation and highways engineers
For jobs that are listed below the person must have a transport related degree or a degree with at least 2 years relevant experience from a civil background.
Traffic Engineer or Transport Planner
Transport Signal Engineer
Highways Design Engineer or Highways Planning Engineer
Highways Maintenance Engineer
Ground Engineering
Geoenvironmental Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
Geological Advisor
Geological Analyst
Geological Associate
Geological Engineer
Geologist / Hydrogeologist
Geology / Reservoir Engineer
Geomechanics Engineer
Geophysical Specialist
Geophysicist
Geoscientist
Geosupport Engineer.
Engineering Geologist
Ground Engineer
Contaminated Land Specialist
Healthcare shortage occupations
Doctors:
Salaried GPs
Dentists:
Salaried General Dental Practitioners
Salaried Assistant Dentists
Salaried Vocational Dental Practitioner
Consultants in Paediatric Dentistry
Consultants in Surgical Dentistry
Accident and Emergency
Additional Dental Specialities
Anaesthetics
Cardiology
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chemical Pathology
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Clinical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics
Clinical Neurophysiology
Clinical Oncology
Clinical Radiology
Dermatology
Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus
Endodentics
Forensic Psychiatry
Gastroenterology
General Adult Psychiatry
General Internal Medicine
General Surgery
Genito-urinary medicine
Geriatric Medicine
Haematology
Histopathology
Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Intensive Care Medicine
Medical Microbiology & Virology
Medical Oncology
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Nuclear Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Occupational Health
Od Age Psychiatry
Opthalmology
Oral & Maxillo-facial Surgery
Orthodontics
Otolaryngology
Paediatric Cardiology
Paediatrics
Palliative Medicine
Plastic Surgery
Psychiatry of Learning Disabilities
Psychotheropy
Public Health Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
Renal Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology
Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery
Urology
Audiologist
Audiological scientist
Clinical Psychologist
Dietician
Occupational Therapist
Pharmacists
Pharmacy Technician
Pre-Registration Cytogeneticists
Senior Physiotherapists
Speech and Language Therapist
Social Worker
State Registered Scientists In Cytogenetics
Biomedical Scientist / Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer (MLSO)
Qualified HPC registered Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers, including ultrasonographers
All registered nurses and midwives
Program Benefits (HSMP)
Britain has no written constitution, but the system of Parliamentary Government is the result of gradual changes over many centuries. The oldest institution in Britain is the Monarchy, which dates back to at least the ninth century.
Education: Parents are required to ensure that their children receive full-time education between the ages of 5-16, by law. About 94% children receive free education, paid from public funds, while 6% attend independent fee-paying schools.
All young people in full-time education are entitled to career information, advice and guidance.
Childcare: Most childcare organizations are privately run and paid for by parents. Low and middle-class families can receive help for the costs of their childcare through tax credit system.
Day care services are provided through child minders, playgroups, crèches and out-of- school clubs.
Unemployed Allowance: Jobseekers' allowance is a benefit for unemployed seeking work. Claimants must be capable of and available for actively seeking work. They must normally be at least 18 years of age and under pension age.
Health Care Facilities: National Health Service (NHS) set 50 years ago, provides healthcare for all citizens, based on need & not the ability to pay. It consists of a wide range of health professionals, support workers and organizations.
Skilled Workers Visas, United Kingdom
On January 28, 2002 Immigration & Nationality Directorate launched HSMP as a new initiative to allow individuals with exceptional personal skills and experience to come to UK for seeking work and self-employment. The program aims to provide an individual migration route for highly skilled persons, who also have the required experience to compete in the global economic scene.
The program was initially set up for 12 months but following the success of the program, it was decided to extend the program indefinitely.
Further changes in the HSMP were introduced on October 31,2003 in order toboost the current success of HSMP and make the UK a better destination for highly skilled.
Requirements
To make a successful application, individuals need to provide evidence that they score 75 points or more in the six areas below and demonstrate that they will be able to continue their chosen career in the UK. There are separate scoring criteria for those applicants, who are under 32 years of age. Application forms are intended for self-assessment. Those who score below 75 points should not pursue the application.
Scoring Areas
Please contact Avenues International for further details and specific information applicable to your case.
