Global Business Mobility (GBM) Visas provide overseas businesses with various routes to operate in the UK. If your company transfers workers from the EU and other countries to the UK or wishes to establish a presence here, it is important that you understand what is required of you and how to apply. Failure to make use of the correct visa routes could result in delays to business productivity, costing you time and money.
The immigration solicitors at Latitude Law are experts in all corporate visa routes in and out of the UK and can advise you and your business on the most appropriate route. We will help you navigate the tricky compliance issues that surround immigration law to ensure you and your workers are permitted to work legally in the UK.
GBM is a new set of sponsored routes to assist overseas businesses establish a presence in, or transfer workers to the UK. These routes replace previous business mobility provisions, such as the Intra-Company Transfer Visa and the Sole Representative Visa.
There are five immigration routes under the Global Business Mobility visa:
1. Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
This route replaces the Intra-Company Transfer Visa and can be relied on to allow overseas workers - specifically senior managers or specialist employees - to work on temporary assignments at a business already established in the UK.
2. Graduate Trainee Visa
Under this route, overseas workers who are on a graduate training course for senior management or a specialist position and are required to take a work placement in the UK are able to be assigned here temporarily.
3. Expansion Worker Visa
This category allows overseas businesses to establish themselves in the UK by permitting senior/specialist employees to set up a branch or subsidiary. The Expansion Worker route has replaced the representative of an overseas business or sole representative category.
4. Service Supplier Visa
Workers suitable to apply for this visa route will either be contractual service suppliers employed by an overseas service provider, or self-employed professionals who are providing services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
5. Secondment Worker Visa
This is a new route for overseas workers who are seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their overseas employer.
All of the subcategories of the Global Business Mobility routes require the business to apply for a sponsor licence and must meet strict compliance and audit requirements.
The Global Business Mobility route is not a route to settlement.
The Global Business Mobility visa provides opportunities for international businesses, UK employers and individuals looking to work and do business in the UK. With the requirement for sponsorship, our immigration solicitors can help with the following:
At Latitude Law, we know how to handle complex immigration matters to ensure your business is able to expand into the UK with minimal disruption to your productivity. We can advise on the best routes to use for your business and help plan for your future immigration needs.
Our team has helped thought leaders, innovators and many business people to work and establish their businesses in the UK. We have a deep understanding of the law, immigration rules, and Home Office policies and guidance, which inform decisions related to this area of law.
Contact us today to arrange an initial consultation in relation to a Global Business Mobility visa application. Call on 0300 131 6767 or complete our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you.
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Working with a law firm can be a big decision, which is why we ensure that our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to serve every client with the highest standards of professionalism.
As a boutique law firm specialising in UK-inbound immigration, our experts understand the complexity and uncertainty that constantly shifting visa and residence policies create for global business mobility workers. Our lawyers can provide up-to-the-minute legal advice on how any changes will impact your application.
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As the requirements for a Global Business Mobility visa are complex, to ensure success, you should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that the conditions of your Global Business Mobility visa application are compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
This route covers a wide range of methods for overseas businesses and workers, and the specific purpose will depend on the subcategory to apply under. There are five types of workers that will benefit from this route, including:
The Home Office has said that to take the GBM route, UK employers need to hold a Home Office-issued sponsor licence. Therefore, UK businesses will be required to have systems in place to manage a sponsor licence and comply with the necessary duties related to reporting and recording.
None of the five routes under Global Business Mobility provide a path to settlement. To apply for settlement, individuals must switch onto a different immigration route, provided they meet the specific criteria for that route.
The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa enables businesses with linked entities overseas to transfer existing employees to the UK for a specified period of time. The employee will need to be assigned to a UK business that is linked to their employer overseas to be considered for this type of visa.
The Graduate Trainee visa route is for overseas workers who are undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK for a graduate training course that will lead to a senior managerial or specialist role.
The Expansion Worker visa route allows senior or specialist employees to temporarily work in, and expand a business’s presence to the UK. A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed sponsor is required to permit overseas workers to enter the UK as expansion workers.
The Service Supplier visa permits overseas workers to undertake temporary work assignments in the UK under a qualifying service contract.
The Secondment Worker visa permits overseas workers to take up temporary work assignments in the UK where the employee is being seconded to the country as part of a high-value contract or investment by their overseas employer.
