The Seasonal Worker Visa is for workers who have a job offer in the UK to do seasonal horticulture, viticulture or poultry farming work with a sponsor who is an approved scheme operator.
The scheme is subject to a quota and isn’t a route that allows you to bring family members to the UK. Applications for Seasonal Worker visas must be submitted from outside of the UK. There is no time limit on this type of visa, but the earliest you can apply is three months before the date on which you are due to start to work - this can be found on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
Latitude Law can provide you with expert support to ensure you provide the right documentation and submit the appropriate application.
Seasonal Worker visas allow individuals to come to the UK to work in an unskilled role for up to six months. You could be eligible for this type of visa if you:
The sponsor will need to be an A-rated approved scheme operator within the UK’s horticultural or poultry production sector and they must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
If your visa is accepted, horticulture workers can come to the UK for a maximum of six months. Poultry production workers can come to the UK for the period from 2 October – 31 December each year. You are only permitted to work in the role you are being sponsored for. If your application is refused, you may be able to make a fresh application or apply for an Administrative Review.
Work under the Seasonal Worker route must be within the horticulture or poultry farming sectors. To meet the requirements of this visa within horticulture, you must be working with one or more of the following products being farmed:
The poultry production sector roles include:
Each role has it’s own sponsorship code.
Documentation may include the following:
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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 a highly driven team that is dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice.
As a boutique law firm specialising in UK-inbound work immigration, we are able to provide pragmatic advice and meet our clients’ needs. We have connections with the Home Office and other immigration authorities so we can advise you with confidence, and ensure the entire immigration procedure runs smoothly and efficiently for you. Our lawyers can provide up-to-the-minute legal advice on how any changes will impact your application.
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 a highly driven team that is dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice.
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Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that the conditions of your sponsored work are compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
By choosing Latitude Law to handle your Seasonal Worker visa application, you will benefit from our team’s unrivalled understanding of Home Office policy, which will help to ensure your application is successful.
Our highly experienced team of UK immigration solicitors are on hand to help you at every stage of the application process. You can be confident that our practical and informed approach will be of benefit to your application
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You should receive a decision on your Seasonal Worker visa application within three weeks.
No, you can not bring dependants on this temporary work route.
Unless you are exempt, you will need to have at least £1,270 available to show that you can support yourself while in the UK. Funds will need to have been held for at least 28 consecutive days ending not more than 31 days before the date of your application.
If your employer will be covering your costs during the first month that you are in the UK, you will be exempt from the above requirement. Your Certificate of Sponsorship will need to have confirmation that your employer is covering your expenses.
It is not possible to switch into the Seasonal Worker visa route.
Under the Seasonal Worker visa, you are able to work in the job described in your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and study. To study, you will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate.
Under the Seasonal Worker visa, you are not able to take a permanent job, work in a second job, work in a job that is not described in your Certificate of Sponsorship, receive public funds, and bring family members with you.
A scheme operator is endorsed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and licensed by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority. There are currently only 6 scheme operators in the UK - Agri HR, Concordia, Ethero, Fruitful Jobs, HOPS Labour Solutions, Pro-Force and RE Recruitment.
