The Global Business Mobility (GBM) immigration routes were introduced on 11 April 2022 and are for overseas businesses who need to temporarily send workers to the UK for a specific purpose that cannot be fulfilled by a settled worker. One of these routes is the Secondment Worker route.
This is a new route for overseas workers who wish to be temporarily transferred by their overseas employer to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment.
In addition to the standard requirements, all applicants must currently be working for either the sponsor or the linked overseas business on the date the application for entry clearance is made. Unless an exception applies, the applicant must have worked for the linked overseas business for a cumulative period of at least 12 months. Applicants will then need to obtain a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the job they are planning to do and once they have done so they will be eligible to apply under this route.
In addition to the general sponsorship license requirements, the prospective sponsor must possess an investment or contract for goods or services between themselves and an overseas business. This investment or contract must be worth at least £10 million per year and no less than £50 million overall. This effectively means that, if the duration of the contract is less than 5 years, it must value at least £50 million. If the contract is more than 5 years, it must value at least £10 million per year. If the contract has no specified end date, it must value at least £50 million over the first five years.
A Secondment Worker can come to the UK for up to one year initially, with the option to extend their stay by up to a further year. Two years is the maximum continuous period a person can stay in the UK on this route.
However, it is possible for a worker to stay in the UK under this route for two years, leave the UK, but then start a new secondment with a different UK sponsor soon after. They would however be subject to the maximum cumulative period for the GBM routes. This maximum is a cumulative total of 5 years in any 6-year period or, for certain high earners with salaries above £73,900, 9 years in any 10-year period.
Whether you’re an overseas business or an individual looking to obtain a visa under this route or even a prospective UK sponsor, NA Law Solicitors is here to help.
Both applications must be carefully prepared and meet all the necessary requirements. If mistakes are made in the application process, long delays can follow and there is a high risk of the application being refused. We have a proven track record for preparing successful visa and sponsorship licence applications and will provide expert guidance for you or your organisation throughout the process.
If you require any further information on the above or are looking to make an application, please do not hesitate to get in touch for a free consultation.
Eligible occupations for the Global Business Mobility routes include Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Secondment Worker, and Service Supplier.
The UK Expansion Worker visa can be extended by 12 months. The maximum time you are allowed to stay in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa is 2 years.
If you’ve spent time in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa, or another visa, you might not be able to stay on a UK Expansion Worker visa for as long. Such visas include the Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa, the Intra-company Transfer visa, and any of the five Global Business Mobility routes.
If you’ve spent time in the UK on any of these visas, you can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period.
You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you’re currently in the UK on the following visas: a visit visa, a short-term student visa, a Parent of a Child Student visa, a seasonal worker visa, a domestic worker in a private household visa.
If you have one of the above visas, you must leave the UK and apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa from abroad.
Typically, if you’re outside the UK, you’ll get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. If you’re inside the UK, you’ll get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks.
