UK Expansion Worker Visa

What are the basic eligibility requirements?

• You will need an Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence that will allow you to sponsor a company representative for a UK Expansion Worker visa. Additional workers can also be sponsored to help get the UK business up and running
• In order to apply for the Sponsor Licence you must be able to show:
• You have a UK footprint – Such as having UK business premises, or having registered your UK business with Companies House.
• Overseas trading presence – You must demonstrate that you have been trading overseas for at least 3 years before the date of your application.
• You have credible expansion plans – Business plans and financial evidence must be submitted to show a credible expansion strategy for establishing a UK business of the same type as the overseas company, within a two-year period.
• You must have a certificate of sponsorship reference number
• you must be paid at least £48,500 per annum or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher
• You must also have either traded or worked for your employer outside of the UK for at least 12 months unless you meet one of the following criteria:
• you’re earning over £73,900
• you’re a Japanese national doing work for a Japanese company that is expanding to the UK
• you’re a national or permanent resident of Australia doing work for an Australian company that is expanding to the UK

How long can I stay in the UK?

You can stay in the UK with a UK Expansion Worker visa for whichever is shorter of:

• 12 months after the start date of the job on your certificate of sponsorship
• the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days

If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can extend your visa by 12 months. The maximum time you can stay in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa is 2 years.

If you’ve spent time in the UK on this or another visa, you might not be able to stay on a UK Expansion Worker visa for as long. You can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period if you’ve spent time on any of these visas:

• Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
• Intra-company Transfer visa
• Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
• UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

How much does it cost?

• you must pay the £298 application fee
• pay the healthcare surcharge – this is currently set at £1,035.00 per annum for applicants 18 years of age and over, and £776.00 per annum for applicants under the age of 18
• support yourself when you arrive in the UK – you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

How long does it take?

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

• 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
• 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.

When should I apply?

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

What you can and cannot do:

With a UK Expansion Worker visa you can:

• work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
• study
• bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
• do voluntary work
• travel abroad and return to the UK

You cannot:

• apply for most benefits, public funds, or the State Pension
• change jobs unless you are eligible and you update your visa
• have a second job
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

If you require assistance with applying for the UK Expansion Worker Visa, please contact us for a quote

Why Choose Muldoon Britton?

→ Qualified UK Immigration Solicitors (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority)

→ We’ve helped hundreds of individuals & businesses across the US with UK family & spouse visas

→ Affordable fixed fee UK visa advice, assistance & application support

→ US office in New York (as well as offices in London, Manchester & Ireland)

→ Convenient remote consultations available across the US (calls, video calls & email)

Call either our US office or UK office during normal office hours, or use our form below

US Office: +1 212 653 0677    UK Office: +44 (0) 161 4643394

Our lawyers are skilled in all types of UK immigration work including:

→Spouse Visas

→Tier 2, Tier 4 and Tier 5 visa applications

→Innovator Visas

→Global Talent Visas

→Family Visas

→EEA Family Permits and EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits

→Citizenship applications

→Right of Abode

→Visitor Visas

→Appeals

→Representation

You can find out more information about each visa via our main menu.

We can help you with the spouse visa application process. Our qualified UK solicitors & lawyers can provide initial legal advice before applying, or assistance with an application or appeal. Contact us for a competitive quote now!