Whereas the applicant for the UK Sole Representative Visa must meet the following criteria for the visa to be granted successfully:
- Was recruited by an organisation existing outside the UK by the parent company.
- Is setting up the initial presence of his organisation in the UK in the form of completely owned subsidiary or a registered office branch.
- Has a great deal of experience, skills, and knowledge of the parent company and its industry.
- Will not engage in business of your own or represent any other business’s interest in the United Kingdom.
- Holds a senior position in the company and can make independent decisions on the parent company’s behalf.
- Is not a major shareholder or has any significant control or stakeholding in the business via a partnership agreement or sole ownership.
- Has the required knowledge of English which requires applicants to have obtained at least CEFR Level A1 in speaking and listening.
- Has sufficient funding to support themselves and any dependents during their leave to remain.
UK Sole Representative Visa processing:
Your application for a Representative of an Overseas Business Visa must be made online except if you are from North Korea. Alongside the necessary documentation, you will likewise need to provide your biometric specifications (for example, fingerprints and photos).
The soonest that candidates can submit visa application for the UK Sole Representative for an Overseas Business is 3 months preceding travel to the UK. Candidates can pay for a Priority Service to get a response within 5 working days. Non-priority processing times for entry clearance applications are around 3 weeks, whenever submitted from the nation of habitation, or roughly 8-12 weeks for those exchanging their visa and at present living in the UK. There are variations in time duration of the UK Sole Representative Visa relying upon whether the candidate is welcomed for a meeting at the Home Office.
Documentation required for the UK Sole Representative Visa application:
You would have to provide certain essential documents as mentioned below along with the application form for the successful processing of your UK Sole Representative for an Overseas Business Visa:
- Your passport or other valid travelling related documents
- Evidence you can support yourself and your dependents (e.g. bank statements)
- Details of your accommodation in the UK
- Proof of your knowledge of English
- Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
- A complete summary of your organisation, what it does, its assets and liabilities and other accounts
- A letter confirming the company intends to create a wholly-owned subsidiary or branch office in the UK
- Your job description, salary and proof you can make independent decisions on the company’s behalf
- Proof you are employed by the company and are not merely an agent
- Proof you were employed outside the UK and will be working only for the organisation that is sending you to the country
- Evidence that you have the skills, knowledge, and experience required to set up and run a branch office or wholly owned UK subsidiary
Benefits for the UK Sole Representative Visa holder:
- Sole representatives that operate successfully for the first three years may qualify for an additional two-year visa extension.
- After five years, you may qualify for permanent residency.
- After six years, you may qualify for British nationality.
- You can combine time spent in the UK with other visa categories to qualify for ten-year residency rights.
- Organisations can send a single staff member to the UK to test the market without the need to outlay large amounts of capital.
UK Sole Representative Visa extensions:
The UK Sole Representative Business Visa holder may apply for further extensions after having successfully running his overseas business subsidiary or a registered branch of his parent organisation for 3 years in the UK. Subsequently, an extension of 2 years may be granted after having met the essential requirements for UK Sole Representative visa extension that ultimately lead to the possibility of achieving the indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK. The requirements to be fulfilled for having your UK Sole Representative Visa extended are as following:
- The overseas business should, in any case, have its central station and chief spot of business outside of the United Kingdom.
- Candidates must be employed full time as a delegate of that overseas business, have built up it and be accountable for its registered branch or entirely owned subsidiary.
- The employer’s chief spot of business ought to be outside the UK.
- Candidates must be in receipt of a pay from their manager and must be able to give the necessary proof of this.
- Candidates must have the option to give proof that they have produced business, primarily with firms in the UK on the part of their employer since their last grant of leave.
- Candidates must be in the UK to expand their visa.