Representative of an Overseas Business allow overseas workers usually senior employee to establish and run a UK branch office or expand their business for their overseas parent company in the UK.
Book An AppointmentSome of the perks of Sole Rep Visa UK is to claim work, live, and acquire Permanent Residency in the UK. Moreover, you can also bring along your dependents (if any) under Sole Representative Visa route. The UK is regarded as one of the fifth-largest reputable business industries. Overseas business-person under the SOL REP visa category can make the most of the UK’s market without having to rely on the overhead cost linked to setting up a Branch office or hiring an employer. Therefore, before applying, it is essential for sole representative visa holders to ‘test the water’ to ensure they show a full-time dedication to any economic and market prospects available in Britain. Moreover, After 5 years of the qualifying period, you can apply to settle permanently in the UK via the ILR route.
To apply for the Sole Representative Visa UK category, the applicants (Sole Representatives) must be:
It is essential to keep in mind the vital eligibility criteria before applying for the Sole Representative of an Overseas Business. Some of which include the following:
It is worth bearing in mind that you (employee) as well your employer (overseas company owner) have to attach the following supporting evidence to apply for a successful Sol Rep visa:
For any overseas applicant, it is duly important to gather all the information well ahead of time, including the cost of applying for the UK Sole representative visa. This is to assure the timely submission and approved decision of your SOL REP UK application. With this in mind, You should be able to pay:
Before applying, be sure to go through the published guidelines: Representative of an Overseas Business guidance
As with other business immigration routes, the average application processing time is generally around 4-8 weeks, depending on your circumstance. However, in the following cases the application process can get complicated:
It is advisable to apply 3-months ahead, before your business travel to the UK. This can potentially alleviate the risks of any delays or in case you have an urgent meeting/appointment/business conference awaiting you in the UK.
If you like to expedite the decision process of your Representative of an Overseas Business Visa application, we offer untimed advice sessions. Furthermore, our time-efficient high-quality Immigration services (superfast track priority services) can help accelerate your decision process on your behalf without affecting the overall standards and merits of your SOL REP Visa application portfolio.
As a representative of an overseas business (Sole Representative), the applicants are entitled to work and stay for up to 3 years— the minimum initial qualifying period. After this, they are eligible to apply for the extension under the Representative of an Overseas Business UK, which grants a Leave to Remain for additional 2-years. Having said that, the Sole Representatives can then apply for the Indefinite Leave to Remain and ultimately settle in the UK permanently via the British Naturalisation process—to acquire full British citizenship.
As mentioned earlier, it is strictly essential to abide by the following UK immigration rules and regulations while staying in the UK for a minimum qualifying period:
After a successful residency for an initial period of 3 years (abode by the UKVI Policy), you can apply for the sole representative visa extension. This allows you to extend your stay in the UK for additional 2-years. It is always worth keeping that the supplemental application fee and eligibility requirements may apply when submitting an extension application.
Therefore, as with the Original application fee, the charges would be almost the same i.e. £704 for the SOL REP visa extension, additional Healthcare cost shall also apply (additional fee per dependent), and £19.20 for the Biometric information.
It is also crucially important to further satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
Moreover, please keep in mind to apply online and submit your supporting documents for the extension application.
Allowable activities — Dos
Non-permitted activities — Don’ts
As with the other UK immigration categories, satisfying the standard English language requirements (A1 level in speaking and listening per CEFR criteria) is one of the significant eligibility conditions ascertained by UKVI.
You can fulfil the English Language requirements (Knowledge of English Language) in the following ways If you:
Holders of Sole Representative visa UK can enjoy many perks; some of the significant benefits include:
It must be heartbreaking news to receive a sol rep visa refusals (entry clearance and extension), especially when you are granted a humble opportunity to expand your international company’s business in the UK. Consequently, the rejections are mainly based on failing to satisfy the eligibility conditions and failing to abide by the UK immigration policy or a 50% shareholder (owner of the majority of share).
Nevertheless, getting visa refusals doesn’t hinder you from reverting the refusal decision. Hope is still on its way! Therefore, the Home office still grants you leniency to launch an appeal either through an administrative review or via a judicial review in case administrative review is deemed less effective.
The sole representative business proposal usually covers the primary aim and objectives per UKVI Policy, with the sole purpose to open up a branch office/only subsidiary within the UK. Consequently, the plan must ensure the stability of overseas business with its head office/ other basic operations still located outside the UK. Moreover, as a Sole Representive, your business plan must strongly express your motivation as to why you like to expand it within the UK on behalf of your leading overseas parent company.
It is important to note that failing to fulfil all perquisites of UK immigration rules and regulations would result in visa refusals, i.e. poorly written business proposals.
Our highly proficient UK Immigration advice services based in London, Birmingham, Chester, and Manchester, are always here to help overseas business investors draft a sound and clear business plan. Therefore, our UK solicitors can help you meet the standards of Home Office Policy under the Representative of an Overseas Business visa category. So take a leap of faith with our following premium application support package which can relieve most of your tireless juggle:
Brexit resolution has dramatically changed the regional dynamics of the UK immigration system towards more flexibility— equalised the work rights for both Non- EU and EU citizens. Remarkably, Sole Business Representative holders can benefit a lot from such changes. Thus, with this positive revolution, STEM (Elaborate) Professionals can also expand their businesses in the UK. They can come to the UK, test the prospects of a market available in the UK.
Moreover, STEM professionals can apply for the permanent settlement after spending a qualifying residency period of 5-years while abiding by the rules of UK immigration policy.
Complex legal matters call for expert legal help. Our expert team of solicitors can handle UK immigration, family law, business crime & personal injury cases. We service the work from our offices (Manchester, London, Birmingham and Chester
If you are married or in a civil partnership, you might be eligible to apply for UK Spouse Visa.
If you have 'settled status' in the UK, your fiance may be able to join you in the UK.
After 12 months of getting your ILR, you might be eligible for naturalisation.
If you have been detained or refused an entry in the UK, we are here to help, contact us.
If you have completed time required for your route legally, you might be eligible for ILR.
If you have been detained or refused an entry in the UK, we are here to help, contact us.
If you have fear of persecution, you maybe eligible for grant of asylum as a refugee.
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