The British news landscape is hotting up as the new Labour Party government sets to work on re-shaping the country after over a decade of Conservative Party rule. If your overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting organisation wants to tell stories from a changing Britain back home, you will need a reporter in the country.
The Representative of an Overseas Business visa, which used to be known as the Sole Representative visa, is designed to allow journalists to come to the UK for a long-term assignment. Read this article to…
Overview of the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
This visa used to be called the Sole Representative visa, and could be used by overseas businesses to open a branch in the UK. The new Representative of an Overseas Business visa can now only be used for journalistic purposes. Other businesses will need a UK Expansion Worker or Global Business Mobility visa, or they can renew pre-existing Sole Representative visas.
This visa is most commonly held by journalists, often working as foreign correspondents. However, it can also be used to send camera operators, front-of-camera personnel and producers to the UK.
As the holder of a Representative of an Overseas Business visa, your employee can:
- Work full-time for your business.
- Bring dependent family members with them.
While on this visa, the holder cannot be self-employed, work for another business in the UK, or claim public funds.
Visa Validity Period
The Representative of an Overseas Business visa is usually valid for three years. Your worker will be able to apply to extend it for another two years, although they will have to prove that they still match the visa requirements. This includes the worker still being your full-time employee. Furthermore, your news business must still have its principal place of business outside of the UK.
After your journalistic worker has been in the country for five years, they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. This allows for very long-term residence in the UK, and can be a path to citizenship.
Eligibility Requirements for a Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
There are two types of requirements for this visa: requirements for the employer and requirements for the applicant. The employer must be an overseas newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting organisation that is sending an employee on a mostly UK-based long-term assignment. The business must have its principal place of business and headquarters outside the UK.
Meanwhile, the employee will need to have enough money to support themselves. They also need to meet an English language requirement. This is usually A1 standard or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Certain countries, including Grenada, Jamaica, and the USA, are exempt from this requirement.
To prove that the eligibility requirements have been met, your employee will need to provide a range of documentation. The exact documentation will vary, but standard pieces include the following:
- A valid passport with enough blank pages for the visa.
- Evidence that the applicant can support themselves and their dependents while in the UK, usually shown with bank statements and payslips from the past six months.
- Confirmation of ongoing employment in your news or broadcasting business.
- Tuberculosis test results if the applicant is coming from a high-risk country.
Applying for a Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
Like most UK visas, the applicant must complete their application on the UK Government website. This process can begin three months before the planned travel date to the UK. Your worker will need to complete the application form and upload their supporting documentation to the website.
The applicant must also book an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. Here, they will give biometric information, including their fingerprints and a biometric photograph. The applicant will also usually need to bring their documentation to the service point to be scanned.
Cost and Processing Time for a Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
The standard cost of applying for this visa is £769 for applications outside the UK and £885 for applications inside the UK. The latter usually applies if the applicant is extending their visa or switching their visa type. Once successful, the immigration healthcare surcharge must be paid, allowing your staff member to access healthcare in the UK. The standard charge for this is £1,035 per year in the UK. You will need to come to an agreement with your worker on whether you or they will cover these costs.
Once the fees have been paid, your worker’s visa application will be processed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This process will usually take three weeks for applications inside the UK and eight weeks for applications outside the UK. This time can be longer if UKVI has to contact the applicant to ask for more documentation, discuss personal circumstances, or ask them to attend an interview. Priority visa processing services can be paid for if required.
Please ensure that your worker does not travel to the UK until they have been accepted and refused their visa. Pre-emptive travel to the UK could result in the visa application being rejected.
How Can Immigration Advice Service Help?
The Representative of an Overseas Business visa is an essential piece of documentation to upgrade your reporting on UK affairs. It allows you to send your best reporters and staff to the country to pick up scoops your readers and viewers want to hear about. However, like all UK visas, it can be challenging to have a visa application accepted.
IAS can help by connecting you with expert immigration lawyers and advisers. Our staff can help you understand if your chosen worker will be eligible for the visa. They will then guide the journalist through the application process to maximise their chances of success. Visit our website today to learn more about how we can help.
