Sole Representative Visa
Representative of an Overseas Business Visa UK company
Overseas nationals who wish to work in the UK for their firm or extend their business into the UK can do so with the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa (also known as a Sole Representative Visa). This visa permits you to live and work in the UK for three years, as well as bring your family with you so they may work freely. Businesses headquartered abroad can use the Sole Representative Visa to create a presence in the UK to test the market without incurring the costs of opening a branch office and recruiting local workers.
What is the Sole Representative Visa?
The Sole Representative Visa (also known as the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa) permits foreign enterprises to establish a commercial presence in the United Kingdom by sending a senior representative (Sole representative) to the country. The Sole Representative Visa allows Indian or other foreign corporations to establish a branch or subsidiary of their parent company in the United Kingdom.
What is the eligibility for being a sole representative?
A Sole Representative applying to the UK must be an international national who is:
- An (employee) of a company based outside of the UK who intends to open a branch or a subsidiary in the UK.
- A senior member of the firm who is not the owner and has the ability and power to make business decisions on the company's behalf.
- Replacing a prior lone representative.
- An employee of a newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting firm based outside the United Kingdom.
The responsibilities of a sole representative visa
The single representative is in charge of establishing an overseas branch or subsidiary and making critical business decisions on its behalf.
The following factors are also considered by entrance clearance officers:
- The only representative’s employment contract
- Sole representative’s job description Overseas Company’s current and future business plans
How Do I Qualify for a Sole Representative Visa?
To be qualified for a Sole Representative Visa, you must show documentation of the following:
The corporation:
- Is an active international trader.
- Has extensive knowledge, abilities, and expertise with the parent firm and its industry.
- Holds a high position in the firm and has the authority to make independent decisions on behalf of the parent company Is not a large shareholder or has substantial control or stake in the business through a partnership agreement or sole ownership
- Has the necessary command of the English language
- Has enough money to maintain oneself and any dependents during their leave of absence
- Has and will continue to have its headquarters and operations centre located outside of the United Kingdom.
- Intends to establish and manage a branch office or completely owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom
- The applicant is sincere.
- The parent firm sent me overseas to work.
- Is establishing the organization's first foothold in the United Kingdom.
Maximum period of time that a Sole Representative Visa can be held
Once your Sole Representative Visa application is accepted, you will be able to visit the UK and stay for three years to further your business, following which you may extend your stay by filing a leave to remain application. This will extend your stay in the UK for an additional two years. After 5 years of representing an Indian company in the UK as a senior employee, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and live permanently in the UK.
The following conditions apply to the stay
Applicants residing in the UK on the Sole Representative Visa must meet the following requirements:
- No access to government money
- They are unable to conduct their own business or represent the interests of any third-party corporation.
- Registration with the police, if required
Sole Representative Visa Documents Required:
When applying for a Sole Representative Visa, you and the firm you work for will be required to provide a lengthy set of documentation. Our attorneys can help you gather the essential papers and answer any questions the Home Office may have about them.
- Your passport and any other necessary travel papers
- Evidence of your ability to support yourself and your dependents (for example, bank statements)
- Details about your accommodation in the United Kingdom
- Proof of your English proficiency
- Your TB test results if you live in a nation where the test is required.
- A detailed description of your organization, what it does, its assets and liabilities, and other financial statements
- A letter declaring the company's intention to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary or branch office in the United Kingdom.
- Your job description, compensation, and proof that you can make autonomous choices on behalf of the firm Proof that you are hired by the company and not just an agent
- Proof that you were hired outside of the United Kingdom and will solely be working for the organization that is bringing you to the nation.
How does the Sole Representative Visa benefit you?
The Sole Representative Visa has various advantages, some of which are as follows:
- If they function well during the first three months of their stay, sole representatives can seek a two-year visa extension.
- Applicants may be able to seek permanent residency after five years.
- Applicants may be entitled to seek British nationality after six years.
- Sole representatives can qualify for ten-year resident privileges by combining time spent in the UK with other visa types.
- Businesses looking to expand can deploy a single senior employee to the UK to research and test the market without having to invest big sums of money.
Can the Sole Representative Visa be extended?
You may simply renew your UK lone representative visa, including your dependents, by re-verifying your eligibility and paying a small cost. It can be extended for up to two years beyond the initial three-year visa validity. The price for extending the visa duration would be £704 plus immigration health surcharge fees and £19.20 for providing biometric data (fingerprints and a picture). After you submit your application, the home office will contact you within eight weeks.
What is the eligibility?
- You must be living in the UK to extend your visa.
- You have to be working for the same company as who handed out your first visa.
- The company you are working with must have a registered address outside the UK.
- You are still working to stabilize the firm’s existence in the UK.
Can you take your dependents under the UK Sole Representative Visa?
Yes, that is acceptable. The bearer of the UK solo representative visa may bring family members with them. If the dependents come from outside the UK, they must obtain a visa. A dependent might be your spouse, wife, or partner, as well as your kid under the age of 18. You may not bring your dependents with you if they own the bulk of the firm you will be representing. If your kid was born in the UK, you can request to add them as a dependent to your visa.
If my sole representative visa is denied, what should I do?
If your sole representative visa entrance clearance or an extension of a solo Representative Visa is denied, you may request an Administrative Review and, if the Administrative Review is ineffective, a subsequent Judicial Review. You should contact our team because they will investigate the grounds for your refusal and provide you with the finest legal advice and representation possible.
How does a business plan for a sole representative work?
- Telephone Consultation – We will have a casual conversation to learn more about you, your company, and the goal of the business plan.
- Form for a Business Plan – Once we’ve chosen to collaborate, we’ll send you an email with a form to fill out.
- Draught Business Plan – Our authors will begin putting out an amazing business plan. The draught business plan usually takes 3-4 weeks to create. It is determined by the project’s complexity, the amount of information previously supplied, and any further information we want from you.
- Reviewing the Business Plan – When we deliver you the business plan, you must examine it and submit to us any necessary adjustments. At this point, we always advise our clients to thoroughly examine the list. Once the final amount is paid, you will receive a Word document as well as a PDF version of the company plan, financial predictions, and so on.
Is IELTS eligible for consideration as a sole representative visa for the UK?
In December 2019, UK Visa and Immigration announced that IELTS for UKVI would be recognized as one of the secure English language tests (SELT) for all UK visas that require applicants to demonstrate their competence in the English language.
What impact has Brexit had on the UK's immigration system?
Brexit has had a positive impact on the Sole Representative Visa. EU and non-EU citizens will now be treated equally. This, however, has left a gap in the UK market. However, the good news is that this has created a big pool of chances for global enterprises looking to expand in the UK. Overseas companies may now send a representative to the UK to research and grab the market while planning and testing out various strategies to establish a reputation for themselves. This new immigration law would be more beneficial to companies, particularly those with a STEM background (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
What can we do to assist you in applying for a visa as a sole representative?
Global Solicitors offers a team of trained professional immigration attorneys ready to help you apply for and obtain a Sole Representative Visa. We are aware of the difficulties that candidates may experience, as well as the significant documents that must be provided. As a result, we can direct you through the procedure for a good outcome. We are here to assist you with every stage of starting your business in the United Kingdom.
How long does it take to process a visa for a sole representative?
According to our experience, the Home Office takes around 4-6 weeks to process a Sole Representative Visa application.
You can apply up to three months before your trip. Paying for the ultra-premium service will earn you a speedier decision.
What is the cost of an overseas business visa representative?
Can a sole representative be a shareholder in the parent company, or can the sole representative be the owner of the majority shareholder?
What is the application process for a UK sole representative?
Unless you are from North Korea, you must apply for a Sole Representative Visa online. Along with the relevant papers, you must also provide your biometric information (for example, fingerprints and pictures). These may be obtained from a local visa application facility. When applying for a Sole Representative Visa, you and the firm you work for will be required to provide a lengthy set of documentation. Our attorneys can help you gather the required papers and answer any questions UK Visas and Immigration may have about them.
You will need to produce the following:
- Your passport or another acceptable form of identification
- Evidence of your ability to support yourself and your dependents (for example, bank statements)
- Details about your accommodation in the United Kingdom
- Your TB test results if you live in a nation where the test is required.
- A detailed description of your organization, what it does, its assets and liabilities, and other financial statements
- A letter declaring the company’s intention to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary or branch office in the United Kingdom.
- Your job description, compensation, and proof that you can make autonomous choices on behalf of the firm Ensure that you are hired by the company and not just an agent
- Verification that you were utilized outside of the UK and will only work for the organization sending you to the nation