The overseas representative visa or Sole Representative Visa UK is designed to help overseas companies move into the UK by deploying a senior employee to set up new operations. Especially if the assignment is longer term and involves expansion into the UK market, the Sole Representative Visa could be better suited to applicant’s needs. On the contrary the nominated representative must have the authority to make day-to-day decisions in the UK, but they cannot be a director or major shareholder in the company.
An applicant must meet a range of criteria that must be considered by the individual and company at the time of applying for Sole Representative Visa UK.
Firstly, the individual must be employed and recruited by the company they will represent.
Company must be based and have their main place of business outside of the U.K.
The representative must have both substantial experience and knowledge in setting up branches for companies.
The sole representative is required to have a senior position within the company.
Only a sole representative should be send and the applicant must provide a document showing the terms and condition about employment and they must be able to show their salary and other benefits that are appropriate as their senior level position.
The visa holder must show the requirements that they can maintain and accommodate themselves without any needs and access to public funds.
This sole representative visa UK is favourable for growing companies who have no presence in the U.K and are looking to move into the market. Because there is no investment requirement it is often seen as a more flexible option than the Entrepreneur visa. It is suited to SMEs because they do not want to invest a lump sum of capital into the business nor have to fulfil other requirements under other similar business visa categories, for example payment categories or employing a certain number of employees.
The complete time required for the process, in line with home office, maximum application gets sorted within three weeks, but in case of any delay the procedure might extend up to 6 weeks or 12 weeks even.
The applicants applying for sole representative visa UK, can only fit in the business for the time only for which the permission to enter the UK was originally sought. The visa is granted for three years which later if required can be extended for a further two years. This category may lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
On the contrary there are several factors which are not permitted if the candidate is seeking for sole representative visa UK:
The visa holder is strictly prohibited from having working contract from other company.
They are not allowed to have any kind of independent business running.
They are not allowed to claim any public funds.
They are not allowed to switch over to this visa if they have arrived in UK on the source of other visa.
They are not allowed to stay in UK if the purpose as sole representative ends.
Therefore engage and set off your empire in UK with the help of sole representative visa UK.
The overseas representative visa or Sole Representative Visa UK is designed to help overseas companies move into the UK by deploying a senior employee to set up new operations.