UK Expansion Worker Visa: Apply from the US

To apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa, the US applicant must complete an online application, using their Certificate of sponsorship reference number. They can apply for a UK expansion worker visa up to 3 months before the day that they’re due to start work in the UK.

The US applicant has to then prove their identity and provide the documents necessary. They may also need to attend an appointment to do this.

Once the applicant has proved their identity, provided their documents and paid the relevant fee, a decision should be made in 3 weeks if outside the UK, and 8 weeks if inside the UK. Once approved, they can arrange travel to join the UK branch with their overseas business visa.

The amount of time the global business mobility visa will be valid is whichever is shorter than 12 months after the start date of the job on the sponsorship certificate and 14 days after the end date of that job.

If the US UK Expansion Worker is looking to stay longer in the UK, they are permitted to extend their visa, but only for another 12 months, one year.

The maximum time that an individual can stay in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa is 2 years.

However, it is crucial to note that UK expansion workers are subject to the maximum period for other UK visas.

This means that if they have spent time in the UK on this or another visa, they might not be eligible to remain in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa because visa holders may only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period if they’ve spent time on any of the other visas, or as an Intra-company graduate trainee or intra-company transferee.

The UK Expansion Worker route does not lead to settlement in the UK.

However, a senior or specialist employee may be eligible to apply for leave to remain under a different immigration route.

There are various costs involved with the global business mobility routes.
The fees are:

• Funds of at least £1,270 or 1,532.67 USD
• The application fee of £259 or 312.57 USD
• Immigration health surcharge of £624 or 753.22 USD every year.
• Additional funds for any dependents joining on the specialist worker visa

Your partner or spouse and your children can apply alongside you to join you in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

For the skilled worker visa, a dependent partner or child is defined as the following:

• Your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
• Your child under 18 – including if they were born in the UK during your stay
• Your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

You’ll show evidence of your relationship when you apply, such as a marriage certificate, or proof you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply.

Any children must live, not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children and must be financially supported by you,

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You – or your partner or child – will need to showcase the following funds:

• £285, or 344.22 USD for your partner
• £315, or 380.46 USD for one child and £200, or 241.56 USD for each additional child

Once the family member has applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll normally receive a decision within 3 weeks.

Total Law is a qualified team of immigration lawyers that are able to advise you on sponsorship obligations, UK business, job skill level requirements and plenty more.

You can contact us to discuss the UK expansion worker visa. We are open seven days a week and can be reached by phone or by using the online chat function to speak with one of our client care agents.

Please call us on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online seven days a week via our live chat.