Business Visitors – Who, What and How
Who is a business visitor, what can a business visitor do and how can you enter the United Kingdom as a business visitor? Whilst the Home Office is currently re-evaluating this whole area of immigration policy, we address all of these questions and more, providing you with clear and concise information on how these rules are currently applied at this time.
Who is a business visitor?
The business visitor category is intended for people who work abroad but wish to visit the UK for a short time to do business on their own or their employer’s behalf.
What qualifies you as a business visitor?
A business visitor must be genuine in seeking entry as a visitor and intend to remain in the UK for a short period under one of the following categories:
- academic visitors;
- visiting professors;
- doctors and dentists undertaking clinical attachments;
- overseas nurses attending their OSCE exam;
- teachers accompanying students;
- film crews;
- representatives of overseas media;
- employees of overseas law firms with UK offices, advising UK clients on litigation or international transactions;
- secondees (an applicant who is seconded by their overseas employer to a UK company. The UK company to which the secondee is seconded must be providing goods or services to the foreign company and not the other way around);
- religious workers;
- advisers, consultants, trainers, internal auditors or trouble shooters coming to a UK branch or a member of the same group of companies as their overseas employer;
- those conducting one-off training;
- an overseas scientist or researcher advising or sharing knowledge on an international project that’s being led from the UK; or
- a deliverer of goods or transporting passengers.
How long can a business visitor stay in the UK?
You must be intending to stay no longer than six months in the UK. Academic visitors, however, are an exception to the rule in that they may apply to stay in the UK for up to a year.
What permitted activities can a business visitor undertake whilst in the UK?
To qualify for entry to the UK, you will be asked what kind of activities you are expecting to undertake whilst in the UK. The current list of permitted activities is provided by the Home Office in the business visitor rules and includes the following:
- attending meetings, interviews (if arranged prior to your arrival in the UK) or conferences;
- arranging and negotiating deals, trade agreements and contracts;
- undertaking fact-finding missions;
- conducting site visits;
- being briefed on a UK customer’s requirements;
- delivering goods or passengers from abroad;
- accompanying a tour group as a tour group courier providing that you intend to leave with that group;
- speaking at a one-off conference;
- attending trade fairs for promotional work only;
- attending board meetings in the UK as a board-level director, provided you are not employed by a UK company;
- representing a foreign machine manufacturer by installing, erecting, dismantling, servicing, repairing or advising on the product within its initial period of guarantee; and
- representing a computer software company by installing, debugging and/or enhancing its products.
How must a business visitor receive their pay?
Whilst reasonable expenses to cover the cost of travel and subsistence are allowed, business visitors must not receive their pay from a UK source, unless they work for a multinational company which handles the payment of salaries from the UK.
What supporting documents must an applicant provide?
We recommend that those seeking entry to the UK as a business visitor should present evidence of their existing overseas employment along with an invitation from the UK organisation they are intending to visit. Evidence of their means to cover the cost of the trip should also be made available. ‘Visa nationals’ (i.e. those overseas nationals required to secure prior entry clearance to enter the UK) are not advised to book or pay for any travel ahead of receiving their visa.
Applying for a long-term business visitor visa
Visa nationals intending to visit the UK on a regular basis may seek to apply for a long-term business visitor visa to cover multiple visits which total up to a maximum period of six months per year over the duration of multiple years. Long-term visas can be awarded to cover a duration of one, two, five or 10 years.
In order to be successful in applying for a long-term business visitor visa, an applicant must be able to prove that there is a frequent, ongoing need to do business in the UK and that this need is unlikely to change. You must also demonstrate that you intend to leave the UK at the end of each visit.
If you are considering applying for a long-term business visitor visa, it would be worthwhile to discuss your options with one of our Immigration Advisors here at Smith Stone Walters.
How can Smith Stone Walters help?
A mobile workforce is critical to many modern employment strategies and yet immigration requirements can seem daunting. The staff at Smith Stone Walters take pride in their ability to manage the UK immigration process professionally for businesses and thoughtfully for each assignee.
By partnering with Smith Stone Walters, you and your company will benefit from access to our wealth of UK immigration expertise and services. We can provide your company with trustworthy advice on individual employee immigration issues, an assessment of your organisation’s current internal immigration compliance and procedures and immigration training sessions.
If you want to find out more about our services or apply for a Business Visitor visa, please contact us today.
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