A Business Visitor visa allows you to visit the UK for business and work-related reasons for a maximum continuous period of 6 months. Our expert immigration solicitors can help you or your employees get the visa you need to seize business opportunities in the UK.
It’s important to seek legal advice before you make any travel arrangements. The country you’re from will determine whether you need to apply for a business visitor visa before coming to the UK. There are also restrictions on the type of work and business activities that you can carry out.
Our lawyers will get to know your situation to make sure you get the right visa for your business needs. We’ll explain how any restrictions affect you, and advise how to stay compliant.
Unlike other visa options, they don’t need formal sponsorship from a UK-based sponsor but any mistakes on your application could cause disruptive delays. Our experienced lawyers can make sure you get your visa in good time for your business trip, so you can focus on what’s important.
We can even help if your visa gets rejected or if you’ve had immigration problems in the past. If you can’t travel on a Business Visitor visa, we’ll advise on other options.
For advice and help with making an application, call us on 0808 271 2602 or contact us online and we’ll get back to you.
How do I qualify and apply for a business visitor visa?
To qualify you must:
- Have a genuine intention to leave once you’ve carried out your permitted activities your job
- Not make the UK your home by visiting regularly
- Have enough money to support yourself during your visit
- Not receive payment for any extra activities carried out in the UK unless it is a “permitted paid engagement”
- Not engage in prohibited activities, such as setting up a business in the UK or charging members of the public for services or goods received
- Not intend to take on any other work in the UK, outside of what you’ve travelled for.
You can apply online and will have to provide supporting documents and evidence that proves you’re planning to travel only for business purposes.
You’ll also have to:
- Pay an application fee
- Attend an appointment at the visa office to submit your supporting documents
- Provide relevant biometric information (fingerprints and digital photographs).
We have years of experience completing and submitting visa requests for businesses and individuals. We’ll advise on whether you qualify, how to prove it, and make sure all your documents are in order.
How long does it take to get a business visitor visa?
It can take between 3 to 12 weeks to get your visa once you’ve applied – if you filled in the application correctly.
The Home Office checks all applications closely and any mistakes can cause delays. That’s why it’s important you get the application right the first time round. We can help you apply, so you don’t need to worry about making any errors.
If you urgently need a visa, the Home Office offers a Priority Service where they make a decision within 5 working days. A Super Priority Service is also available, where they decide within 24 hours. Both services are available at an additional cost – contact us today to find out more.
Why choose us?
We’ve worked with many businesses and employees with complicated immigration issues. Our lawyers are experienced with UK immigration law and take their time to understand your situation before giving any legal advice.
We’ve been submitting business visa applications for years and can advise you whether your planned business activity is suitable for a Business Visitor visa. If it is, we’ll help you with the application process and can challenge the Home Office if you're unfairly rejected. If it isn't, we can suggest alternatives so you can continue with your plans.
We know that applying for a visa can be stressful, so we work to reduce that stress for you. We’ll offer advice and explain things in plain English so you understand what we’re doing and are always kept in the loop at each stage.
We’re known for being one of the top law firms in the UK by legal guides Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. With offices across the country, we can help you wherever you’re based.
Contact us
Get in touch with our team today to discuss how we can help you – call us on 0808 271 2602 or get in touch online.
