UK Temporary Worker Visas

To qualify for the UK Temporary Worker Visa, temporary workers will need to meet the eligibility criteria specific to the individual visa category that they are applying to. In addition, they must also meet these general requirements:

• The applicant is at least 18 years old
• The applicant has received a formal job offer from a UK employer who holds a valid Sponsor Licence
• The applicant has been issued a valid Certificate of Sponsorship by their UK employer
• The applicant has the sufficient funds necessary to finance their first month’s stay in the UK (at least £1,270 in savings)
• The applicant is able to demonstrate an adequate understanding of the English language by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) with a certified provider (if applicable)

The Government Authorized Exchange category lets individuals stay in the UK on schemes with the UK government. People in this category must be coming to the UK to share knowledge, experience, and best practices or to experience UK social and cultural life. The International Agreement category also covers those who are entering to do work that is governed by international law. This includes employees of non-UK governments.

Foreign nationals who are coming to the UK to perform work duties covered by international law or treaty are eligible for an International Agreement Visa. This includes:

• Individuals working for an overseas government or international organization
• Individuals working as private servants in a diplomatic household
• Individuals working as an employee in the household of someone who works for a recognized international organization

The Youth Mobility Scheme is open to foreign nationals whose country has agreed to participate in this program. Under this scheme, young individuals between the ages of 18-30 are eligible to come to the UK for a period of up to 2 years to pursue employment. This scheme is open to foreign nationals from the following countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• Iceland
• Japan
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Hong Kong
• Republic of Korea (South Korea)
• San Marino
• Taiwan

Applicants must have at least £2,530 in savings to be eligible for this scheme. Applicants who have traveled to the UK on any other type of working holiday visa in the past are not eligible for this visa.

Applications for a Temporary Worker Visa can be made online through the gov.uk website. After you have submitted your visa application form online, you will then need to pay the visa application fee and submit a variety of documents necessary for your particular visa.

You can submit your Temporary Worker visa application from the United States at least 3 months before the date you intend to enter the UK or you are due to start work. This date will also be printed on your certificate of sponsorship.

After all of the documents are submitted and necessary fees are paid, the applicant will then need to submit biometric information (a photo and fingerprints). The collection of this information will be collected at a designated visa application center. If your temporary worker visa application is approved, this information will later be used to create a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). This permit demonstrates the foreign national’s right to live and work in the UK for a designated period of time.

If you have completed your application forms completely, you will receive a response from the Home Office within 3 weeks if applying from abroad or 8 weeks if applying from within the UK. The waiting time might be shorter if you applied from within the UK.

As part of your visa application, each applicant will need to submit a variety of documents. These may include the following:

• Valid passport or another travel document
• Proof that the applicant has received an official job offer from a UK employer
• A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) (This will be issued to the prospective employee by the UK employer)
• Bank statements or other financial documents that show the applicant has at least £1,270 in their savings (this must be in the applicant’s bank account at least 90 days before the application is made)
• Tuberculosis test results (only if the applicant is applying from a country where that is required)
• English language test results (if not from a country where this requirement is exempt)

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a digital reference number that is linked to information regarding the prospective employee’s job role and biographical details. This number is given to the foreign worker by their prospective UK employer. In order to give a Cos to a foreign worker, the employer must be a licensed sponsor.

This CoS will be needed when applying for a Temporary Worker Visa and is valid for 3 months from the date when it was assigned

When applying for a Temporary Work Visa, all applicants will need to pay the following fees:

• Temporary Worker Visa fee: £259
• Healthcare Surcharge fee: the amount of money you will need to pay will be calculated at £624 per year of stay

It should be noted that all applicants must have at least £1,270 in savings before they arrive in the UK. This amount may need to be more depending on if you have family members traveling with you to the UK on your visa.

Whatever your circumstances, if you are a US citizen, our lawyers can help you understand which application is right for you. We will advise you on the right Temporary Work Visa UK for you and ensure that you are eligible to apply under the points-based system (PBS).

Your lawyer will also complete your application forms and write a Letter of Representation. This letter supports your application, reaching out directly to UKVI. For more information, make an inquiry online or call +1 844 290 6312 to speak with an experienced immigration lawyer.