What to be aware of when sponsoring a Global Business Mobility worker
The Global Business Mobility routes were introduced in April 2022 to allow overseas businesses to temporarily send their employees to the UK for specific reasons in roles that cannot be fulfilled by settled workers.
This article will explain what Global Business Mobility (GBM) sponsors need to be aware of when sponsoring GBM workers.
What responsibilities do I have as a Global Business Mobility (GMB) sponsor?
GBM sponsors will need to be registered sponsoring companies in the UK. For each migrant worker, a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) must be assigned by the company.
You will likely need to apply for a defined CoS that is for skilled workers outside of the UK which must be done through the sponsor management system (SMS).
The certificate will outline details regarding the role, the salary, the amount of time that the worker is permitted to work along with other information.
In order to comply with immigration laws, a GBM sponsor must adhere to certain responsibilities. If they fail to comply, their licence may be downgraded, suspended, or withdrawn.
GBM sponsors must:
- Ensure that foreign workers have the required skills, qualifications, or professional accreditations to do their jobs. Sponsors must keep copies of suitable documents that prove this.
- Assign a CoS in good faith to suitable candidates.
- Notify the Home Office if a worker is not complying with the conditions of their visa.
- Monitor a worker’s immigration status to ensure that they are not overstaying.
- Keep hold of documents such as proof of identification and any right to work information.
- Record a worker’s attendance and absence from work. If there are long periods of absence, these must be reported to the Home Office.
- Maintain accurate records of the employee’s contact details.
- Report any issues to the Home Office.
- Advise of any changes to the business such as change of business nature or a merger or acquisition.
What are the sponsor requirements for each GBM route?
GBM sponsors must be aware of the following information for each visa route.
Senior or Specialist visa:
- The overseas business and the UK sponsoring company must be linked by common ownership or control by a joint venture.
- Sponsors may have to pay the “immigration skills charge” when applying for a CoS.
- The general salary threshold for the Senior or Specialist visa has increased from £41,500 to £42,400.
- A worker can stay for up to 5 years in the UK.
- The worker must have worked for the overseas employer for at least 12 months continuously unless they are a ‘high earner’.
Graduate Trainee visa:
- The overseas business and the UK sponsoring company must be linked by common ownership or control by a joint venture.
- The overseas business must have a legitimate work placement in the UK as part of a graduate training program.
- The worker must have worked for the overseas employer for a minimum of 3 months.
- The general salary threshold has increased from £23,000 to £23,100
- per year.
- Graduate trainees are no longer permitted to take supplementary/additional
- employment.
- Graduate trainees can come to the UK for up to one year at a time and can work in different roles within the company.
UK Expansion Worker visa:
- The overseas company must be able to show that it can establish a UK branch and that it has been trading overseas for at least 3 years.
- The UK sponsoring company must be a branch or wholly-owned subsidiary of the established overseas business which has not yet started trading in the UK.
- The Home Office expects the company to establish a UK trading presence within two years. If they do not, they will not be able to sponsor new workers.
- The worker must have worked for the overseas employer for at least 12 months continuously.
- UK Expansion Workers should be paid at least £42,400 per year, or the specified going rate for the occupation (whichever is higher).
Service Supplier visa:
- There must be an eligible contract between the UK sponsor and the overseas service provider that is covered by an applicable UK trade agreement.
- The worker must have worked overseas for their employer for at least 12 months continuously.
- Service Supplier and Secondment workers must be paid at least the UK National Minimum Wage.
- Workers can stay for 6 months or 12 months depending on the trade agreement.
Secondment Worker visa:
- There must be an eligible contract between the UK sponsor company and the overseas business for goods or investments that are worth £10 million per year or £50 million in total.
- Secondment workers can stay in the UK for up to 2 years.
