Anyone needing one can instruct immigration and visa legal representatives to successfully assist you with a Sole Representative visa application. From here, this can then go through as a very straightforward overall process and it can also come to fruition too. A good lawyer can offer some guidance on the requirements that need to be satisfied for a successful Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa. They will make sure you have the right paperwork in place. This is key as and when the application is to take place.
The purpose of this visa
The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa allows a senior employee of an overseas business to come to the UK. This is to to set up and run a UK branch or wholly-owned subsidiary of the overseas parent company. You will very often seen. This in the cases of where you see a businessman looking to set up new operations overseas. This is seen by a lot of financial and manufacturing businesses. Very often, this is also seen by businesses with big diversification plans.
The interviews carried out for this type of application
Interviews are carried out to check that the applicant is eligible for a Sole Overseas Representative visa and that their reasons for applying are entirely genuine. The Home Office guidance used by case officers states that they must be satisfied. This is that the applicant is a genuine representative of an overseas business. They must not have reasonable grounds to believe the business decision to establish a UK presence.
Other reasons for these interviews
A common reason for interviews is when the applicant holds a share in the company. This is often when they wish to represent in it the UK. In detail, this is close (but not necessarily at) the 50% threshold needed for a majority stake. As the immigration guidance states, “As senior employees, it is common for Sole Representative applicants to have some amount of ownership or control of the overseas business. Where this is only a small stake in that business, there will be no reason to doubt the applicant’s eligibility with respect to ownership. If, however, the applicant has a substantial stake in the overseas business, but it is not more than 50%, you may need to consider requesting additional information or undertaking an interview”.
Getting well prepared
Firstly, do not panic if you have been asked to attend an interview for your Sole Representative visa. This is common, and it means that you will have the opportunity to answer any remaining questions the case officer has been unable to ascertain answers. Secondly, consider engaging Immigration Solicitors to help prepare you. This is not essential at this stage. If you don’t have the time to prepare, this is one way of making sure you can answer the questions asked of you in a thorough manner on the day.
Other business considerations
UK Visas and Immigration will also investigate aspects of the business applying for a Representative of an Overseas Business Visa. They will want assurance that the organisation applying for the visa is an established, viable, genuine company with a good track record. Therefore, directors or HR executives will need to have to hand previous years’ company accounts, as well as information regarding the length of time the business has been trading, and the number of employees. It can be helpful to have professional legal advice from authorised immigration lawyer in this matter.
Immigration officials are required to examine the company applying for a Sole Representative Visa. This is to establish whether there is a risk, the operation plans to move its headquarters permanently to the UK. If the organisation has few employees and/or low turnover, or is a start-up, suspicions will be raised. After all, this is the ultimate objective. It does not matter if the UK-based subsidiary outgrows the headquarters in terms of scale. It must not become the main head quarters of the company.
Will it be right for your business?
The Sole Representative Visa may not be suitable for your company’s long-term requirements. For example, if a UK-based employee is already in the country on this type of visa, a Tier 2 visa may be a more suitable option to gain entry into the UK for another employee. The same applies if the business conducted by the subsidiary established in the UK begins to grow apart from that of the overseas headquarters. This is also the case if the subsidiary is wholly or partly brought out by another company. This is why this is so often seen by multinational businesses and businesses setting up new operations in new markets.
Getting the best possible and most correct overall advice
Seeking professional advice from the start of the application process. In detail, this can ensure a business does not squander valuable time and resources. All of this is on an application which is likely to be refused due to the sole representative route not being suitable or not presenting the correct supporting documentation. When it comes to applying for a visa, preparation is key to success. Look for it and don’t just go with the first law firm you come across. Also, don’ just buy in this service on price; take your time and make sure you get the most correct people on board for the job in hand.
Overall – what you need to be sure of
The process of applying for a Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa is relatively straightforward, and being asked to attend an interview is no reason for concern. It does mean that you have to prepare, however. The last thing you want to do is add more uncertainty to your case. All of this is hence by getting all of the documents ready in an organised folder. This is also by rehearsing the answers to the types of questions you are likely to be asked. From here, you can go into the interview with the confidence you meet all of the visa’s requirements.
