International Agreement Visa
The UK International Agreement visa belongs to a Tier 5 UK visa category and is designed for applicants who will be contracted to do work covered by international law while in the UK. Working for a foreign government or as a private servant in a diplomatic household in the UK may be an example of such positions. Also, applicants must be from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland and meet the other UK visa eligibility requirements.
Another important requirement – applicants need to be sponsored before they can apply to come to the UK. If you have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer, you can start your International Agreement visa process. It is worth mentioning, that the work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organization.
The earliest you can apply for the UK International Agreement visa (Tier 5) is three months before the date you are due to start your work in the UK. You can check this date on your certificate of sponsorship. You are guaranteed to get a decision on your visa within three weeks when you apply from outside the UK. Many visa application centers offer additional priority services, like getting your visa decision faster. For an extra fee, you can get your decision within one week (five working days) or even one day. Check if your visa application center offers this option.
The price you have to pay for your Temporary Worker – International Agreement visa (Tier 5 ) depends on where you are. Citizens of Turkey and Macedonia have to pay £189 for a visa application and the same price if they want to switch or extend their UK International Agreement visa. All the other applicants must pay £244, no matter where they apply from – inside or outside the UK. The fee for all the dependants (family members) is the same – £244 for each person. Healthcare surcharge is an important part of your visa application and you can check its sum before you apply. Remember, you will also need to pay £19.20 for your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).
In most cases, the Temporary Worker – International Agreement visa (Tier 5) allows you to stay in the UK for up to two years. Also, you can choose the time that is given on your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days. Though in certain cases, you will be allowed to stay only for six months in any 12-month period or choose the time that is given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 more days. These rules apply if you are providing a service under contract as set out in the General Agreement on Trade in Services or under similar trade agreements.
Remember, the UK International Agreement visa allows you to enter the UK 14 days before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship. Sometimes, you may be asked to leave the UK within 60 days if your job finishes early, but it is unlikely you will have to leave the country if your visa has less than 60 days left.
The UK International Agreement visa allows its holders to study in the UK, but for some courses, they will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate. They can study, as long as it does not interfere with the job they are sponsored for. Having this Tier 5 category visa you can work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship and even do a second job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list. Also, you can have one more job in the same sector as your main job for up to 20 hours per week (unless you are a private servant, a contractual service supplier, or an independent professional). The UK International Agreement visa allows its holders to travel abroad and return to the UK, and bring family members to the UK.
The UK International Agreement visa does not allow its holders to receive public funds. Also, they cannot start working in the UK before they get their visa.
If you plan to apply for the UK International Agreement visa, you must demonstrate that you have a certificate of sponsorship reference number and £945 in savings. Those applicants, whose fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsors have stated on their certificate of sponsorship that they will certify applicants` maintenance, do not need to demonstrate their savings.
To be allowed to apply for the UK International Agreement visa, it is important that your work in the UK must be covered by the General Agreement on Trade in Services or by similar agreements between the UK and other countries; you can work for an overseas government or international organization; you can work as a private servant in a diplomatic household; you can work as a private servant in the household of an employee of an international organization.
A certificate of sponsorship is not an actual certificate or paper document, but a unique reference number that holds information about you and your job in the UK. It is important, that your sponsor must be recognized by the UK government to issue certificates of sponsorship. Remember, the certificate of sponsorship is valid for three months only from the date it is assigned to you. Some sponsors can give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship, it allows you to leave and return to the UK multiple times during your stay.
When you apply for the UK International agreement visa you need to provide your valid passport or other travel identification; bank statements to prove you can support yourself during your stay in the UK; your tuberculosis test results (if needed) and a blank page in your passport for your visa. Remember to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh. Additional documents might be needed depending on your circumstances.
Your application process for the UK International Agreement visa starts online, then you need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application center of your choice.
You can apply to extend your International Agreement visa for up to two years at a time. Your total maximum stay is six years. If you are a private servant in a diplomatic household and applied for your visa after 5 April 2012 – your total maximum stay can only be 5 years. If you are a contractual service supplier or independent professional – you are allowed to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months in any 12-month period.
You can apply to switch into a UK International Agreement visa (Tier 5) while you are in the UK if you want to continue working for your current employer and you have a work permit, and you work for an overseas government or international organization.
Regards,
SmartImmigrant
