Charity Worker Visa
The UK Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa (Tier 5) is designed for applicants who plan to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity in the UK. Other requirements include being from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland and meet the standard UK visa eligibility requirements.
To apply for the UK Charity Worker visa (Tier 5) you must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed UK employer before you come to the UK to work. It is important, that the work you will do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organization.
The earliest you are allowed to apply for the UK visa is three months before the date you are due to start work in the country. This date will also be written on your certificate of sponsorship. Your visa decision will be ready within three weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
The price of the Charity Worker visa depends on the citizenship of the applicant. Citizens of Turkey and Macedonia have to pay £189, all the rest must pay £244 and the same price for each of their dependants. All the applicants also have to pay the UK healthcare surcharge.
The UK Charity Worker visa (Tier 5) allows its holders to study in the UK. But for some courses, they need to have an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate. This type of visa also allows its holders to work for their sponsor in the job described in their certificate of sponsorship. Having a second job in the same sector and at the same level as the main job is permitted, but only for up to 20 hours per week. Doing a job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list is also allowed for up to 20 hours per week. The UK Charity Worker visa permits its holders to bring their family members to the UK.
The UK Charity Worker visa (Tier 5) does not allow its holders to receive any payment for their work and take permanent jobs in the UK. Receiving public funds is also forbidden.
To be eligible to apply for the UK Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa (Tier 5) you need to have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor. Also, you must prove you can support yourself during your stay in the UK and demonstrate you possess at least £945 in savings in your bank account for 90 days before you apply for the visa. Those applicants, whose UK sponsor is fully approved and has guaranteed them financial support, if needed, do not have to show their savings.
A certificate of sponsorship is a unique reference number that your sponsor will give you. It holds information about the job you will do in the UK and your personal details. To issue certificates of sponsorship, your sponsor must be recognized by the UK government. Remember, your certificate of sponsorship is valid for three months from the date it is assigned to you. A multiple entry certificate of sponsorship allows you to leave and return to the UK multiple times during your stay. Your sponsor can give it to you.
When you apply for the UK Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa (Tier 5) you need to provide a valid passport or other travel identification. Also, a blank page in your passport for your UK visa is needed. You must demonstrate bank statements showing you have at least £945 in savings for 90 days before you apply and your tuberculosis (TB) test results (for applicants who come from the countries where they have to take this test before traveling to the UK). A certified translation of any documents that are not written in English or Welsh is necessary. You may be asked by your visa application center to provide some additional documents depending on your individual circumstances.
Your application process for the UK Charity Worker visa (Tier 5) starts online and then you have to visit the visa application center of your choice. There your fingerprints and photograph will be taken for a biometric residence permit. Remember to collect your biometric residence permit within ten days of when you said you would arrive in the UK.
Many visa application centers offer their priority and super-priority services, like getting a visa decision faster, but this depends on what country you are in. You can always check if your visa application center offers faster decisions and other services. After paying an extra fee you will get your visa decision within five working days or even 24 hours after the application.
The UK Charity Worker visa holders can apply to extend their visas before their current visas expire. They must continue to meet the UK Tier 5 visa eligibility rules. Also, it is important to be in the UK to apply for the extension.
If you apply to extend your UK Charity Worker visa the maximum you can get is one year (12 months) or the time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days more. The fee for the UK Charity Worker visa extension is the same as for the first application – £189 for the citizens of Turkey and Macedonia, and £244 for all the others. You can apply for your visa extension online. Applicants are allowed to add dependants to their online application – including children who have turned 18 during their stay in the UK.
When you apply for the extension of your UK Charity Worker visa (Tier 5), you will be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point. There you will have to provide your biometric information and submit all the other supporting documents.
A decision whether to extend your UK Charity Worker visa will be made within eight weeks of your application date if you choose to use the standard service. If you prefer the super-priority service – a decision will be made much faster. Sometimes, if your application is complex and will take longer, you will be contacted by the workers of the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point. For example, your supporting documents need to be verified or you need to attend an interview personally.
Regards,
SmartImmgirant
