Does ICT Visa Lead to ILR?
We know visas can be confusing, particularly with all the changes in recent years, but Synergy Immigrations Solutions are here to offer expert advice and help you with the process. This article will discuss the visa, previously known as Intra-Company-Transfer-Visa (ICT visas), now known as Global Business Mobility (GBM). We explain what it is, who can apply and if it leads to indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
What is an ICT visa?
What is an ICT visa? The Intra-Company-Transfer-Visa (ICT) allows workers whose company has UK branches the opportunity to work in the company’s UK branch. The Senior or specialist worker visa replaced this type of visa and is now called Global Business Mobility (GBM). You may see the names of this same visa used interchangeably, but now the most common term for the ICT visa is Global Business Mobility. In this article, we will use both ICT and GMB.
Who qualifies for ICT?
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
- have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK
- do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- be paid at least £42,400 per year
What does ICT consist of?
The ICT, now GBM, consists of 5 visa routes. These different visas are as follows:
- Senior or Specialist worker
- Graduate trainee
- UK expansion worker
- Service supplier
- Secondment worker
How can I apply for one of the GBM routes?
To apply for any of the forms of visa, the standard information that you will need to apply is the following:
- A valid sponsorship certificate and unique identifier number
- A genuine form of ID
- Details of your job, including job title, salary, contract and your job occupation code
- You may also need to provide confirmation of your study and any results if you are applying for a graduate visa.
- You will need to provide evidence that you have enough money to support yourself during your time in the UK. This is made up of both your existing funds and salary earnings.
Applying for any visa, whichever route is the best option for you, will come with its own challenges and unique information. This is the main reason why people turn to an immigration specialist, as they can help you manage multiple applications at once and give you expert advice.
How long can you stay?
The maximum time you can stay in the UK on a Global Business Mobility visa is two years, but this will differ depending on the replacement ICT visa you apply for. These visas are only intended for temporary work, so if your role is replaced by a permanent one of your type of contract changes, you should let your immigration specialist know.
One of the most common questions we get asked is how Global Mobility visas affect obtaining indefinite leave to remain, otherwise known as ILR, within the UK. With any Tier 2 visa, you may be eligible to apply for ILR as long as you have worked in the UK for more than five years, meet the salary requirements and if your official sponsor needs you to remain in the UK.
As a standard Global Business Mobility visa lasts for around two years, you will need to have an extension granted promptly to be eligible. This is something that our team at Synergy Immigration can advise you on. Contact us for help, support and advice.
Does Global Business Mobility lead to indefinite leave to remain?
One of the most common questions we get asked is how Global Mobility visas affect obtaining indefinite leave to remain, otherwise known as ILR, within the UK. With any form of Tier 2 visa, you may well be eligible to apply for ILR as long as you have worked in the UK for more than five years, meet the salary requirements and if your official sponsor needs you to remain in the UK.
To be clear, the Global Business Mobility routes won’t provide a direct pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, those who came to the UK on a GBM may be able to switch to a different visa that does provide a direct route to ILR.
How to get indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
Indefinite leave to remain means you can settle in the UK. It gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible. You can then use your ILR to apply for British Citizenship.
There are many different routes to applying for ILR. If you’re in the UK for one of the followings reasons or visas, you may be able to apply:
- If you’ve lived and worked in the UK for 5 years on a skilled worker visa or a family visa such as a Spouse visa
- If you have a tier 1 visa, you can apply after 2 or 3 years
- If you have an Innovator Founder or Global Talent visa, you can apply after 3 years
So, if you live and work in the UK via one of the Global Business Mobility routes, this will not lead you down a direct path to indefinite leave to remain; however, once in the UK, you may be able to switch visas to one that will by following one of the pathways above.
What is the difference between the Skilled Worker visa and the ICT/GBM?
One of the main differences between these two visas is that with the Skilled Worker visa, you must obtain sponsorship from an approved employer to live and work in the UK. The organisation obtains a sponsorship licence to employ foreign workers. For Global Business Mobility, you do not need sponsorship.
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must reach certain criteria, such as a required level of English, and the job you are being sponsored to do must be on the list of approved occupations. For Global Business Mobility, you don’t need to meet as many requirements.
With a Skilled Worker visa, you must earn a minimum of £25,600, whereas with Global Business Mobility, you must earn £42,400, and for both, you must earn the ‘going rate’ for the job you are doing, if it is more than these amounts.
Choose Synergy Immigration Solutions
Moving to a new country is challenging without having to worry about paperwork too. Allow Synergy Immigration Solutions to guide you to your new life and hold your hand every step of the way. As a team of immigration law specialists, we make it our mission to act as your main point of contact throughout a complex visa application. You can feel confident that you’re in good hands and getting expert advice tailored to your situation.
We can help you by:
- Offering the latest in professional advice from an OISC (Office of Immigration Services Commissioner) registered company.
- Not overcharging, as we know how expensive it can be to move yourself and your family to a new country.
- Providing ongoing support for both you and your company during the entire process. This means we can answer any questions as soon as they arrive and track your application to ensure any issues are resolved as quickly as possible.
So, do ICT/GBM visas lead to ILR? No, this isn’t a direct route to indefinite leave to remain. However, there are other visas that you may be able to apply for once in the UK to help you apply for ILR.
To find out more about Synergy Immigration Solution services and for expert advice, call us on 020 3319 9564 or email info@synergy-immigration.com. You can also meet the team to learn more about us and who we are.
