Is the Global Business Mobility Visa the Same as ICT?
As of April 2022, the Global Business Mobility Visa replaced the Intra Company Transfer Visa. Not only that, but it opened up new visa opportunities for secondment workers coming to the UK from overseas. In this post, we discuss the Global Business Mobility Visa in depth and compare it to the old ICT visa so that you can understand the similarities and differences.
We also introduce ourselves at Synergy Immigration Solutions, leading specialists in immigration. We’re here to help you with your visa journey from start to finish and provide the best support possible to make your goals a reality.
What is the Global Business Mobility Visa?
The Global Business Mobility visa comprises five sponsored work routes for overseas businesses looking to establish, develop or support UK-based operations. The organisations must want to set up a UK branch or already have that connection with their own or another business within the UK.
Each of the 5 routes to Global Business Mobility has its own criteria, including a minimum salary requirement and validity period, meaning you must meet the criteria to be successful in gaining any of the 5 types of visas and have a certain length of time you’re allowed to stay in the UK. It is possible to extend your visa length or switch to another visa once in the UK, but it can be tricky to navigate, so having an immigration professional on your side is an invaluable asset.
Global Business Mobility routes
5 categories make up the Global Business Mobility Visa routes, and these are:
- Senior or specialist worker. The Senior or Specialist worker route is for senior managers and specialist employees being assigned to a UK business that’s linked to their employer overseas and who wish to undertake a temporary assignment in the UK.
- Graduate trainees. The Graduate Trainee route is for overseas workers on a graduate training course leading to either a senior management or specialist position and required by their employer to do a UK work placement.
- UK expansion worker. The UK Expansion Worker route is for overseas workers looking to undertake temporary assignments in the UK, where the worker is either a senior manager or specialist employee tasked with supporting the opening of a UK branch or UK connection.
- Service supplier. The Service Supplier route is for contractual service suppliers employed by overseas service providers or self-employed independent professionals based overseas looking to undertake temporary assignments in the UK.
- Secondment worker. The Secondment worker route is for overseas workers looking to undertake temporary assignments in the UK, where the worker is being seconded to the UK as part of a contract or investment by their overseas employer.
For each of these routes, there are Global Business Mobility eligibility criteria for applicants to successfully gain a visa. Do your research or speak to one of our immigration experts to find out which visa mostly suits your needs and credentials.
How long is a Global Business Mobility Visa valid?
For each of the 5 routes under the Global Business Mobility routes, there are different lengths of time that they’re valid. More detailed criteria are attached to each of these lengths explained below, but as a general guide, here is an idea of how long each of the 5 subsections are valid for in the UK.
- Senior or specialist worker. For this route, permission will be given for either 5 years after the start date of the job set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship, 14 days after the end date of this job, or totalling 5 years in any 6-year period, or 9 years over 10 years if applying as a high earner.
- Graduate trainee worker. Permission will be given for either 1 year after the start date of the job set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship, 14 days after the end date of this job, or totalling 5 years in any 6-year period.
- Expansion Worker route. You’ll be able to stay for 1 year after the start date of the job set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship or 14 days after the end date of this job, the date at which the applicant will have had permission as a UK Expansion Worker totalling 2 years; or the date the applicant will have had permission on the Global Business Mobility routes totalling 5 years in any 6-year period.
- Service supplier route. Permission will be given for either 14 days after the end date of the job set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship, the date at which the applicant will have had permission on the Global Business Mobility totalling 5 years in any 6-year period, or the maximum single assignment period for the applicant is either 6 or 12 months.
- Secondment worker route. Permission will be given for either 1 year after the start date of the job set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship, 14 days after the end date of this job, the date at which the applicant will have had continuous permission totalling 2 years, totalling 5 years in any 6-year period.
Does Global Business Mobility lead to settlement in the UK?
Does GBM lead to IRL? Unfortunately not. None of the Global Business Mobility routes lead directly to indefinite leave to remain in the UK. If this is your goal, or if your temporary work position becomes permanent, it is possible to transfer your visa to a different one that does directly lead to settlement. To do this, speak to a member of our team at Synergy Immigration Solutions, who will be able to help you and advise you on the best visa switch for your circumstances.
What are the differences between the Intra-Company Transfer Visa and the Global Business Mobility Visa?
So you’re familiar with the ICT visa and want to know how the GBM is the same or different? In this section, we will go through what the Intra-Company Transfer Visa consisted of and how it has now changed.
Unlike the old ICT scheme, the main difference is that overseas businesses must now hold a Home Office sponsorship licence, and the applicant must also hold a certificate of Sponsorship (Cos). There are also minimum salary requirements that vary depending on the visa type.
For Senior or Specialist workers or Expansion workers, the minimum salary requirement is £42,400, and for the Graduate Trainee route, the minimum salary requirement is £23,100. The Global Business Mobility visa has opened more doors for visa applicants for secondment workers from overseas.
To look at the difference between other types of visas, such as the difference between skilled worker and GBM visa, read the information on our blog or contact us.
Global Business Mobility Visa, a good or a bad thing?
The Global Business Mobility Visa was introduced to make it easier for the government to decide who is granted visas, and it makes the process fairer and easier to understand. It makes things a lot simpler as the alignment with the UK Points-Based System means you know from the outset where you stand with your application.
With this in mind, we think the change in the visa system from ICT to GBM is a good thing, and we can do even more to help our applicants get the result they are hoping for.
What can Synergy Immigration Solutions do for you?
Balancing life, work, and your family can be tricky at the best of times, especially when you are trying to move to a new country. 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.
When applying for any of the replacement forms of the ICT visa, we can help you by:
- Offering the latest in professional advice from an OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) registered company.
- Not charging you through the roof as we know that moving elsewhere is expensive as it is.
- We can provide ongoing support for both you and your company during the entire process. This means we can answer any questions as soon as they arise and track your application to ensure any issues are resolved quickly.
To learn more about our services, call us on 020 3319 9564, email info@synergy-immigration.com or fill in our online contact form.
