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Immigration/visa advice

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Harcourt

Free Member
Mar 31, 2010
12
1
Hi,

We have a software developer who's worked for us for the last 12 months, he's based in the Ukraine so works completely remotely and sends us an invoice and timesheet each month.

He does a fantastic job for us so we decided it would be nice to invite him over to the UK for a weekend as a treat.

He's made some enquiries about getting a visa but its quite complicated, he spoke to someone in the Ukraine who told him its best to apply for a tourist visa and claim he is visiting friends.

But i'm not sure if a business related visa would be more appropriate.

Can anyone offer any advice on this?

To be clear he would be visiting for 2 days and there wouldn't be any kind of work involved, i.e. its purely a social visit. Also we would be covering the full cost of his trip (flights, hotel, spending money etc)

Thanks
 
Not an expert by any means but pretty sure this would be covered by a tourist visa - he is not intending to work in the UK or stay here even for more than a couple of days.
 
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If you (he - you cant apply for him ) go for a tourist visa for him - then it must be just that, someone will have to personally sponsor the visit - if you try and get the business to pay then I doubt they will consider issuing a visa at all and it may jeopordise him getting future visas if this one is turned down.

Think of it from the HMRC point of view, he does work for you, you then invite him over for a weekend. Like it or not then HMRC are going to assume the trip is business related, that he may be trying to get into the UK to seek work or carry on work.

He will have to prove strong ties at home to get his visa - a job - family - property to go back to - and of course be holding a return ticket !

He should have a personal invite and not one from the business. But dont lie about anything on any forms - just dont tell anything they dont ask for ;)
 
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How do all the other thousands come over from the Ukraine?
Certainly not by going through the business sponsored visa route.

He's coming here for a weekend jolly, as a tourist. Why should work be involved?
 
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To apply for tourist visa he must show proof of booked accommodation, two way ticket, sufficient amount of money on account and the most important - convince immigration officer that he will come back after lovely week-end.

If he's a young guy with no family ties, property and official employment then it may be difficult. But still possible.

If you will sponsor him for business visit - then it may be easier.
 
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