Work Visa to the UK

catnixon · #1 (**permalink**) 7th June 2008, 04:16 AM

My husband would be a trailing expat and he has taken the online eligibility assessment. He is an MBA with 13 years experience. What is the likelihood that he can get a HSMP work visa? Is that the correct one for him if my company sponsors my visa? How long would it take for him to get one so that he can seek employment in the UK?

Are there advantages or disadvantages of him obtaining a work visa if I am a local payroll hire vs. an expat? Does it shorten the timeframe of him getting a visa?

Any other general advice is helpful. Thank you.

jlms · #2 (**permalink**) 17th June 2008, 02:59 AM

What are your respective nationaliities?

Bevdeforges · #3 (**permalink**) 17th June 2008, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnixon

Are there advantages or disadvantages of him obtaining a work visa if I am a local payroll hire vs. an expat? Does it shorten the timeframe of him getting a visa?

The big risk with a couple going on separate work visas is obviously if one of them were to lose their job. When the job ends, the visa ends, and for most working visas, you don't have the right to just "find a new job" and carry on. Often, the unemployed partner would have only a short period of time to leave the country - something like 30 days.
Cheers,
Bev

catnixon · #4 (**permalink**) 25th June 2008, 08:27 PM

We are both US Citizens and I'll have a three year visa as a part of an ex-pat package. We just can't seem to figure out what type of visa he should apply for and how long it would take to actually receive it. Would he have to be sponsored by a local company before the Visa?

Bevdeforges · #5 (**permalink**) 25th June 2008, 08:49 PM

It's always tricky trying to predict how long it will take to secure a visa. The "usual" route has always been to find a job first and have the employer handle the "hard part" but it looks as if the UK is switching over more and more to various points-based visa programs.

The HMSP visa program seems to be coming to an end, at least according to this from the UK Border Agency website (http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/hsmp/):

"The HSMP will close completely on 29 June 2008. After this date all applications must be made under Tier 1 (General) of our new points-based system."

Is there any possibility that your employer might be able to help get your husband a visa with working privileges at the same time they are working on your three-year visa? I've heard of this being done as part of some expat packages - either the employer finds a job for the spouse in the company, or assists in finding a suitable position for the spouse nearby that would qualify them for a similar visa.

It's obviously in the interests of your employer to see that the two visas come through in roughly the same time frame.
Cheers,
Bev

angelaj70 · #6 (**permalink**) 30th June 2008, 11:58 AM

I believe the UK is very much adapting to the usual modus-operandi in the EU. But as US-citizens, you shouldn't encounter too many hurdles.

izzysmum04 · #7 (**permalink**) 30th June 2008, 11:48 PM

I was thinking along the lines of Bev, as my friend's company was able to get visa's for her and her entire family. Why not try contacting your perspective employers and asking if they could assist you as well? Might not work, but it's worth a try.

WentToTheOtherSide · #8 (**permalink**) 1st July 2008, 07:52 AM

The UK job market is not at its best right now so it might be a bit more difficult than usual for your husband to find a job, however he is obviously well educated and experienced so maybe it would be no problem. However, as mentioned before it is just that your visas might now coordinate so that one visa might end before the other.