Your company’s Global Mobility policy governs assignees’ overseas travel. Creating a Global Mobility strategy helps your company prepare for foreign hires and treats them equally.

Below, we list some immigration policy questions that HR and Global Mobility teams should ask themselves and give background information to assist you make the correct choices for your organization.

Are your assignees needed to get a TB test to enter the UK?

Applicants for a UK visa who are staying for more than six months and live in one of the Home Office’s specified countries must obtain a Tuberculosis (TB) test.

Visa applicants must provide exam certificates. TB tests must be done at Home Office-approved facilities. Visa applicants may need to go abroad for a TB test at an authorized center. This leads well to our following point.

How far will your assignees travel to appointments? Will you compensate them?

Most UK visa applicants must enroll their fingerprints and photos at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC). UKVI runs visa centers in the UK and abroad with commercial partners.

Before applying for a Business Mobility visa, your assignee should find their local VAC. Their closest application point may be abroad. The entire list of foreign application points is here. UKVCAS centers for in-country applicants are listed here.

If necessary, your assignees may need to go Home Office-approved TB and English language test facilities in addition to VAC visits. If your assignee must drive far to attend an appointment, consider the extra time and cost and if the company would cover travel fees.

What is your company’s policy for replacing lost or stolen visas or BRPs?

Your Global Mobility policy should address what happens if an employee’s visa or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is lost or stolen and they need to apply for a replacement.

Your insurance should specify who reports losses or theft to UKVI. For instance, you may stipulate that employees must guard their documentation and seek and pay for a visa or BRP if it is lost or stolen.

Your assignee might apply for a BRP if their visa is lost or stolen. Visa status determines cost and application. Find out more here.

They must notify and request a new BRP if it’s lost or stolen. Only UK residents may apply for replacement BRPs. The assignee must apply for a ‘replacement BRP visa’ to re-enter the UK once if the loss or theft occurs abroad. See here for BRP replacement application information.

How will you verify business visitors to your workplace are doing approved work?

Your Global Mobility strategy should also include overseas office visits. Visa types provide varied permissions. Standard Visitor visas allow just some commercial activities, such as:

• Interviews, meetings, conferences, seminars
• Contract negotiation and signing
• Site visits and inspections
• Giving one-time or short-term lectures that aren’t commercial
• Training or exchanging information on internal initiatives with UK workers of the visitor’s foreign firm

The assignee must apply for a different visa if their job at your company does not qualify under the Standard Visitor route.

If the foreign assignee works for a related branch of your firm abroad, they may be eligible for a Global Business Mobility visa to work for you temporarily. SSW can advise you on the right visa category for international business travelers.

Help with creating a global mobility visa

QC Immigration can help you obtain an Innovator Founder visa or other types of visa. Contact them immediately for more information.