Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? Effective immediately, U.S. visa applicants applying for British visas for stays longer than six months are now covered by new procedures for obtaining a biometric residence permit upon arrival in the U.K.
What does the change mean? Applicants in the U.S. should note the strict new 30-day time frame for traveling after visa issuance and the 10-day window after arrival in the U.K., during which applicants must pick up their biometric residence permit from their nearest post office.
Background: Under the new procedures, U.K. consulates will issue a temporary visa valid for 30 days instead of the full visa covering the whole stay. Applicants will enter the U.K. with this visa and then have 10 days from the date of arrival to collect their biometric residence permit. The permit gives the dates of their full permission to stay in line with any certificate of sponsorship.
It is important to note that the dates of validity of the 30-day temporary visa are determined by the date that the applicant sets as the “intended travel date” on the visa application, and the visa will generally be valid from the intended travel date up to 30 days thereafter. Thus, any changes to travel plans after applicants designate their intended travel date may require resubmission of a new application.
Additionally, applicants must designate a U.K. address and postal code to determine the nearest post office where they will collect the biometric residence permit on arrival. BAL recommends designating the U.K. office address as a best practice. Any changes to the pick-up location will incur delays.
The changes are part of the U.K.’s transition to biometric residence permits for overseas applicants worldwide, having already been in operation for in-country applicants for some time. Applicants in the U.S., Canada and Australia are among the latest to be phased in; biometric permits for overseas applicants from countries including India and China have been in operation since April. By the end of July, all overseas applicants from all countries will be covered by the procedures.
BAL Analysis: Employers and U.S. nationals should work closely with their BAL representatives to ensure that the information supporting their application is as accurate as possible to minimize delays and business disruption.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please contact uk@bal.com.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced it will fully decommission the legacy Permanent…
The government of Cuba has launched a new electronic visa platform, known as Evisa. Key Points: The new Evisa replaces…
The Qatari government has extended the validity period for the multiple-entry work visa (MEWV) for nationals of Bangladesh, India, Nepal,…
In this week’s episode, BAL’s Chad Li and Kyle McLaughlin discuss common questions about the PERM process and identify four…