Table Of Contents:
- What is a UK Media Representative Visa
- Eligibility requirements for UK Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
- Entry requirements for Representative of an Overseas Business
- Work requirements for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
- Genuineness requirement for the Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
- English language requirement for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
- Financial requirements for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
- Additional business requirements
- Applying for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
- Let’s Summarise
UK media representative visa (or Representative of an Overseas Business visa) is a route for a media representative who is an employee of an overseas media organisation, newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting organisation being posted to the UK on a long-term assignment. An employee of an overseas media organisation can be a journalist, producer, news camera operator, front-of-camera worker, or others.
If someone wants to establish the initial UK branch of an overseas company in the UK, they should submit an application for a UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) instead of a media representative or journalist visa.
In short, the aim of this visa is to allow overseas media organisations to transfer an employee to the UK to represent and further their business goals
What is a UK Media Representative Visa?
With a UK media representative visa – sometimes referred to as the Representative of an Overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting organisation visa — you can come to the UK to work in the media sector on a long-term assignment. If your application is approved, you will be granted permission for 3 years. You may also be able to extend your visa for another 2 years before your current leave expires.
Under a journalist visa, you cannot work for any other business or for yourself. You will also not be permitted to seek to access public funds or state benefits during your stay in the UK.
The visa is limited to use in certain media roles, for example, journalist, producer, news camera operator, front-of-camera worker, or others. You must be an employee of an overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting organisation, and you must be being posted on a long-term assignment to the UK.
One can apply for this visa from overseas or switch to it from within the UK.
If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must have completed the course of study you were sponsored for, or you are studying for a PhD full-time, and have been for at least 24 months.
One cannot apply to switch to a Media Representative of an Overseas Business visa if they are currently in the UK with any of the following:
• UK short-term student visa
• UK Parent of a Child Student visa
• UK seasonal worker visa
• UK domestic worker in a private household visa
• On an immigration bail
• Leave to remain outside the immigration rules, for example, on compassionate grounds
If you’re in the UK on one of these categories, you must first leave the UK and then apply for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business visa from overseas.
Eligibility requirements for UK Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
To be eligible for entry clearance or leave to stay, you must be coming to or staying in the UK as an employee of an overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting organisation on a long-term assignment.
Entry requirements for Representative of an Overseas Business
A person seeking to come to the UK as a media representative of an overseas business must have applied for and received entry clearance before arriving in the UK.
A person who is applying for entry clearance as a media representative of an overseas business must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, submit a valid medical certificate (with their application) confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary TB and that this TB is not present in them.
Work requirements for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
The overseas media organisation that the visa applicant represents must be active and trading outside the UK. Its headquarters and principal place of business must remain outside the UK.
The visa applicant must have been recruited and taken on as an employee overseas by the media business they will represent.
The visa applicant must intend to work full-time as the representative of the overseas media organisation with no intention to work for any other business in the UK or engage in a business of their own.
The visa applicant must be a media representative of an overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting organisation who is being posted to the UK on a long-term assignment.
Genuineness requirement for the Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
The decision maker must be fully satisfied that the visa applicant being posted to the UK is a genuine representative of an overseas media business.
The decision maker must not have any reasonable grounds to believe that the business overseas is establishing business in the UK, or the applicant has been appointed to the UK as a representative of the overseas media organisation, primarily so that they can apply for entry clearance or leave to remain.
English language requirement for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
The applicant must prove their English language ability in speaking and listening to at least level A1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) for Languages.
The applicant must prove to the decision maker that they fulfill the English language requirements as specified in Appendix English Language.
Financial requirements for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
The decision maker must be fully satisfied that the applicant can, and will, maintain and accommodate themselves, and any dependants, adequately during their stay in the UK, without recourse to public funds.
Applicant must show the fund as specified in Appendix Finance.
Additional business requirements for a Media Representative on the Representative of an Overseas Business route
The applicant must meet the additional business requirements where they are applying as a Media Representative on the Representative of Overseas Business route.
They must be an employee of an overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting organisation being posted to the UK for a long-term assignment as a representative of their overseas employer.
They must meet all the following where they are applying for permission to stay and have, or were last granted, permission as a Media Representative:
(a) They must be engaged in full-time employment for which their last period of leave was granted by the Home Office and be required by their employer to continue in that role; and
(b) They must provide the following:
(i) A letter from their employer confirming that they are required to continue in their employment; and
(ii) Proof of salary they have been paid in the last 12 months immediately before the date of their visa application, and details of the remuneration package they receive.
Applying for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
You must apply online regardless of whether you are seeking entry clearance from overseas or switching to this visa from within the UK.
Application Fees and Waiting Period for a Decision
A Meida Representative of an Overseas Business visa costs £769 if applied from outside the UK, and £885 when applied from within the UK.
You will normally get a decision within 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK within 8 weeks when applying from inside the UK.
Decision on an application as Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
If the decision maker is fully satisfied that the applicant meets all the suitability and relevant eligibility requirements as a media Representative of an Overseas Business, their visa application will be granted; otherwise, the application will be refused.
A person with a refused application can apply (if they have the right) for an Administrative Review.
Conditions of grant for a Media Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
The visa will be granted subject to all the following conditions:
(a) The applicant cannot access public funds; and
(b) The applicant cannot work other than working for the overseas media business which they represent; and
(c) The applicant can study subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.
Let’s Summarise
The UK Media Representative of an Overseas Business visa is highly specific and is open only to certain employees working in the overseas news agency, newspaper, or broadcasting organisation.
Take professional advice to avoid issues or delays with your application, and to ensure your submission is comprehensive and with the necessary evidence to meet the requirements.
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