Creative Worker Visa

Creative Worker Visa

 

The Temporary Worker's-Creative visa are given to individuals who are coming to the UK to work in creative industries, such as actors, actors, dancers, and film crewmembers. 

Eligibility Criteria

Application for a temporary work creative worker visa is possible if:

·        You have been given a job in the UK as a creative worker

·        Eligibility qualifications

A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industries, for example, an actor, dancer, musician, or film crew member.

 

This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (T5). If you’re a sportsperson, you can work in the UK with an International Sportsperson visa.

 

Sponsorship

 

To work in the UK, you must have a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work. 

 

 Essentially, the work that you do in the UK should be related to the kind of work that your sponsor undertakes.

Duration of Stay

 You can come to the UK for up to 12 months, or the period stated in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter. 

 

Depending on your situation you may be able to extend your visa. 

 Your stay cannot begin more than 14 days before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship. 

 

 If you plan to work in the United Kingdom for 90 days or less, it might be possible to use the Creative Worker visa exemption rather than apply for the visa.

 

Application Timeline

Visa applications can be up to three months before the due date to start work in the UK. You can find the precise date on the certificate of sponsorship.

 

Proof of identity with documents provision is a necessary part of your application.

Extra time may be allowed if you need an appointment to do that.

 

Once you start your application, you get more details of this. 

 

Decision Timeline

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity, and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within the:

• 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
• 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

A faster decision comes at an additional cost

 

Costs

 

Each applicant should pay an application fee of £298.

The fee stays the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

Permitted and Restricted Activities

What you can do:

• Study - for some courses, you might require an ATS certificate
• Work as an employee for your sponsor in the job described in the certificate of sponsorship.
• Get a second job in the same sector and on the same level as your initial first job for up to 20 hours weekly 
• Work on the Skilled Worker immigration wages list for up to 20 hours per week

·        Bring dependants if they’re eligible

What you cannot do:

·        Get public funds

·        Be self-employed

Job Criteria 

You need all of the following to be eligible for the creative category:

• provide something fresh to the labor market within the UK, for instance, you are internationally recognized or are needed to complete a specific job
•  reference number of the certificate of sponsorship 
•  be paid at least the published minimum rate of pay as determined by Equity, PACT, or BECTU (unless the work relates to modeling or musicians or circuses). 
•  have enough money to support yourself while in the UK; you would normally need to have £1,270 to meet your expenses (if excluded). 

 The amount of money your employer has to pay you has to be at least the minimum wage of the country and the rules of the UK regarding the number of work hours in a week. If your employer does not do this your request will not be granted. 

 

Certificate of sponsorship

 

A certificate of sponsorship is a reference number containing details of the job and the holder’s details. No, it is not a paper document or certificate.

 

This reference number will be given to you by your sponsor in the form of your certificate of sponsorship.

 

The reference number of your certificate of sponsorship will have to be included when filling the visa application form and it can only be used once.

 

Your certificate of sponsorship remains for 3 months from the date of being allocated to you.

 

Changing your sponsor

 

If you wish to transfer your course or switch your sponsor within the same company or to a new one, then you have to apply for a new sponsor and meet all the requirements again. 

 Switching a sponsor does not change how long one can be in the United Kingdom. You are only allowed to stay for a maximum of this visa’s prescribed duration of stay. 

 

Multiple Jobs When You’re a Creative Worker

 

Your sponsor should be able to provide you with a single certificate even if you are to be used for more than one engagement during the length of your stay. 

 

If you are working for more than one sponsor then you can get a certificate from each sponsor to keep switching. 

 

 Each job must be performed within 14 days to the next job, there cannot be a break of more than 14 days. If you travel outside the UK and then return, the days you spent outside the country will not be considered as the two weeks. 

 

Money to Support Yourself

 

You must have a minimum of £1,270 in your bank account to prove that you can be self-sufficient in the United Kingdom.

For example, you’ll have to have had the money in your possession for 28 consecutive days at some point. The date on which the applicant marks ‘Day 28’ must fall within 31 days of the day when the application for this visa was made.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

• You have stayed in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• Your sponsor can meet your expenditures in the first month after arriving in the UK, up to £1,270.

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Check the guidance on the financial resources required for more details about the money that is considered necessary and how its necessity can be substantiated.

 

Sponsor Support

 

Your certificate of sponsorship has to state this. The ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ part on your certificate will need to be filled by your sponsor. This falls under ‘Additional data’

Required Documents

Provide the following when applying:

• Your certificate of the sponsorship reference number should be given to you by your sponsor.
•   a valid passport or other document that proves your identity and nationality
•   evidence that you have enough personal savings for self-sustenance in the UK, this could be in the form of, bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your sponsor can support you)
• your biometric residence permit (BRP) or online proof of your immigration status, if switching to another visa.
• Proof of relationship with listed dependents.
• Tuberculosis test results, if required.

 

You need a blank page in your passport for your visa. If your type of travel document is quite different, let us say, a stateless person’s travel document, then it must have space for your visa.

 

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you will be required to provide a certified translation of the documents.

 

After application, additional documents may need to be needed from you by the Home officer.

 

Application

 

Read the full guidance before you begin the application.

 

Apply from outside the UK

 

Apply online for a Creative worker visa.

 

Proof of Identity with Supporting documents

 

You’ll either:

• go for fingerprinting and photograph at a visa application center - this is where you are issued with a biometric residence permit.
• use the ‘UK Immigration: ‘ID Check’ application to capture your identity document – you will also set up or log in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

 

The requirements will be stated to you when you apply.

If an appointment is needed:

• Your passport and documents may be with the center for some time as they sort out your application.
• you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application center (this may be in another country.

Apply from inside the UK

 

 Extension of this is only possible when you're already in the UK.      

 

Dependents

Your partner and children will also be able to apply to come to join you or remain in the UK as your ‘dependents’ if they meet the requirements.

 

If your partners or child has applied for the visa, his or her visa will normally expire on the same date that your visa expires. If the parents of the child have visas of different validity, then the visa of the child will expire on the date specified first.

A dependent partner or child may include:

·        your husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner

·        your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

·        your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependent

Applicants will need to show proof of evidence of relationship with the dependent when they apply.

 

Your partner

 

You must be able to prove one of the following:

•  you are in a Civil Partnership or marriage recognized under the law of the UK 
•  you have been in a recognized relationship for at least 2 years when you fill out the application. 
•  You apply when you have been dating for at least two years but you do not share residence for example because you have a job or school in different residences, or your culture does not allow that. 

 

 If you’re not living together, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

•  interact strongly and frequently with the other 
•  support each other financially 
•  support any child that you both have. 
•  dating time when a man and a woman who are in a relationship are together for example on a holiday or occasion. 

Your child

 

They must:

• These have placed conditions where your child must live with you, except they live the the boarding school.
• not be married or in a civil partnership.

You have to, in addition, provide proof of your address such as

• Bank statements
• Credit card bills
• Driving licenses
• The registration documents of NHS, letters from the university/college they attend, or any other official correspondence.

Money for Dependents Financial Support

 

Dependents should have a sustainable amount of money while in the UK

You - or your partner or child - will need:

·        £285 for your partner

·        £315 for one child

·        £200 for each additional child

Example 

 

You, or your partner or a child, would need £600 to bring your partner and one child to the UK with you (£285 for your partner, £315 for a child). 

 

You would also need to have £1,270 stowed to support yourself for your application. 

 

For example, if you or your partner or child wanted to buy something, for spending to count, you’d need to have had the money to do so for 28 days straight. 

 

Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them making the application for this visa. 

 

 You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

•  all of you have been in the United Kingdom with a legal permit for attaining a minimum period of 12 months. 
•  your employer can meet the costs of your dependents during your first month in the UK this should be stated in the certificate of sponsorship 

 

 If your partner or your child intends to apply at a different time than you, then you will only require proof of having £750 or equivalent in foreign currency in the last month only if the applicant has been in the UK for less than 1 year.

 

Apply from outside the UK

 

Your dependents must either:

 

·        apply online as your partner

·        apply online as your child 

The member of the family who intends to travel will have to fill out a form and also pay for the visa fee individually. Applicants have to apply before they visit the United Kingdom. 

 

They will also require the application number; this is available once you submit your application. This number is referred to as either a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). 

You get to see it being used in emails and letters from the Home Office concerning your application. 

 

Proving their identity

 

The ID will be required provided that the dependents will be required to prove their identity especially if applying for an application. 

They must:

• Need to provide their fingerprints and a photograph at a visa application center – this is getting a biometric residence permit 
• Use the ‘UK Immigration: the applicant can also use the ‘ID Check’ app to scan their identity document while signing up for a new or existent UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account 

The requirements will be stated to you when you apply.

If an appointment is needed:

• During the application of the visa, the visa application center may require the bearer to surrender their passport and or other legal documents. 
• They may have to travel to go to the nearest one and this could be in another country. 

Decision Timeline

• Usually, 3 weeks after online application.

Getting a faster decision will come at an additional cost.

 

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

 

In case of a visa switcher visa extension, your dependent's current visa remains valid until its expiring date. your dependents will need to switch visas either

·        at the same time as you

·        or at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Your dependents will not be able to switch to your HPI visa if they are currently in the UK:

·        on a visit visa

·        on a short-term student visa

·        on a Parent of a Child Student visa

·        on a seasonal worker visa

·        on a domestic worker in a private household visa

·        on immigration bail

·        because they were permitted to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on grounds of mercy

If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can switch only if:

·        completed the course they were sponsored to study

·        studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

How to apply

 

The application form will indicate whether your partner and children can be included in the application or if they have to apply individually.

 If your partner or child apply separately, they’ll need to either: If your partner or child apply separately, they’ll need to either: 

·        extend as your partner

·        extend as your child

They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it in emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

 

Proving their identity

 

To process the documents, your partner and children will be required to show their identification. They’ll either: 

·        Ensure their fingerprints and photographs are taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - to acquire a biometric residence permit

·        use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

 They will be informed of what is required of them at the time of applying.

 

They cannot go to any other country in the world other than the United Kingdom, Eire, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man without a decision. It will be withdrawn if they do:

 

Decision Timeline

 

Usually, it will take about 8 weeks after the online application.

However, to get a faster is possible but at an additional cost

 

Children born in the UK

 

Note that children born in the UK do not automatically become British citizens.

Make sure you apply for your child's dependent visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them

The form you fill in depends on if:

·        your child is inside the UK

·        your child is outside the UK

Make sure to provide necessary documents such as a UK birth certificate that shows both names of parents. 

You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

 

.

Restricted and permitted activities for Dependents

What they can do:

·        work, except as a sportsperson or coach

·        study

·        travel abroad and return to the UK

They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

A concise list of permitted and restricted activities will be sent to you after the application is successful.

 

If you have saved the application, then you can sign back into your application. 

 Learn how to sign into your account. 

 

 Your partner and children 

 

 Therefore, the visa of your partner or child will not be automatically renewed when you renew yours. If they do not prolong their visa then it will be until the date stated on the visa they hold. They can either co-apply with you, in the sense that they make a visa application at the same time as you, or they can apply at any time before their present visa expires. 

 

Visa Extension

 

 Applying for an extension of your Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa is possible. 

 You should apply before the period of your current visa expires. 

Understand that this Creative Worker visa will not allow you to extend your stay if you were using the mentioned concession to enter the UK.

 

Eligibility

 

You will continue to meet qualification guidelines

You must reside in the UK to extend your visa.

 

Duration Of Stay

 

If you are changing sponsors, you can extend your visa for whichever is the shortest of, you can extend your visa for whichever is the shortest of: 

•  the time indicated on your certificate of sponsorship plus, 14 days 
•  the time is required to get permission to lengthen the stay up to 12 months 

 If you are staying with the same sponsor, you can extend your visa for whichever is the shortest of: 

• 12 months 
•  the time on your certificate of sponsorship and add fourteen days. 
•  the time required to agree on an extension of your stay up to the permitted 24 months. 

Costs

 

Check the fees for this visa.

You’ll need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - it's free

 

Apply to Extend Your Creative Worker Visa

 

  You must apply online before your current visa expires or you will not be allowed to apply. 

 The best thing as you fill the form is that you can preview the form and then come back later to fill it till completion. 

Continue your application

 

If you have saved the application, then you can sign back into your application. 

 Learn how to sign into your account. 

 Your partner and children 

 

 Therefore, the visa of your partner or child will not be automatically renewed when you renew yours. If they do not prolong their visa then it will be until the date stated on the visa they hold. 

They can either co-apply with you, in the sense that they make a visa application at the same time as you, or they can apply at any time before their present visa expires. 

 

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

 

To process the documents, your partner and children will be required to show their identification. They’ll either: 

·        Ensure their fingerprints and photographs are taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - to acquire a biometric residence permit

·        use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

 They will be informed of what is required of them at the time of applying.

 

They cannot go to any other country in the world other than the United Kingdom, Eire, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man without a decision. It will be withdrawn if they do:

 

How long it takes

 

The outcomes of the application will be determined within 8 weeks from the date on which you applied in case of standard service. 

 

There is often an option to pay for a faster decision. 

Working days are from Monday to Friday and do not include any bank holidays. 

 

Once you receive your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to be delivered. 

 You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example: 

•  if the papers you are submitting as support require authentication 
•  if there is a need to go for an interview 
•  due to certain circumstances (for instance are you have a criminal record). 

Creative Worker visa concession

 

 You can enter the UK without applying for a visa in advance if you:

•  hold a proper Temporary Work – Creative Worker license 
•  are coming to work in the UK for 3 months or less now of which many of them end up overstaying. 
•  do not require a visa to visit the UK as a visitor 

 You must still qualify for Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa requirements. 

 Your partner and children can go with you if they also do not usually require a visa for entry into the UK as a visitor. 

 

When You Enter the UK

 

Upon arrival in the United Kingdom, you should NOT use the ePassport gates Here you are obliged to see an immigration officer. The officer will: 

•  make sure your certificate of sponsorship is still valid 
•  assure you that you have enough resources for your maintenance - assure how much is provided in the regulations concerning the eligibility 
•  stamp your passport 

 You are prohibited from employment if you attempt to use the automatic ePassport gate. It is necessary to meet the immigration officer and receive a stamp on the passport at the entrance/exit.

If you enter the UK from Ireland

 

 If you intend to travel to the UK from Ireland under the Creative Worker visa concession, you must seek remote clearance three days before entry into the country. 

 

Permitted and Restricted activities

 

What you can do:

• Study - for some courses, you might require an ATS certificate
• Work as an employee for your sponsor in the job described in the certificate of sponsorship.
• Get a second job in the same sector and on the same level as your initial first job for up to 20 hours weekly 
• Work on the Skilled Worker immigration wages list for up to 20 hours per week
• Bring dependants if they’re eligible

What you cannot do:

·        Get public funds

·        Be self-employed

 

 

Contact Visa Nexa for Immigration Assistance

Need UK immigration Assistance for a Seasonal Worker visa? Visa Nexa Inc. is here to help. We can assess your eligibility and submit your application to the UK government. 

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