Religious Workers Visa

Religious Worker Visa (Temporary

 

The temporary worker's creative visas are given to individuals who are coming to the UK to work in religious activities aside the pastoral jobs.

Eligibility Criteria

Application for a Temporary Work - Religious Worker visa is possible if: 

•  you wish to engage in religious activities outside the pastoral job or as a member of a religious order
•  you meet the other general qualifying criteria 

 There is no longer a T5 (Temporary Worker) Religious Worker visa as this has been replaced by this visa.

Sponsorship

 

Before you are allowed to begin work in the UK, first, get a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office-licensed sponsor.

Make sure that the work you carry out in the UK should be relevant to the type of activity that your sponsor does.

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. 

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

Application Timeline

Your visa application can be submitted up to three months before the start date of work in the UK. The actual date appears on the sponsorship certificate.

 

Proof of identity, along with supporting documents, is required for your application.

Extra time may be granted if you require an appointment to do so.

 

More details of your application will be sent to you once the application starts.

 

 

 

 

 

Decision Timeline

Once an online application is done, your identity proven, and your documents provided, 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

If you want a faster decision, simply pay an additional cost

Costs

 

You and your dependents will each need to:

·        pay the application fee 

·        pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually £1,035 per year - you can check how much you’ll have to pay

·        show through reliable proof that you have enough personal savings – find out more about eligibility requirements

Application Fee

Each individual applying needs to pay a fee of £298.

This fee remains the same whether you're applying from the UK or not

Permitted and Restricted Activities

What You Can Do:

• Go to school-  although some courses may require an ATS certificate.
• Work as an employee for your sponsor in the role stated on the sponsorship certificate.
• Get a second work in the same industry and at the same level as your first employment, for up to 20 hours per week.
• Bring dependents if they are eligible.

What You Cannot Do:

• Get public funds.

Job Criteria 

 

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

•  have enough money to support yourself while in the UK; you would normally need to have £1,270 to meet your expenses (if excluded). 
• have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor
• be 18 or over when you apply

This visa will not be given to you if you have already been given the Religious Worker or Religious visa in the year before unless you can prove that you have been outside the UK throughout that time.

It is the responsibility of your employer to make sure that your job meets the UK employment law, otherwise your application will be refused

 

Certificate of sponsorship

 

A sponsorship certificate is a reference number that includes work information as well as the holder's information. No, this is not a printed document or a certificate.

Your sponsor will provide you with this reference number when you receive your sponsorship certificate.

The reference number from your certificate of sponsorship must be provided while filling out the visa application form, and it may be used only once.

 

Your sponsorship certificate is valid for three months from the date of allocation.

 

Money to Support Yourself

 

A  minimum of £1,270 in your bank account is required 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.

 

Sponsorship Support

 

Your certificate of sponsorship must state the following:

The ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ part on your certificate will need to be filled by your sponsor. This falls under ‘Additional data’

Required Documents

It is important to 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)
• Proof of valid relationship with listed dependents.
• A Tuberculosis test results, if required.

A blank page is often needed in your passport for your visa.

If your type of travel document is not the same, for example, 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 asked to provide a certified translation of the documents.

 

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

 

Application

Ensure to read the full guidance before you begin the application.

 

Apply from outside the UK

 

Apply online for a religious worker visa.

 

As part of your application process, you need to prove your identity with supporting documents. This however depends on your type of passport

 

You’ll either:

• go for fingerprinting and photograph at a visa application center - this is where you are issued with a biometric residence permit.
• Make ample use of 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 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:

•  Talk daily and frequently with the other 
•  Provide support to each other financially 
•  Provide support to any child that you both have. 
•  Spend quality time 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 in savings 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:

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.

 

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Restricted and permitted activities 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 such as public funds or the State Pension.

 

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

 

Visa Extension

 

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

 Make sure you apply before the period of your current visa expires. 

 

Duration Of Stay

 

The time indicated on your certificate of sponsorship (12 months) plus, 14 days 

 

Costs

 

Check the fees for this visa.

 

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 

 

Know that 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. 

Dependents 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

More information on this will be shared during the application.

 

Your dependents 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

 

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). 

 

Contact Visa Nexa for Immigration Assistance

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

Being in the game for over 10 years, Visa Nexa located in Mississauga, Ontario has been helping clients achieve their dream of becoming Canadians. Our head offices are in Delhi (VISAWALK) and Chandigarh (The Mentors). Reach out to us today and take the first step toward your new life in Canada!

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