A visitor is someone who is coming to the UK, usually for up to six months, for a temporary purpose, for example as a tourist, to visit friends or family or to carry out a business activity. Visitors are not permitted to undertake paid employment, except in certain circumstances, as detailed in the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa. Visitors must be able to demonstrate that they can maintain themselves and any dependents without any recourse to public funds or work.
Under as Standard Visitor Visa, an individual can attend interviews, speak at a conference, receive specific one-off training in UK techniques and work practices (excluding on-the-job training). Academics, scientists and researchers can:
- collaborate, gathering information and facts, or conducting research, either for a specific project directly related to their employment overseas, or independently.
- be an eminent senior medical doctor or dentist, taking part in research, teaching or clinical practice not amounting to a teaching position.
- take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts.
The Permitted Paid Engagement Visa route has now been merged into the Standard Visitor route, which means all visitors can undertake permitted paid engagements without the need for a special visa. However, individuals intending to participate in a PPE must arrange their activity before travelling to the UK and the activity must be completed within 30 days of entry to the UK, even though the standard visitor visa will be valid for six months. The activity undertaken must relate to their expertise/qualifications and employment overseas.
The type of activity that can be done under the PPE visa includes:
- Giving one or a short series of paid lectures or seminars specific to the visitor’s field of expertise as a guest lecturer, not filling a teaching role.
- Visiting examiners or assessors who are highly qualified in their field of expertise to examine students or participate in and/or chair a selection panel.
- A professional artist, entertainer, musician or sports person carrying out an activity directly relating to their profession.
This visa has a maximum stay of 12 months and no salary can be paid, additionally the visitor has to be able to demonstrate that they can maintain themselves and any dependents without any recourse to public funds or work. This visa is usually suitable for academics who are highly qualified in their field (generally PhD or higher), currently working in that field at an academic or higher education institution overseas, and intend to undertake one (or more) of the following activities:
- Take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts (including doctors).For example, where LJMU is collaborating with an overseas university on research, and exchange staff for some or all of the duration of the project. The salary must be paid by the academic’s overseas institution. The exchange must be agreed by both institutions and must lead to a reciprocal visit by a UK academic to their overseas institution.
- Carry out research for their own purposes if they are on sabbatical leave from their home institution, for example, to write a book or for their employment overseas (may include some collaboration with staff at the University or use of facilities, but not primarily for collaborative research).
- An eminent senior medical doctor or dentist, coming to take part in research, teaching or clinical practice which does not amount to a teaching position.
See the general application requirements for Academic, Business and Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visitors under a Standard Visitor visa.
The GAE visa is a sponsored visa route for individuals to come to the UK to undertake certain activities outside of the standard visit visa route. This type of visa is suitable for those coming to the UK through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience and best practice through work placements, whilst experiencing the wider social and cultural setting of the UK.
The university operates under the ‘Sponsored Researchers’ authorised exchange scheme. Sponsored researchers include academics, researchers, scientists, research engineers or other skilled research technology specialists who will be hosted by the university in a supernumerary role. The visitor must be in receipt of funding paid by their host, overseas employer, or an independent UK or non-UK funding body. Funding must be in place for the full duration of the visit and must comply with UK employment law, including National Minimum Wage Act and Maximum weekly working hours. Evidence of the funding must be provided confirming payment meets or is above NMW National Minimum Wage for the duration of the visit.
If an international visitor requires a sponsored visa, there are responsibilities of the sponsored visitor’s manager to ensure they are compliant with UK Visa and Immigration legislation. Applying for visas and sponsorship can take time and LJMU hosts should allow for a minimum time of four months to ensure compliance. In some circumstances, visitor access may be subject to Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) and Export Control legislation.
As the sponsor for a worker, the nominating employee (line manager) and the university have a duty to report certain changes/circumstances to UKVI. As such the line manager’s supervision of, and responsibility for the individual lasts for the duration of the sponsorship, and the worker is expected to remain under the manager’s close supervision for the duration of the sponsorship.
