Permitted paid engagements: one-month visitor route introduced

Policy effect

From April 6, 2012, HC1888 introduced a visitor route for specified pre-arranged paid engagements as an alternative to requiring sponsorship under the Points-Based System. The original rules permitted a single entry for no more than one month. Applicants had to be genuine visitors with a formal invitation and show that the engagement related to their expertise or qualifications and full-time occupation overseas. Eligible engagements were: examining students or participating in or chairing selection panels as a highly qualified visiting academic invited by a UK higher-education institution or UK research or arts organisation for quality-assurance processes; lecturing in the visitor’s field at the invitation of such an institution or organisation; assessing UK pilots against another country’s aviation requirements as an overseas designated pilot examiner invited by a UK training organisation regulated for that purpose by the Civil Aviation Authority; advocacy by a qualified lawyer for UK court, tribunal, arbitration or other dispute-resolution proceedings at a UK or overseas client’s invitation; or arts, entertainment or sporting activities invited by a UK arts or sports organisation or broadcaster. Other employment, goods production or service provision, including direct public sales, was prohibited outside the permitted engagement. Applicants had to maintain and accommodate themselves from available resources without public funds or other employment, or be adequately maintained and accommodated by relatives or friends. The rule also expressly required compliance with the incorporated general-visitor requirements in paragraphs 41(ii), (v), (vii), (viii) and (x)–(xii); this description does not treat the activity invitation as sufficient eligibility on its own. Admission depended on satisfying every requirement of paragraph56X, and refusal followed if any was unmet. Applications made before April6 that remained undecided followed the April5 rules.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Eligible engagements were: examining students or participating in or chairing selection panels as a highly qualified visiting academic invited by a UK higher-education institution or UK research or arts organisation for quality-assurance processes; The rule also expressly required compliance with the incorporated general-visitor requirements in paragraphs 41(ii), (v), (vii), (viii) and (x)–(xii); this description does not treat the activity invitation as sufficient eligibility on its own.; Admission depended on satisfying every requirement of paragraph56X, and refusal followed if any was unmet.; Applications made before April6 that remained undecided followed the April5 rules.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Implementation The changes in paragraphs 179, 180, 181, 183, 186, 200, 201 and 210 set out in this Statement shall take effect on 14 June 2012. However, if an applicant has made an application for entry clearance or leave before 14 June 2012 and the application has not been decided before that date, it will be decided in accordance with the rules in force on 13 June 2012. The changes in paragraphs 213 shall be made to the Immigration Rules on 6 April 2012, but will not affect applications made. The changes in paragraph 213 archive old Rules which no longer apply. The changes in paragraphs 214 to the criteria for Indefinite Leave to Remain made by migrants in the Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Sportspersons) and Tier 2 (Ministers of Religion) categories, are expected to take effect on 6 April 2016. Applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain made by migrants in these categories before this date will be considered in accordance with the rules which are in force before that date (which themselves may be subject to change in the interim period). 1 The other changes set out in this Statement shall take effect on 6 April 2012. However, if an applicant has made an application for entry clearance or leave before 6 April 2012 and the application has not been decided before that date, it will be decided in accordance with the rules in force on 5 April 2012. … 11. After paragraph 56W, insert: Visitors undertaking permitted paid engagements Requirements for leave to enter as a visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements 56X. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements are that the applicant: i. is genuinely seeking entry as a visitor undertaking a permitted paid engagement for a limited period, not exceeding one month; and ii. meets the requirements of paragraphs 41(ii), (v), (vii), (viii), (x) – (xii); and iii. intends to do one of the following pre-arranged permitted paid engagements which can be evidenced by a formal invitation, and can show that the engagement relates to his or her area of expertise and/or qualifications, and full time occupation overseas: 4 a) examine students and/or participate in or chair selection panels as a visiting academic, who is highly qualified within his or her own field of expertise, invited by a United Kingdom Higher Education Institution or a United Kingdom based research or arts organisation as part of that institution or organisation’s quality assurance processes; b) give one or more lectures in his or her field of expertise as a visiting lecturer, invited by a United Kingdom Higher Education Institution or a United Kingdom based research or arts organisation; c) as an overseas designated pilot examiner, assess United Kingdom based pilots to ensure they meet the national aviation regulatory requirements of other countries, by invitation of an approved training organisation based in the United Kingdom that is regulated by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority for that purpose; d) provide advocacy in a particular area of law as a qualified lawyer for the purposes of a court or tribunal hearing, arbitration or other form of alternative dispute resolution for legal proceedings within the United Kingdom, at the invitation of a client in the United Kingdom or foreign based client; e) undertake an activity relating to the arts, entertainment or sporting professions, by invitation of an arts or sports organisation or broadcaster based in the United Kingdom; and iv. does not intend to take employment, produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including the selling of goods or services direct to members of the public other than as permitted for by the pre-arranged paid engagement; and v. will maintain and accommodate him or herself adequately out of resources available to the applicant without recourse to public funds or taking employment; or will be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends. Leave to enter as a visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements 56Y. A person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements may be admitted for a single entry and for a period not exceeding 1 month, provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 56X are met. Refusal of leave to enter as a visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements 56Z Leave to enter as a visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements is to be refused if the Immigration Officer is not satisfied that each of the requirements at paragraph 56X are met.

Review method

Source-based draft with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification

Other United Kingdom changes operative in 2012

• 2012-02-29The Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
• 2012-11-08The Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2012
• 2012-12-13Expansion of Permitted Supplementary Employment to Shortage Occupations (HC 760)
• 2012-12-13Lowering of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) English Language Requirement to B1 (HC 760)
• 2012-12-31Expansion of Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening to Additional Countries and Clinics