Company Sponsoring Visitor To Uk

[callum]

We would like to apply for visa for two of our Thai employees to visit the UK for 2 weeks. They will be spending some time at our UK office to be trained in our booking and accounting system. They will not be working in the UK during this visit.

I have read the information about sponsoring visitors to the UK and it seems that we need to provide a letter from our UK limited company undertaking to pay for all the costs of the travel and accommodation. In this case, do we need the employees to provide any additional information other than their application, photograph, sponsors letter and the fee in the form of a cashier's cheque? My understanding from the guidance notes is that visitors to the UK that are sponsored by a UK registered company do not need to provide personal bank statements and other documents that are required if the visitor is sponsored by a private individual.

It is not too clear what the company has to provide. If the sponsor is an individual who earns his income through a limited company then he has to provide certified copies of accounts. However, in the guidance notes to sponsors this is not mentioned as a requirement for a case where the UK limited company is sponsoring the local Thai employees. I have sent this enquiry by email to the British Consulate last week but their response standards are 20 working days. And I cannot get any reply from the Embassy Visa section telephone lines.

If someone here has experience of a UK company sponsoring a short visit by Thai employees, I would really appreciate any advice you can give. We don't want to send them to Bangkok without all the right paperwork.

[the scouser]

Hi Callum,

The UK company should provide a letter, as you suggest, which states the following:-

1. The company profile (what it does, how many employees it has, etc);

2. That the 2 named employees are to be sponsored for training;

3. The anticpated dates they will be in the UK;

4. How long the training will last;

5. What the training constitutes;

6. What relevance the training has to the 2 employees;

7. That the company will be responsible for the cost of their return trips, maintenance and accommodation; and,

8. Where they will be staying (if a hotel, they perhaps provide confirmation of a booking).

Additionally, submit evidence that the company is financially able to fulfil the above.

Also, the employess will need to provide evidence of their employment in Thailand. The Thai end of the company should supply them with a letter each which states:-

1. That they are proceeding to the UK for training with the parent company;

2. What the holder's job is;

3. For how long they have worked for the company;

4. What their salary is;

5. How the training will benefit them.

However, sponsorship by a business does not necessarily make the process easier for the individual concerned and they might still be required to submit evidence of their circumstances in Thailand.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[callum]

Scouse

Thanks for your help. We will get moving with the necessary papers.

Cheers

Callum

Edited April 11, 2006 by callum