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13 Oct Important changes to the UK visitor visa category

Posted on October 13, 2021 in Other Visas by
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The visitor visa category allows foreign nationals, who wish to visit the UK for a temporary period (normally for up to 6 months), to enter for the purpose of tourism, visiting friends and family, or attending meetings, negotiating and sign contracts, or gathering information for their employment overseas etc.

On 6 October 2021, the Home Office announced some significant changes to paragraph PA7 manufacture and supply of goods to the UK under this category:

‘PA 7. An employee of an overseas company may install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware (or train UK based workers to provide these services) where there is a contract of purchase, supply or lease with a UK company or organisation and either:

(a) the overseas company is the manufacturer or supplier; or

(b) the overseas company is part of a contractual arrangement for after sales services agreed at the time of the sale or lease, including in a warranty or other service contract incidental to the sale or lease.’

In particular, Part 7A(b) is meant to facilitate the commitments the UK has taken in trade agreements with European countries post-Brexit and Ii could arise in the following circumstances:

  • If the overseas company is the manufacturer, or manufactured a component of the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware;
  • If the overseas company supplied the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware;
  • If the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware has been supplied or manufactured by a larger corporate group and the service installation or repair function is undertaken by employees of a different company within the same corporate group and this arrangement was clear at the time when the contract of purchase, supply or lease was concluded;
  • If the manufacturer or supplier subcontracts the installation or maintenance of the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware to another separate overseas company and this arrangement was clear at the time when the contract of purchase, supply or lease was concluded.

Please note that the Home Office caseworker might ask for the evidence of the contract between the overseas and UK based company which should specify the arrangements in place for the after sales service.

If the contract of sale was between an EU based and UK based company prior to Brexit, the contract may not include details of the after sales service and in this situation, other evidence should be provided such as a letter form the UK based company setting out the nature of the service contract in place and the date the EU based company began providing this service.

Contact Our Immigration Team

For expert advice regarding any aspect of the UK visa application, please contact our immigration team on 0203 384 3075.

 

 

 

The content of this article is for general use and information only. Since each case should be prepared on its own merit and in light of the constant amendments to the Immigration Rules, it is important to note that the information provided must not be relied upon unless Migra & Co has either given written consent or has been officially engaged in relation to a specific immigration matter. As a result, Migra & Co will take no responsibility for any damage, cost or loss resulting from relying on the information contained in this article, blog and website.