What is the international agreement category?
The international agreement category is for people coming to the United Kingdom under contract to do work that is covered under international law, including:
- the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);
- similar agreements between the United Kingdom and another country;
- employees of overseas governments and international organisations; and
- private servants in diplomatic households.
Who can apply under the international agreement category?
Before you apply under the international agreement category, you must have:
- a sponsor; and
- a valid certificate of sponsorship.
When you apply you are awarded points based on your sponsorship and available maintenance (funds).
You can apply under the international agreement category now if you are:
- applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the international agreement category;
- already in the United Kingdom under the international agreement category and want to extend your permission to stay if you have been here for less than 24 months, which is the maximum time you are allowed to stay. The exception to this is for those applying as private servants in diplomatic households, or as employees of overseas governments and international organisations only, who can apply for an extension for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of six years.
Switching is not allowed in or out of the international agreement category.
How long can you stay for?
If you are given permission to stay under the international agreement category, you will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum time of 24 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, which ever time is shorter.
This is unless you are applying as a private servant in a diplomatic household or as an employee of an overseas government or international organisation only, where you can apply for an extension for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of six years.
If you need to be able to come and go from the United Kingdom with your job
If you need to leave and come back to the United Kingdom quite a few times as part of the job you are doing, you can get a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship. Your sponsor will give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship that allows you to come and go from the United Kingdom a number of different times during the length of your certificate.
If you have permission to come (entry clearance) for any length of time, you will be able to leave and come back to the United Kingdom during the time you have permission.
If you leave the United Kingdom and you were given six months or less permission to stay (leave to remain), you will not be able to come back as your permission to stay ends when you leave the United Kingdom. You must apply again to be able to come back.
Please expect us to do the following for you, when you instruct us to represent you or a member of your family:
Full and professional assessment of your case
Advice on whether you should consider a different immigration programme or category
Strong and weak points of your application
Advice on correct list of documents
Advice on evidence required
Instructing your sponsor, relative, employer or college (if required)
Final check of your documents before submission to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
Creating a professionally looking paginated immigration bundle
Drafting representations and cover letters to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
Working with interpreters (if required)
Submission your application to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
Correspondence with the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
Keeping you updated by post, E-mail or phone on the progress of your application
If something goes wrong : requesting a review or reconsideration
Any further in-country/out-of-country immigration assistance
The above list is not exhaustive as we treat every client's case individually. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a professional immigration advice.
If you indend to make the UK your home, get Settlement in the UK and then get a British passport, Tier 1 (General) Migrant is the best programme for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us, so we could answer all your questions.
