United Kingdom (UK) Charity Worker Visa Application Process and Requirements.
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United Kingdom (UK) Charity Worker Visa Application Process and Requirements.
The UK Charity Worker Visa is one of the opportunities that offer individuals who wish to make a difference by serving in the UK voluntarily.
It will enable you to be affiliated with credible charities, have international experience, and help in worthy causes whilst residing in a culturally diverse setup.
With proper planning of your papers, sponsorship by a registered charity, and proper procedure of applications, you will be able to receive the Charity Worker Visa to the UK.
The UK Charity Worker Visa (Temporary Work/Charity Worker Visa) enables foreign nationals to leave and work in an unpaid voluntary position in up to 12 months on a registered charity in the United Kingdom.
It provides a great chance to those people who are interested in humanitarian activities, community service, as well as social development.
The holders of this visa are not allowed to work on a paid basis, but can accumulate useful experiences in the field of charity and nonprofit work in the UK.
Summary of the UK Charity Worker Visa.
- Period: 365 days or the length mentioned on the certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), this is the maximum duration.
- kind of work: Unpaid volunteer work.
- Dependents: You are allowed to bring your family (spouse/ partner and children) to the UK.
- Extension: You can seek an extension, provided that you spend a maximum of 12 months.
- Switching: It is not possible to switch this visa category to another visa category within the UK.
The applicants for the UK Charity Worker Visa should be eligible as follows:
- Job Offer by a Licensed Sponsor: You need to have a job offer of unpaid voluntary work by a UK charity organization that has an appropriate Temporary Work – Charity Worker sponsor license.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: The Sponsoring charity should supply a good Certificate of Sponsorship reference number.
- Financial Requirement: You should have sufficient funds not to have to use public money to make ends meet, at least PS1,270 in a bank account over 28 consecutive days before you apply.
- Age Requirement: You should be aged 18 years and above.
- True Motive: You have to be thinking of doing a free job and not of working on paid work in the meantime of your stay.
- Return Intention: You have to demonstrate that you will go back to your home country after the completion of charity work.
To apply to receive the UK Charity Worker Visa, you are supposed to provide the following documents:
- An original passport or travel document having at least one blank page.
- Reference number of your sponsor, Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
- Bank statements of PS1,270 or more.
- Evidence of association in case you are applying with dependents.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test result, whether you are a country listed or not.
- Accommodation arrangements are evident in the UK.
- The information about your sponsor and the activities of the charity.
- A valid certificate of ATAS (where necessary by particular position).
- Record of past travel history (where necessary).
Step-by-Step UK Charity Worker Visa Application Process
Secure a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
- The UK sponsoring charity organization must allocate you a Certificate of Sponsorship.
- This is an electronic document that contains a reference number that validates your appointment by an organization in an unpaid voluntary position.
Plan all the necessary documents.
- Organized all of your papers, together with your passport, evidence of price range, and the records of your sponsor.
- Ensure that your papers are the latest and in English or Welsh (or translated by using a certified translator).
Fill out the online Visa application.
- Visit the official government visa portal in the UK and fill out the Temporary Work Charity Worker Visa application form.
- You will have to give your personal information, passport details, CoS reference number, and travel history.
Pay the Visa Fee and Healthcare Surcharge.
- You will have to pay a Visa application fee of about PS298 and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to receive the services of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
Reserving and Attending a Biometric Appointment.
- After you submit your online form for a reservation at a Visa Utility Centre (VAC) to we use of to put up biometrics (fingerprints and a virtual photo).
Offer assistance with Documentation.
- Send or forward all the necessary papers to the VAC.
- Make sure that you are a perfect match for your application.
Wait for Visa Decision
- The UK Home Office will issue your visa after you submit your biometrics and documents.
- The turnaround period is about 3 weeks when one applies outside of the UK.
Financial Requirement of the UK Charity Worker Visa.
- The applicants have to demonstrate their financial ability in the UK.
- The minimum requirement of a maintenance fund is PS1,270.
- This sum should be detained not least 28 days preceding your visa application date.
- You do not, however, have to demonstrate any personal savings in case your sponsor is willing to pay your living expenses (up to PS1,270).
Work rules on the Charitable Worker Visa of the UK.
- In this visa, you may only do unpaid voluntary services involving the mission of the charity.
- Paid work is also highly forbidden.
- You are also not allowed to start a business or to be eligible to receive benefits from the people.
- But you may work part-time as long as your course does not interfere with your charity work.
Visa Extension and Duration.
- Maximum of 12 months or the length of your Certificate of Sponsorship: UK Charity Worker Visa is issued.
- You are eligible to request an extension if you are staying for a maximum of 12 months.
- After your visa expires, you must leave the UK unless you are eligible for a visa under the second category.
Processing Time of UK Charity Worker Visa.
- The majority of applications and processing of UK Charity Worker Visas takes a maximum of 3 weeks after biometrics applications.
- When you require quicker processing, you can use priority or super-priority services (in some countries).
Why choose the UK Charity Worker Visa?
- Chance to receive international volunteering experience.
- Introduction to the charity and nonprofit segment of the UK market.
- Bringing family members’ capabilities.
- Entrance into the NHS on payment of the healthcare surcharge.
- Temporarily work and live in the UK.
Common causes of visa rejection.
- Sending incomplete and flawed documents.
- Absence of evidence of adequate money.
- Making an invalid or outdated Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Doing something that is not allowed in the visa.
- Not showing good intentions of volunteering.
NOTE:
- Begin at least three months before the date of your travel.
- Check on all supporting documents again.
- Make sure that your CoS is valid and that it is issued by a licensed charity sponsor.
- Be explicit about what you intend to do and what you are doing in the UK.
- Give records of your experience in charitable or volunteer work.
