Can I fly in and out UK on 1 way ticket with different airline? Also working my existing job remotely from UK (non UK employment)
Looking for your advise for my post-Covid plan.
I will be flying from Malaysia to UK (London) around Spring 2022.
I found a majorly discounted Etihad ticket (legit one) but it's a 1 way route. Will I have problem to enter UK immigration later? I will definitely buy another 1 way ticket to fly out of UK but I plan it with a different airline (example Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, etc).It's just for personal choice to experience flying with different various airlines. Also because I saved a lot when buying that fly in ticket so just a matter of buying another ticket home. Will that be sufficient proof that I won't overstay if IO ask?
I am planning to stay for 3 months. Lucky me that my job is not office-bound so I can work remotely anywhere as long as I have good internet connection. I plan to rent a short term accommodation (studio preferably) and will occasionally stay in hotel/hostel when I'm visiting places but my base will be London. So I would still be working my job while travelling around UK/Europe. Will this be a concern? I will definitely not seek any other new job in UK during my stay. Do I have to declare about my working arrangement?
This will not be my first time entering UK. In fact, my current passport has been stamped with all major London airports and I am quite a frequent world traveler. But this is the first time I am staying long abroad (travelling + working) because my job allows me to remotely work anywhere so I took the chance to stay longer.
Thanks for your time and advise.
Best Answer
Intending to spend a significant amount of your time remote working while in the UK and arriving without a return/onward ticket are likely to be big red flags in a landing interview. The degree to which visitors are allowed to work remotely while in the UK is very limited. The Visit guidance published by the Home Office https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1019544/Visit.pdf#page31 states:
“ Visitors are permitted to undertake activities relating to their employment overseas remotely whilst they are in the UK, such as responding to emails or answering phone calls. However, you should check that the applicant’s main purpose of coming to the UK is to undertake a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK. Where the applicant indicates that they intend to spend a large proportion of their time in the UK and will be doing some remote working, you should ensure that they are genuinely employed overseas and are not seeking to work in the UK.”
By definition, if you can do your job from anywhere, you are not ‘genuinely employed overseas’.
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