UK - Work Visa or Standard Visitor Visa
I am travelling to the UK from South Africa for 6 months. Family in the UK are able to support me for the duration of my stay.
I want to work, just as 6 months is a long time to visit only, and being on a gap year I want to have a good, full CV for uni etc.
However, I hear very few South africans have managed to get a temporary work visa, and it is a lot of money for me in comparison to the standard visitor visa.
If my work visa gets rejected, will I have to pay again for the Standard Visa? Or can I just get downgraded to a visitor visa?
I understand you have to have a 'sponsor' or job offer there to be able to apply for the Work Visa, but what do they require from that company? How does it differ if I work for a volunteer organisation?
Many thanks for the help!
Best Answer
After entering, you would not be able to change your status from the visitor to the employment category from within the country. While South African nationals may be allowed to remain in the UK for a maximum 6 months, visa conditions impose strict employment restrictions.
You can only work in the UK with the proper authorization and require a certificate from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to work, whether it be for compensation to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity.
Fees are not refunded when a visa is refused.
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Can you work on a standard visitor visa UK?
A standard visitor visa is required for visitors from most non-EEA countries temporarily coming to the UK to undertake activities, but not paid work by a UK employer.What is the difference between visit visa and work visa?
Summary: 1. A Visa is a travel document to enter into the country whereas a work permit is a job authorization letter from any company.Can I switch my visitor visa to work visa in the UK?
No. Unfortunately, you cannot switch from a Visitor Visa to any other visa in the UK. The Visitor Visa is intentioned as a way of coming to the UK in order to visit and not for permanent stay in the UK. The UK offers many alternative visa routes for this possibility but the Visitor Visa is not one of them.How long can you stay in the UK with a standard visitor visa?
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities. You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, for example to get medical treatment.Work In The Uk 🇬🇧 on A Standard Visitor Visa? Breakdown of What you can \u0026 can't do on visiting visa
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