UK Minister of Religion Visa 

The UK offers several Minister of Religion Visa for overseas workers. These visa routes aim to bring employees on a short-term or long-term basis to their UK branches. The aim of these visa routes is to simplify the process of hiring talent from outside the UK.
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How to Get a UK Minister of Religion Visa?

The Minister of Religion Visa is a type of Work Visa that allows you to stay and work in the UK. You can apply for this visa if you intend to work in the UK as a religious missionary or worker.

You can stay in the UK for up to three years on a Minister of Religion Visa. You can also apply to have your dependents join you. However, you and your dependents must meet a wide range of eligibility requirements.

The Minister of Religion Visa has replaced the Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa since the new immigration rules implemented by the UK. This visa category is now open to both EEA and non-EEA nationals.

If you want to come to the UK as a religious missionary or religious worker, our Expertise Visa solicitors London can help you. Here at the London-based Adam Bernard’s, an experienced Minister of Religion visa solicitor can help you identify and meet the relevant requirements for this visa category.

What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic document that is issued by your UK sponsor. You need this document to apply for a Minister of Religion Visa.

The sponsor issuing the CoS must be authorized to issue it for the specific job you are being offered. Your CoS should include the following details:

  • Your personal information such as your full name and contact details
  • The nature of the job you intend to undertake in the UK
  • The start and end dates for the job you are being offered
  • The expected work hours of your job as well as the work address in the UK

Our Expertise Visa solicitors London can advise you and your UK sponsor on all matters related to CoS. It is important that your CoS contains the right information and is issued on time for your visa. An immigration lawyer at our law firm can provide detailed help and guidance in this regard.

General Requirements for a Minister of Religion Visa

You must meet several general requirements as a part of the visa application process. Here is a look at these:

  • Job Offer. You must have received a job offer as a religious worker, a minister of religion, or a missionary in the UK. Your intended job must meet the relevant requirements set forth by the Home Office.
  • The employer who has made you the job offer must be a licensed sponsor in the UK. The sponsor must be licensed and authorized by the Home Office to hire overseas workers.
  • Certificate of Sponsorship. Your UK sponsor must have issued you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The detailed requirements for the CoS are listed below.
  • English Language Proficiency. You must have a minimum level of English language proficiency. You can meet this requirement by taking a test that shows your language skills are at least CFBR Level B2.
  • Financial Requirements. You must have a minimum amount of cash funds to ensure you have the financial resources to support yourself once you arrive in the UK.

Other requirements may also apply, depending on the nature of your visa application case. An immigration lawyer at Adam Bernard’s can help you understand the specific requirements for your case. With the guidance of an immigration lawyer, you are more likely to submit an application that is free from errors or omissions.

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Financial Requirements

The Home Office requires you to meet specific financial requirements to be eligible for a Minister of Religion Visa. These requirements are set to ensure that you can support yourself financially once you are in the UK without the need to rely on public funds.

You must show the availability of cash funds of at least £1270. You can prove this availability by showing that the funds have been in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days. These 28 days must have been in the 31 days immediately before you file your visa application.

You can seek an exemption from this requirement if you have already been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months.

Alternatively, your UK sponsor can agree to fund you for your first month in the UK. In this case, the sponsor must confirm this on the CoS and prove the availability of the cash funds to support you.

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Benefits of a Minister of Religion Visa

The Minister of Religion Visa grants you several rights and privileges to work and live in the UK. You can perform the following activities once you are awarded the visa:

  • You can live and work in the UK for a maximum period of 3 years and 1 month
  • You can travel outside the UK and return without any immigration restrictions
  • You can apply to have your dependents join you in the UK
  • You can take a second job as long as it doesn’t interfere with your primary job listed on the CoS
  • You can work as a volunteer in the UK
  • You can study so that the course you enrol in doesn’t interfere with your primary job

That being said, this visa also has certain restrictions. The most notable of these is that you must continue to perform the primary job listed on your CoS. You are also barred from accessing public funds in the UK.

To get more detailed advice on what you can and can’t do on this visa, you can consult an immigration lawyer at Adam Bernard’s. Our Expertise Visa solicitors London can also help you determine whether or not this is the best visa route for you.

Get in touch with our expert UK Minister of Religion Visa Solicitors today.

Visa Fees and Duration

You can apply for a Minister of Religion Visa up to 3 months before the starting date of your intended job in the UK. It is best to apply as early as possible so that you have plenty of time to respond to any requests for information or documents from the Home Office.

The standard visa fee for the Minister of Religion Visa is £625 if you are applying from outside the UK. For applications submitted from inside the UK, the fee is £719. The same fees apply to any dependents applying with you.

The maximum duration of the visa is 3 years, plus 1 month. However, the actual duration will depend on the job end date listed on your CoS. If this date comes sooner than the maximum duration of the visa, then this date will apply. You can stay in the UK up to this date plus another 14 days.

It is possible to seek an extension for your visa. You must apply for the extension before your visa expires. If your visa is extended, you can stay in the UK for up to another 3 years.

To obtain an extension, you need to prove that you are required to work on the same job and meet all other requirements for the visa.

If you are looking to have your visa extended, our Expertise Visa solicitors London can help. You can consult an immigration lawyer at our law firm to see how best to meet the requirements for a visa extension.

Applying for Dependents

You can apply to have your dependents join you in the UK on this visa. To be eligible, your dependents must meet the following requirements:

  • A dependent can be a spouse or partner, a child under the age of 18, or a child over 18 who is already living in the UK and is financially dependent on you
  • A separate visa application fee must be paid for each dependent applying with you
  • You must show the availability of cash funds of at least £285 for a spouse or partner who is applying with you. If one child is applying as a dependent, you must show funds of at least £315. If more than one child are applying, you must show £315 for the first child and £200 for each subsequent child

You may also need to meet other requirements when applying for dependents on a Minister of Religion Visa. A Minister of Religion visa solicitor at our law firm can help you identify these requirements.

With the help of an experienced immigration lawyer, you can ensure that your dependents’ visa application is complete at the time of submission.

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Why Choose Adam Bernard’s?

Here at the London-based Adam Bernard’s law firm, we offer tailored guidance packages for UK work visas. If you are applying for the Minister of Religion Visa, an immigration lawyer at our law firm can guide you through the process, help you meet the requirements, and ensure that your visa application is free from any errors.

A Minister of Religion Visa solicitor at our law firm can also help you if you already applied but your application was refused. You can discuss your case with an immigration lawyer at our law firm in a free consultative session.

Call today at 0207-100-0505 to book your free consultation with a Minister of Religion Visa solicitor at our law firm.

Get in touch with our expert UK Minister of Religion Visa Solicitors today.