The UK Charity Worker Visa is meant to accommodate those individuals who desire to visit the United Kingdom to participate in voluntary unpaid work in a charitable organization. This visa is categorized as the temporary work visa that enables the applicants to volunteer their skills and services on charitable grounds. The following UK Charity Worker Visa blog will include all the information that you require to know about the application such as eligibility requirements, necessary documents, application steps, etc.
UK Charity Worker Visa
The UK Charity Worker Visa (Temporary Work – Charity Worker Visa) enables foreign nationals to leave 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 paid basis, but can accumulate useful experiences in the field of charity and nonprofit in the UK.
The main peculiarities 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.
UK Charity Worker Visa Qualifications
The applicants of 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 which has an appropriate Temporary Work – Charity Worker sponsor license.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: 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 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.
Documents needed to work in the UK Charity Worker Visa
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 evidence in the UK.
- The information about your sponsor and 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
Follow the steps below to get the visa
Step 1: 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 on an unpaid voluntary position.
Step 2: 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 latest and in English or Welsh (or translated by using a certified translator).
Step 3: Fill the online Visa application.
Visit the official government visa portal in the UK and fill the Temporary Work – Charity Worker Visa application form. You will have to give your personal information, passport details, CoS reference number and travel history.
Step 4: Pay 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.
Step 5: Reserving and Attending a Biometric Appointment.
after you submit your online form a reservation at a Visa utility Centre (VAC) to your us of a to put up biometrics (fingerprints and a virtual photo).
Step 6: offer assisting Documentation.
Send or forward all the necessary papers to the VAC. Make sure that you are a perfect match to your application.
Step 7: 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 less than 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).
Dependent Visa to the UK Charity Worker Visa.
You are allowed to bring along your family members (dependents) to the UK as long as you are able to fulfill the financial requirements. Dependents include:
- Your spouse or partner.
- Your child is under 18 years of age.
You have to demonstrate extra finances on every dependent:
- PS285 for your partner.
- PS315 for the first child.
- PS200 for each additional child.
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 will not interfere with your charity work.
Extension of Visa and Visa Duration.
Maximum of 12 months or length of your Certificate of Sponsorship: UK Charity Worker Visa is issued. You are eligible to request an extension in case you are staying a maximum of 12 months. After your visa runs out, you have to leave the UK unless you will be eligible under the second category of visa.
Processing Time of UK Charity Worker Visa.
The majority of applications and processing of UK Charity Worker Visa take a maximum of 3 weeks after biometrics applications. When you require quicker processing, then you can use priority or super-priority services (in some countries).
Advantages of UK Charity Worker Visa.
- Chance to receive international volunteering experience.
- Introduction to the charity and nonprofit segment of the UK market.
- Bringing family members capability.
- Entrance into NHS on payment of 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.
Useful Tips
- Begin at least three months prior to 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 of what you intend to do and what you are doing in the UK.
- Give records on your experience in charitable or volunteer work.
FAQ
Is it possible to earn money on a UK Charity Worker Visa?
No, you can not be paid for your work. The visa is that of unpaid voluntary positions.
Am I allowed to study with a Charity Worker Visa?
Yes, you can study but not to the extent that it disrupts your volunteering work.
Can I bring my family to the UK?
Yes, you are allowed to bring with you your dependents provided that you have the necessary financial requirements.
How long does it take to get the Charity employee Visa?
applications submitted outside the UK take about three weeks to be processed.
Is it feasible to trade visas within the uk?
No, you aren’t allowed to exchange this kind of visa to the opposite sorts of visa while you are in the United kingdom.
May I renew my Charity worker Visa?
you are allowed to achieve this provided that you do not spend more than 365 days in general.
Sum Up
The UK Charity Worker Visa is one of the opportunities that offer individuals who wish to impact a difference by serving in the UK on a volitional basis. It will enable you to be affiliated with credible charities, have international experience, and help in worthy causes whilst residing in a culturally diverse set up. 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.