The UK Business Visitor Visa comes under the sub-category of the standard visitor visa of the UK. However, this is a special visa for specific purposes to visit the UK for business activities. This kind of visa permits visiting the UK for a period not exceeding six months. To qualify for the UK Business Visitor Visa, you will have to prove, among other things:

• You will leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit
• Prove that you have the financial stability to support yourself and your dependants throughout your stay in the UK
• You have enough funds to provide for your return or onward journey.

Usually, these visitor visas are not meant for longer periods of stay in the UK and can’t be extended. However, certain exceptions will apply depending on the circumstances.

Longer-term UK Business Visitor visa

A standard visitor visa for business enables individuals visiting the UK to stay for a maximum period of six months. This may, however, be issued to the applicants for lesser periods. You may also be able to extend your stay in the UK provided that the total time spent within the UK does not exceed six months. The extension also entails a fee.

Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa

If you use a UK visa to visit frequently, then it would be best to go for a long-term Standard Visitor visa. This can be for a two-year, five-year, or ten-year-long visa.

But this should be remembered that still, you can only stay for a maximum of six months for every visit to the UK. 

Under-18 minors applying for a long-term Standard Visitor visa must be aware that this visa will expire exactly six months after they have turned 18. No refund is applicable for fees.

If the Home Office determines that you are unable to meet eligibility criteria for the length of your long-term visa, they will likely issue you a shorter visa instead. No application or fee refunds will be given for this.

This is important to note that the UK Home Office can cancel your long-term Standard Visitor visa if they have reason to believe you are repeatedly living in the UK for long periods.

The Standard Visitor Visas as well as its subcategories do not provide for permanent settlement in the UK. Accordingly, visa regulation states that an individual must depart from the UK after having completed his/her visit under a standard visitor visa. 

When Can You Extend Your UK Business Visitor Visa? 

Holding on to the UK for less than 6 months period permit

In this case, you will be in a position to extend this stay as your stay is not exceeding a total of six months in the UK. You will have to meet the requisite eligibility and pay a £1,000 fee.

Example: If you have lived in the UK for 3 months, you can extend the duration for 3 more months: It is the same if you require a visa to come to the UK and if you do not need one.

If you need to Stay Longer for Medical Treatment 

If you are currently staying in the UK, you are entitled to apply for an extension of 6 more months on the grounds of having:

• Paid for any treatment already received in the UK.
• Paid, or will pay for, any further treatment received.
• Continued eligibility for medical treatment.

You can extend your stay as many times as you wish. The cost will be £1,000 for each extension. 

Documents that you must submit if you want to extend your UK business visitor visa on medical grounds:

An NHS consultant or a medical practitioner registered in the UK must provide details of any further treatment required for your medical condition.

However, if you had treatment in an NHS hospital under a reciprocal healthcare agreement, you would need to submit another authorizing document from your country’s government stating that it undertakes to pay for your treatment. 

Fees for Standard Visitor Visa Extension:

• £1,000 for visa extension as a Standard Visitor visa holder
• An additional £1,000 if you are applying under the super priority service 

You must also take your fingerprints and photograph (biometric information). However, there is no fee for this.

Which Business Activities are Allowed under the UK Business Visitor Visa?

The UK Business Visitor visa has several permitted activities that you can perform during your stay in the UK. These include:

• Go to conferences, meetings, interviews, and seminars. 
• Negotiate deals and contracts and sign them. 
• Marketing the company and attending trade fairs does not involve sales activity. 
• If an employee is from outside the UK, work-related training may be obtained that is not available in one’s home country. 
• Occasionally, just one or a few short talks may be given if- no pay is received or it isn’t for a commercial event. 
• Conduct inspections and site visits. 
• Supervise the delivery of services and materials from a UK firm to your enterprise. 
• Share knowledge with UK employees of your overseas company or provide training on internal projects. 
• Service, disassemble, repair, advise, or install the computer hardware, software, and equipment contracted with a UK company by the enterprise.

Make sure to not do any paid or unpaid work for a UK company and don’t use public funds. 

Conclusion 

The UK Business Visitor visa is not ideal if you want to stay in the UK for longer periods. If you have some business activities to perform in the UK that can be wrapped up within six months, you can then opt for this visa. Hiring a travel visa UK immigration solicitor may help you choose the ideal type of visa based on your circumstances. Also, make sure to follow all immigration rules.