2015-Mar 13: Essential skills work visas allowing work in multiple locations

Visa Pak 202: Guidelines for Immigration Officers processing applications under Essential Skills where multiple locations of work are required under a single employer.

Visa Paks

13 March 2015

Essential skills work visas allowing work in multiple locations

Occasionally, it may be appropriate for Immigration Officers to grant essential skills work visas that allow work in multiple locations for a single employer. On such occasions, due care is required to ensure the proposed employment meets immigration instructions, particularly WK2.10.1 (the labour market test).

When considering essential skills work visa applications for work in multiple locations, Immigration Officers should be aware that:

  • There must be a single employer.
  • A labour market test must be applied to every proposed location of employment.
  • Where the labour market test is met in some locations, but not in others, a work visa may only be approved for the locations for which the labour market test has been met.
  • There should be one employment agreement, which must meet the requirements of immigration instructions. In particular it must:
    • state every location the employee may work
    • guarantee at least 30 hours of work per week
    • provide remuneration that meets market rate
  • Travel and accommodation arrangements should be considered: for example, will the employer cover these costs?
  • AMS notes and approval letters must clearly state the locations that work visa holders may work. If Immigration Officers choose not to allow work in one or more locations due to a failed labour market test, this must also be clearly stated in AMS notes and approval letters.
  • When selecting a region in the decision tab in AMS, the region selected should be "other" for reporting purposes.
  • Visa labels must specify all locations of employment: [client] may only work as [occupation] for [employer] in [location 1, location 2, location 3…]

Please follow the advice provided above