How to Come to the UK to Work as a Lorry Driver
It was reported that a third of British petrol stations had run out of the two main grades of fuel this weekend. This was caused by a shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers.
The UK government took urgent measures to address this and just confirmed their intention to issue over 10,000 visas to foreign lorry drivers. This will hopefully resolve the fuel shortage the UK currently faces.
How to Get the Lorry Driver Visa
First of all, it is worth pointing out that this type of visa will be available not only to lorry drivers. Any seasonal worker can potentially qualify. This includes farmers, poultry and seasonal agricultural workers.
They’ll be able to get a temporary visa. A Seasonal Worker may only stay in the UK for 6 months in any 12-month period.
To succeed in this visa application, you’ll need to be over 18 years of age and meet the following three requirements:
- The validity requirements
- The suitability requirements
- The eligibility requirements
The Validity Requirement
You’ll meet the validity requirements if you apply from outside the UK and follow the correct procedure.
The correct procedure consists of 5 essential parts:
- You’ll need to complete the correct application form
‘How to Apply for a Seasonal Worker Visa’ Online Course explained how to answer all the questions in this application form correctly.
- Pay the fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Currently, the visa costs £244.
However, your visa will costs you only £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey.
Healthcare surcharge
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. You can check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply: https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/type
- Prove your identity, nationality and submit documents in support of your visa application
In the ‘How to Apply for a Seasonal Worker Visa’ Online Course I explain which documents to submit with your application.
- You’ll need to provide your biometrics together with
- A Certificate of Sponsorship (it should not be over 3 months old).
If you join the ‘How to Apply for a Seasonal Worker Visa’ Online Course you’ll get a list of all T5 sponsors who qualify to issue a certificate of sponsorship.
The Suitability Requirements
To meet the suitability requirement, you’ll need to prove that you are of good character to the decision-maker. How can you do this? You’ll need to go through the grounds of refusal and make sure that none of them applies to you. You’ll find a list of all grounds for refusal here.
In this ‘How to Apply for Seasonal Worker Visa’ Online Course we’ll go through the suitability requirements one by one to help you understand these requirements and check that you are not caught by any of them.
The Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility requirements are the key requirements for your visa application.
The eligibility requirements consist of two parts.
The Sponsorship Requirement
First of all, you need to have a Certificate of Sponsorship from the Home Office recognised Sponsor.
This Sponsor will need to have an endorsement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to the Seasonal Worker route.
You can get a list of current Temporary workers sponsors and learn how to apply here: ‘How to Apply for Seasonal Worker Visa’ Online Course.
The Financial Requirement
Secondly, you’ll need to meet the financial requirement for your Temporary Worker visa.
To meet this requirement, you’ll need to have funds of at least £1,270. Alternatively, your Sponsor will need to confirm that they’ll provide you with money and accommodation for your first month of employment, which will be for the amount of at least £1,270.
If this is the arrangement between you and your employer, you’ll need to make sure that your certificate of sponsorship confirms this. Your Sponsor will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. They’ll find it under ‘Additional data’.
If you intend to rely on your own money when you apply, you’ll need to ensure that this amount was in your bank account for at least 28 days. In other words, day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
When and How Long?
The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. You’ll find this date on your certificate of sponsorship.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
The duration of your visa will be tied to your Certificate of Sponsorship. Your visa will cover the period stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days before and after.
However, you should bear in mind that the maximum period of your visa will be 6 months in any 12-month period, whichever is shorter.
Conditions
If you get your Temporary Worker visa, you will not be able to claim benefits work (outside your work, for which you are being sponsored) or study. Also, you’ll likely need to register with the police when you come to the UK.