Protecting Your Finances and Employment Rights

As a Creative Worker visa holder, you have specific rights regarding pay and financial maintenance while in the UK, as well as clear rules on what supplementary work you can take on.

1. Pay and Working Conditions

Your sponsor is legally required to ensure your pay meets specific standards and that your working conditions comply with UK law.

• Minimum Wage: You must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for your role.
• Industry Standards: For many roles, you must be paid the minimum salary set by the relevant trade union or industry body, such as Equity, PACT, or BECTU. This specific rule does not apply to models, musicians, or circus performers.
• Sponsor Responsibility: If your employer fails to comply with the National Minimum Wage or UK working time regulations, your visa application can be refused, and their sponsor licence can be revoked.

2. Financial Requirement (Maintenance Funds)

You must prove you can support yourself during your initial stay in the UK.

• Required Amount: You generally need to show you have at least £1,270 in available funds.
• Maintenance Proof: This money must have been held in your bank account for a continuous period of 28 days, ending no more than 31 days before the date you apply for your visa.
• Exemptions: You are exempt from proving these funds if:
  1. You have been living in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months.
  2. Your A-rated sponsor agrees to cover your costs for the first month, up to £1,270, and confirms this on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

3. Permitted Supplementary Work

Once you have started working for your sponsor, you can take on a second job, known as supplementary employment, under strict conditions:

• Maximum Hours: The supplementary job must be for no more than 20 hours per week.
• Eligible Roles: The secondary job must be either:
  • In the same sector and at the same professional level as the job on your CoS.
  • In a job that is on the Skilled Worker immigration salary list.

What you CANNOT do: You cannot start your own business, access public funds (benefits), or take on a permanent, full-time job.