Worried about being penalized for working online!

I'm worried/confused about my online application...

I was unaware that working on the internet is not allowed, and obtained work as an independent contractor with a company teaching ESL to Chinese children online (paid in USD) while visiting my husband in England this summer.

Is there a need to indicate this in our application at all? My husband meets the financial requirement through category A, so presumably my income has nothing to do with our eligibility. However, the online application does require information about my employment, and I'm unsure how to fill that out without A) lying or B) indicating that I was working while on a tourist visa in the UK.

I do still work for this company (I'm now in the States, gathering together all our application materials and preparing to send them), but since I am considered self-employed...I am simply flummoxed about how to address this!

Anyone have advice?

Many thanks!

I'm worried/confused about my online application...

I was unaware that working on the internet is not allowed, and obtained work as an independent contractor with a company teaching ESL to Chinese children online (paid in USD) while visiting my husband in England this summer.

Is there a need to indicate this in our application at all? My husband meets the financial requirement through category A, so presumably my income has nothing to do with our eligibility. However, the online application does require information about my employment, and I'm unsure how to fill that out without A) lying or B) indicating that I was working while on a tourist visa in the UK.

I do still work for this company (I'm now in the States, gathering together all our application materials and preparing to send them), but since I am considered self-employed...I am simply flummoxed about how to address this!

Anyone have advice?

Many thanks!

Hi jaimiefayecrick.
Working remotely while in the UK is something that unfortunately catches many people out and as you have become aware, it's not permitted as a visitor.

I think under the circumstances, it would be worth consulting with an immigration specialist. There are two that we recommend. Victoria Sharkey of Medivisas and Laura Devine who has offices in London and New York.

Thank you very much! I will contact a specialist for advice about this. I feel like a giant dummy for not understanding it would be a problem earlier.

Thank you very much! I will contact a specialist for advice about this. I feel like a giant dummy for not understanding it would be a problem earlier.

I hope you get it sorted. Good luck! 

hello,

did the HO ever inquire further about this issue with you or was it asked on the application?

hello,

did the HO ever inquire further about this issue with you or was it asked on the application?

As was advised above to the other poster, take legal advice. Deception is very serious and will often cause bigger problems than what somebody tried to hide. e.g. British citizenship can be removed if deception was used on any application, even if they did not use that application to get British citizenship. There is no time limit for deception and they cannot go back to ILR (settlement) when citizenship is removed as that is lost too. Deception is part of the Good Character requirements.

I understand that and I obviously have no intention of doing so, I'm just inquiring to what extend they ask this of you when it comes to this so I know how to answer appropriately. I visited my husband in the UK 8 months ago and checked my work emails 2 of the 7 days I was there, having no idea this was an issue. So if I need to disclose this, how and where, as I'm not seeing the appropriate place to do it on the application?

Typically you can address things like this in a covering letter that is part of the application, as with anything else that isn't obvious

Would I simply state that I was keeping up with work while visiting with the dates/timestamps of my emails and texts to my boss? Or do I need to show bank statements too? My income wasn't deposited when I was physically there so I'm afraid my bank statements might appear irrelevant.

I wish I could've interacted with an officer upon entry so I could've learned about this issue sooner to avoid it, but when I went there were only e-gates, so unfortunately all I can do now is make sure it's handled correctly and honestly. Sorry again for all the questions, this is all just very new to me.

Simply checking work emails while in the UK shouldn’t be an issue.

What you can’t do though is actually carry out work based on those emails. i.e. you can’t do work activities related to your job while in the UK as a visitor.


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Thanks everyone - my solicitor gave me feedback on my situation so everything's good, but it also got me thinking (I didn't ask my solicitor this because I get charged for every question) ...

How does this regulation apply to those people who are so-called 'influencers'? They make money from Instagram posts and get money from their online following? Or even YouTubers/vloggers who vlog their travels, post the videos, and monetize them? If one of them goes to London and 'vlogs' it and the video generates income, is that also considered work?

Just curious because that's all social media is these days it seems.