Process For Business Immigration

Business Immigration is for those individuals wishing to come to the United Kingdom for no longer than six months for the following reasons:

• To attend meetings or conferences

• To arrange deals, negotiate or sign trade agreement or contracts

• To undertaking fact-finding missions, or to check details or goods

• To conduct site visits and promotional activities

Professional and amateur entertainers and sports performers also fall under this category when entering the United Kingdom to:

• Come for specific sporting events

• Join United Kingdom amateur teams

• Come to the United Kingdom to take part in music competitions

• Travel to the United Kingdom for a specific engagement

• Take part in a charity show or where they will receive no fee

• Take part in a 'permit-free festival' (such as the Edinburgh Festival)

Under a Business Visitor’s visa, you cannot:

• Take paid or unpaid work

• Produce goods or provide services in the UK, or

• Sell goods and services to members of the public

Step-by-Step Procedures

Under a business visitor’s visa, there are no forms to complete. You do not need a visa to visit the United Kingdom as long as you are a national of Mexico and you hold a passport that is issued by an authority that is recognized in the UK. Please keep in mind that this only applies for a period of six months or less.

You do, however, need the following documents:

• If you are employed:

  • A letter from your current employer stating that you have been given permission to leave your job for a specific amount of time. The letter should be official, meaning it should be on the company’s stationary and signed by your employer.

  • How long you have been employed at that company.

  • What job or jobs you perform.

  • When your leave of absence is expected to be complete.

• Proof of your business transactions and earnings if self employed.

  • This could be in the form of invoices to customers, bank statements (record of deposits and withdrawals pertaining to the business), net income (profits). 

• Proof of any and all property that you own in your home country.

  • This could be in the form of deeds, mortgage statements, car payment receipts, etc.

  • If you are a student.

  • A letter from your school stating your course of study and showing the dates it is scheduled to begin and end.

  • Have stated in the letter the dates that you will be off due to a holiday period in which you intend to visit the U.K.

• It is recommended that you provide proof of family, social ties, or other reasons to return to your home country.

  • This could be in the form of letters from friends or family members from your home country. 

• Proof that you have made other travel arrangements, if continuing your journey.

  • Bank statements going back over a period of several months that also show any savings that you possess. 

• The appropriate fee(s) – this will vary depending upon the status in which you’re entering the U.K.

  • Business Visa Fee - $104.00 USD (up to 6 months)

    • Academic Visitor

    • Visiting Professor

    • Religious Worker

    • Film crew

• You can use the free shipping center located at the British Embassy in Mexico City at this address:

British Embassy
Rio Lerma 71, Col. Cuauhtémoc
06500 Mexico, D.F.

Or you can go to the  Visa Information Services website for the Embassy

It can take as little as 24 hours or as long as 12 weeks to get your visa (download the new guidelines on time expected) after you’ve applied. If an entry clearance officer cannot make an immediate decision (this may be based on lack of information, missing forms, etc.), you may need to be scheduled for an interview, which should take place within 15 days after applying. You must complete this interview before attempting to leave Mexico. If an interview is required, the entry clearance officer will contact you.

After you get your visa, please be aware that you may still be asked for certain documents, such as verification of your reasons for coming to the UK, upon arrival. You should also carry all supporting documents that you included with your visa application or that you were asked to provide during your interview with the entry clearance officer.

You need to have all of this information if you are a traveler, passenger or crewmember who is entering or leaving the United Kingdom by way of air, sea or rail. The UK Border Agency is in the process of implementing a program called e-Borders that allows this information to be collected electronically before your trip.  It will not be available until Spring 2009 though, so you currently need to provide this information when checking-in for your trip.