Can I look for work on a UK visitor visa?

Hi all, just wondering if it's legal to look for work or go to interviews while here in the UK on a visitor visa-my main purpose here is to visit family but I'm thinking of looking for jobs for next year if it doesn't breach the conditions of my visa.

Cheers, Mia

I guess it depends on the circumstances of the interview but if it's couched in the notion that you'll be returning back with the appropriate visa, then why not?

Surely there's nothing wrong with going on holiday somewhere and spending some time doing some ground research in preparation for a subsequent visit. You may actually find that some employers are fully prepared to see you under those circumstances - especially recruitment consultants who are keen to build their book of potential candidates. If I were you I'd contact a few consultants and explain you're on holiday but looking to return "visa in tow", and would merely like to meet them to discuss potential opportunities. This to me sounds entirely sensible and would certainly build the groundwork for your future visit. I guess to be safe it's best to explain all this upfront, as the risk is you would only piss the employer off if you kept the visa issue a secret and then weren't able to take their job. 

Thanks for your reply Harry, I certainly would be upfront with any potential employers prior right from the outset, cos I know that I would have to return home to apply for visa/WP from there; I'm more concerned tho, that as a visitor to the UK, are you actually breaching any immigration rules to look for work or speak to potential employers.

I'm not particularly worried about being caught, but I would definitely not do so if I think it's not permitted. Any thoughts? Cheers! Mia 

I don't see how you could be in breach of any laws. As long as you don't intend to work i don't think there's any laws against talking to people about potential job opportunities.

Go for it - the UK is an awesome place to live and work.

I would be cautious... If you were 'caught' you would have to convince the UK Border Agency that you weren't looking for work now and intended to return with the appropriate visa.  Their view maybe that you intended to get a job immediately and overstay your visa.  Convincing them could be quite difficult... Sounds silly now but they take their border protection very seriously, and it would be easier to deport you than take a chance that you're looking for work a year in advance...

Thanks for the advice guys, I've decided to wait until I get home and look from there-it might be more difficult but at least I know for certain that I won't be breaching the terms of my visa. You're right tho Walter, the UK is a pretty awesome place. Cheers again fellas! Mia

I feel a bit like a killjoy now... maybe I watched to much 'UK Border Patrol' on the weekend! I do recommend you send your CV to a few recruitment agencies and get it on a few recruitment websites.

Thank you oh prophet of doom... ;D No dramas Nick, I'm off in a few weeks anyway so it's no probs to wait till I'm back home. I love watching Border Patrol in Oz...Excuse me Madam, do you know it's ILLEGAL to bring herbs and seeds into this country? You could face a hefty jail sentence as a result...And you should be more careful packing that decorative dagger, nearly lost a finger...lol absolutely love it.