The following information gives a brief guide to the various types of UK
visa applications we are able to assist you with. More detailed information
can be provided by one of our visa consultants. The following information
gives a brief guide to the various types of UK visa applications. More detailed
information can be provided by one of our visa consultants.
Sections
UK Work Permits
The work permit scheme allows UK based companies to sponsor overseas nationals
to work for them in the UK. The employer must demonstrate that the candidate
is suited to the position and that they have been unable to recruit a suitable
candidate from the resident workforce (this includes UK and EU citizens).
Any overseas national who meets the criteria listed below may be eligible
to apply for a work permit:
- Holds a Degree Level qualification relevant to the position being offered,
or
- Holds an HND qualification that is relevant to the post
- Holds an HND qualification which is not relevant to the post and
a minimum of 12 months work experience at NVQ 3 level, or
- Has no qualification but can show evidence of at least 36 months
of relevant work experience at NVQ 3 level.
It is important to note that all work experience must be supported by references.
The Work Permit visa allows the applicant to work only for the sponsoring
company. If they leave their employmentor change employers they will need
to seek a new permit.
A work permit may be issued for any length of time up to five years. After
completing five years on a work permit the holder may apply for Residency
/ Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.
The work permit visa allows the application to work only for the sponsoring
company. If they leave their employmentIor change employers they will need
to seek a new permit.
Entry Clearance from the nearest British Consulate in the applicants country
of residence must be obtained before travelling to the UK to undertake work permit employment if applied for whilst outside the UK.> back
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Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Residency is the colloquial immigration term used for ‘Indefinite
Leave to Remain’. Under this category people who are close to completing
five years on an Ancestry visa, Company Sponsored Work Permit or the Highly
Skilled Migrant Programme may apply for residency / Indefinite leave to remain
in the UK.
Similarly those people completing two years on a UK marriage / spouse or
unmarried partner visa, may also apply for ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ in
the UK providing the marriage /relationship still exists.
Providing the applicant intends to settle and reside in the UK the permit
will normally last for an indefinite period and allow the applicant to work.
After obtaining the Indefinite Leave to Remain you may be eligible to start
the process of naturalization to become a British citizen. > back
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Ancestry
If you are a Commonwealth citizen aged 17 or over with a grandparent born
in the United Kingdom (including Southern Ireland prior to 31 March 1922)
may apply for a visa that will allow them to stay in the UK and work for
an initial period of two years with the ability to extend your stay for
a further three years towards the end of your visa.
Under the UK immigration policy for Ancestry Visas, Commonwealth citizens
who can establish that their grandparent was born in the UK (including Southern
Ireland prior to 31 March 1922) may apply for a visa that will allow them
to stay in Britain for a period of five years.
In order to qualify for this visa the applicant must show that:
- they are a Commonwealth citizen;
- they are aged 17 years or over;
- they have a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom and
Islands;
- they are able to work and intend to take or seek employmentIin
the United Kingdom; and
- they are able to support and accommodate themselves and any dependants
completely without recourse to public funds.
The applicant must obtain Entry Clearance for United Kingdom Ancestry before
travelling.
On this visa you are entitled to work in any given occupation that you choose.
You therefore do not need a work permit.
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Extensions
After five years the applicant will be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain provided they continue to meet the requirements of the rules for United Kingdom Ancestry and they have spent a continuous period of five years in employment in the United Kingdom in this capacity
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Student
A person wishing to study full time in the UK may apply for a student visa.
The applicant must be able to show that they have been accepted for a course
of study on a weekday course involving a minimum of 15 hours of study per
week. Students may take part-time or vacation work for no more than 20 hours
a week during term time.
The applicant must be able to show that they have been accepted for a course
of study at:
- a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education (for example,
a university);
- a private-education institution; or
- an independent fee-paying school;
and that you are going to follow:
- a recognized full-time degree course;
- a course run during the week that involves at least 15 hours of organized
daytime study a week; or
- a full-time course of study at an independent fee-paying school.
The applicant must also be able to pay for the course and support and accommodate
themselves and any dependants without working or help from public funds.
You must plan to leave the United Kingdom when you complete your studies.
Students may take part-time or vacation work subject to the following conditions:
- twenty hours per week during term time is the maximum amount the applicant
will work. The exception to this rule is where work placement is a necessary
part of the studies with the agreement of the education institution
- the applicant must not engage in business, self-employmentIor the provision
of service as a professional sports person or entertainer
- the applicant must not pursue a career by filling a permanent full time
vacancy
- The applicant must apply for Entry Clearance before travelling to the
UK.
The applicant must apply for Entry Clearance before travelling to the UK.
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Visitors / Tourists
The United Kingdom Immigration policies for visitors allows those people
travelling to the UK with no other valid visa to be granted a tourist visa
on arrival. However if the applicant is travelling from a visa national country
they will need to gain entry clearance from the British consulate before
arriving in the UK.
The duration of a Visitors Visa lasts for a maximum period of six months.
During this time you are prohibited from taking any form of employmentIin
the UK once the tourist / visitor visa has been issued. Therefore in order
to qualify to come to the United Kingdom as a visitor, an applicant must
be able to show that:
- they are seeking entry as a visitor for no more than six months
- they intend to leave the United Kingdom on completion of their
visit
- they have sufficient funds to maintain and accommodate themselves
for their entire stay without working or help from public funds
You should be aware that a tourist visa is not guaranteed and that you should
be in a position to provide evidence as required by the Entry Clearance Officer/Immigration
Official to substantiate the above points. > back
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Visitor Visa Extension
If an applicant is given permission to stay for less than six months on
entry they can apply to extend their stay, up to a maximum of six months
in total. Additionally people who are coming to the end of their Working
Holiday visa may also apply for a tourist visa to extend their stay in the
UK. As soon as this visa is issued the all rights to work cease.
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Marriage / Unmarried Partners Visa
There are four sections within the spousal visa that you could apply under.
You must be married to a British national, person present and settled in
the UK or EEA national. You may also apply if you have been living with a
British national or person present and settled in the UK for a minimum of
two years
There are four sections within the spousal visa that you could apply under.
These are:
- Marriage to a UK citizen
- Marriage to an EU citizen
- Marriage to a person with the right of abode
- Unmarried Partners > back
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Marriage to a UK citizen
Under this section an overseas national who has married
a British citizen may apply for a marriage / spouse visa. This type of visa
will normally be issued for two years and it allows the partner to work.
One month before the marriage visa expires you may apply for residence to
remain in the UK indefinitely. The condition of this visa is that the applicant
would need to be able to prove that the marriage still exists and that you
and your spouse have been living together as a married couple over the course
of those years. > back
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Marriage to an EU citizen
The spouse of a European National may apply if their husband/wife can prove
that they have a valid reason for remaining in the UK such as continuousIemployment.
The applicant will normally be issued with a stay identical in duration and
terms to the one their spouse holds. > back
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Marriage to a person with right of abode in the UK
An overseas national who has a spouse that holds a valid UK visa or work
permit may apply for a similar spousal visa as their dependant. The applicant
will normally be issued with a stay identical in duration and terms to the
one the spouse holds. In the majority of cases the visa allows the applicant
to work, as long as the spouses visa allows them to work. > back
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Unmarried Partners
An unmarried partner may apply to join their spouse in the United Kingdom
as long as they are present and settled in the United Kingdom. Settled means
that they are living here lawfully with no time limit on their stay. The
relationship may be heterosexual or same sex relationship, but you must not
be related by blood.
Evidence that you have been living together as if you are married for at
least two years would need to be shown.
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Naturalization / Registration as a British citizen
Certain people born between 1961 and 1983 to mothers who were citizens of
the United Kingdom and Colonies at the time of the birth may be eligible
for Registration as a British citizen.
People in these circumstances should contact their nearest British Consulate
or the Home Office.
Other applicants who hold the following visas may apply once the criteria
has been fulfilled:
- Marriage to a British citizen (link to marriage visa info)
- Work Permit Sponsorship and Ancestry Visa (link to work permit
and ancestry visa info)
If you have been in the UK for three years, married
to a British citizen and have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK you
can start the process of naturalization as a British citizen. Over that
three year period you cannot have been outside the country for more than
270 days, including no more than 90 days in the year prior to applying.
Marriage to a British Citizen
Applicants
that have been in the UK legally for five years and then held Indefinite
Leave to Remain for a further year may start the process of naturalization
as a British citizen. Over that five year period you cannot have been outside
the country for more than 450 days, and over the past year prior to applying
you cannot have been outside the country for more than 90 days.
Work Permit Sponsorship and Ancestry Visa
Applicants that have been in ths UK for five years on an ancestry visa or work permit and then held Indefinite Leave to Remain for a further year may start the process of naturalizarion as a British citizen. Over that five year period you cannot have been outside the country for more than 450 days, and over the past year prior to applying you cannot have been outside the country for more than 90 days.
During your stay leading up to your application you cannot have been in breach of the immigration laws
In both cases you will need to be aged 18 or oever, not of unsound mind, be of good character and possess sufficient knowledge of the English language to fulfil your duties as a citizen.
There is discretion to disregard absences in excess of the limits. Please contact us for further information
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