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| Our visa categories section on this site contains general information about different types of visa and entry clearance and it is our aim to provide you with some overview on the visa categories and to the visa application process. Kindly note that this information is provided for indicative purposes only and we would strongly advise you to seek professional guidance with our Immigration Experts for your respective application or specific queries |
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Applying for a Tier 1 Visa |
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| Unlike the other tiers of the PBS, tier 1 visa applications do not need a sponsor to be in place. The tier 1 visa application will be a single process whether initiated from inside or outside the UK and applicants will need to submit a range of supporting documentation in order to substantiate their application. Candidates may apply for a tier 1 visa either to enter the UK, extend a stay, or switch whilst already in the UK. |
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About Tier 1 Immigration ˆtopˆ |
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| Tier 1 visas are designed to attract what the Home Office refer to as the brightest and best of potential UK immigration candidates. Unlike tier 2 visas, which also apply to those moving to the UK for long-term business or employment purposes. Tier 1 visas do not require an offer of employment to be in place. As a result, the requirements of the tier 1 assessment are consistent with selecting the most highly skilled applicants. |
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The Role Of PBS in Streamlining UK Immigration ˆtopˆ |
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| Tier 1 of the PBS replaces eight immigration categories from the previous system and replaces them with four new subdivisions. With the exception of the Post-Study Work category, time spent in the UK will count towards the minimum residency requirement of five years for permanent settlement in the UK. |
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Tier 1 (General) ˆtopˆ |
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The Tier 1 HSMP Highly Skilled Visa replaces the previous Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) and allows working in the UK for an initial period of 3 years without needing a job offer. To qualify for the Tier 1 HSMP Highly Skilled Visa you must meet the following criteria:
- You must score at least 75 points to qualify for the Tier 1 HSMP Highly Skilled Visa. Points are awarded for your age, education, past earnings and UK experience.
- You will need to show sufficient available funds to evidence your ability to support yourself and your family while looking for employment.
- You will need to evidence your English language ability, either by way of nationality, education to a certain level in specific countries or an English language test such as IELTS
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Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) ˆtopˆ |
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The entrepreneur category is for those investing in the United Kingdom by setting up or taking over, and being actively involved in the running of one or more businesses in the United Kingdom. You can apply under the entrepreneur category now if you are:
- In the United Kingdom and want to make an initial application as an entrepreneur; already in the United Kingdom as an entrepreneur and want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category.
- Already in the United Kingdom as a business person or innovator and want to extend your permission to stay in the entrepreneur category.
- Applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the entrepreneur category
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Tier 1 (Investor) ˆtopˆ |
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| The investor category is designed to allow high net worth individuals make a substantial financial investment in the United Kingdom. Unlike the work permit scheme (soon to be replaced by sponsored workers (Tier 2), you do not need a job offer to apply under the investor category. When you apply you are awarded points based on your ability to invest £1,000,000 in the United Kingdom. |
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Tier 1 (Post Study Worker) ˆtopˆ |
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| The post-study worker category is designed for international graduates who have studied in the United Kingdom. It also enhances the United Kingdom's overall offer to international students. Post-study workers are free to look for work without having a sponsor for the length of their leave. The category provides a bridge to highly skilled or skilled work. You can apply under the post-study worker category now if you are:
- In the United Kingdom as a student, which includes students, student nurses, students resitting examinations, and students writing up a thesis, and want to switch into the post-study worker category
As a specialist UK immigration consultancy, SmartMove2UK can offer a full UK visa service to cater for all tiers of the new system. Our immigration consultants can help you to determine which of the new UK visas is most appropriate for your relocation to the UK.
After a total period of three years in the UK may apply for UK citizenship
Under the new system, spouse immigration and dependant immigration visas will be provided allowing an applicant to bring their husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner to join them in Britain. Provisions for family immigration under the new system will function in a similar manner to a UK Dependency Visa. However, the existing marriage visa, unmarried partner visa and fiance visa services will persist outside the tier system.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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The second tier of the new points based UK immigration service replaces UK work permits and applies to medium and highly skilled workers wishing to immigrate to the UK who have an offer from a UK sponsoring company in place. As is the case for tier 3 visas, tier 4 visas and tier 5 visas, applying for a UK visa for immigration under tier two will require each candidate to obtain a certificate of sponsorship, in this case from the sponsoring company, as part of their application. Like the existing UK work permit visa system, tier visa applications at this level are an employer led process and the company in question will need to fulfill certain responsibilities. However, this visa service also has elements in common with the first tier and the outgoing Highly Skilled migrant Programme or HSMP in that a points threshold, in this case 50 points must be met on a skills assessment and a level of proficiency in the English language will be required.
As a specialist UK immigration consultancy, SmartMove2UK can provide a full UK visa service for all five tiers of the new system. We can help you to establish which tier visa service is the most appropriate for your needs.
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Intra-Corporate Transfers ˆtopˆ |
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| The current system of Inter Company Transfers (ICT) will also be catered for by second tier visas. The current system allows British companies to transfer staff from overseas branches to work on specific projects. This provision for recruitment will continue however, under the new Intra-company transfer system, an ICT will depend more upon the responsibility of the employer to show that a position could not be filled from within the domestic workforce and that the salary is appropriate, than demonstrating a candidate's company specific knowledge and history of employment with the firm. |
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Additional Information for Dependants ˆtopˆ |
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Since the second of the tier immigration services may be regarded as a route to potential settlement, family immigration is permitted for your wife, husband, civil partner, unmarried partner and/or dependent children. Spouse immigration and dependency immigration operate along similar lines to the current Dependency Visa. However, the marriage visa, unmarried partner visa and fiance visa categories will remain distinct from the new visas for points based immigration.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com
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The third tier of the new points based UK visa service is designed to cater for people immigrating to the UK in order to perform temporary low skilled work. The new tiers immigration service will replace existing structures such as the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and the Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) and will grant leave to enter the UK to migrants from countries with which an effective returns arrangement with the United Kingdom is in place. Our UK immigration consultants can manage your migration to the UK whichever tier visa is right for you. As a specialist immigration consultancy, we can assist you at every stage of your UK visa application As with the outgoing UK work permit visa structure, a tier 3 visa application is a largely employer led process. Like work permits, sponsoring companies in the United Kingdom will be required to attempt to source labour domestically before recruiting from a wider base outside the EU. These UK visas for immigration will be based upon the creation of low skilled working schemes on an ad hoc basis when a shortage is identified which cannot be dealt with by the domestic workforce. The responsibility for identifying such shortages will lie with the Skills Advisory Body (SAB) and is intended to cater for the fluctuating need for low skilled workers throughout the year.
Due to the temporary nature of this tier, and emphasizing the difference from the first two tiers as routes to settlement, no standard English language requirement will be imposed. Competency in the language is of more importance to some industries than to others and whilst language skills may be important in an industry such as healthcare, in another such as agriculture they may not be so relevant.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com
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The UK is home to some of the world's most famous educational establishments
You can help shape your future by studying at one of these prestigious institutions, ranging from leading management/business institutions to famous names such as Oxford and Cambridge.
The UK offers British Student Visas to encourage foreign students to study in the UK at renowned establishments. Aside from the general Student Visa, medical professionals such as student nurses, midwives, postgraduate doctors and dentists can apply to train and/or further their studies in the UK.
The fourth tier of the new points based UK immigration service focuses upon overseas who wish to gain entry clearance to study in the UK.
Tier four visas replace the UK student visa service and place more emphasis upon the responsibility of the educational body in question for the applicants they permit to study. The aim of this tier immigration service is to provide a more user-friendly, transparent route to studying in the UK.
With the exception of tier 1 visas, which directly replace the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or HSMP, all tier visas for the new system will require a certificate of sponsorship from the relevant sponsor. In this case, the sponsor will be the educational institution offering a place which a student has accepted. Each sponsoring institution will be required to vouch for the ability of students.
Our immigration consultants can guide you at every stage of obtaining a visa for the UK, whichever tier visa service is right for you.
Students will be granted leave to enter the UK for the purposes of completing their course at a specified institution. The grant will also take into account the time needed to conclude affairs and attend graduation. Changing from one course to another at the same establishment will not require a new application; however, changing a sponsor or obtaining a UK tier visa extension will require a further application to be lodged.
This level of the new system is not designed as a route to settled status in Britain and does not provide the opportunity to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) or permanent residency. A Tier 4 visa is a temporary immigration service designed with a specific purpose in mind and will not lead to British naturalization as a UK citizen.
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Categories of student ˆtopˆ |
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Students are divided into three categories when applying for a UK visa at this level. Each category requires the satisfaction of separate criteria as set out below.
Students studying in Britain at or above degree level in a publicly funded institution, or engaging in more than 15 hours of study per week. In this category, work is permitted for 20 hours each week rising to full time hours during holiday periods. Dependents are permitted to join students in this category.
Students in full time study at an independent school up to the age of 18. Working hours are the same as the general student category but dependents are not permitted.
Students on courses of work experience or placements. Working hours will be the same as the other two categories and dependents will be permitted in instances where the principal applicant will be in the country in excess of 12 months.
Family visa services such as the marriage visa, fiance visa and unmarried partner visa, or De Facto visa will continue to function independently of the new system, however they will not apply to applications of this kind
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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Tier 5 of the points based tier immigration service is designed to accommodate two different groups of people immigrating to the UK on a temporary basis. Fifth tier visas apply to people who wish to immigrate to the UK in order to participate in a youth mobility scheme. In addition, they cater for a range of specific temporary employment opportunities. As a specialist UK immigration consultancy, SmartMove2UKcan offer complete UK visa services for all tiers of the new system and can help you to establish which is the most suitable for your needs.
The introduction of the UK tier visa structure is intended to simplify and rationalize outgoing UK immigration services into a more straightforward and transparent structure. As part of this process, visas for the fifth tier will replace a range of youth mobility schemes such as the Commonwealth Working Holidaymaker (WHM) and the Au Pair Programme with a single system which introduces a uniform set of requirements.
Tier five is available to applicants from participating countries aged 18-30 and will grant leave to enter the UK for a maximum period of 24 months. As with tier 3 visas and tier 4 visas, British immigration through this route is a temporary entitlement and applicants will be obliged to return to their home country at the expiry of the grant.
Fifth tier immigration does not provide a route to settlement nor the opportunity to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) often known as permanent residency. UK visas for immigration at this level will not constitute a first step to those wishing to apply for British naturalization as a UK citizen. Fifth tier visas for the UK also accommodate the following categories of temporary workers immigrating to Britain who do not qualify under the requirements of a tier 2 visa. Once again, the maximum duration of leave is 24 months and switching to other tiers is not permitted. Dependents will be admitted but will only be allowed to work in the UK if the principle applicant is afforded more than 12 months leave.
- Creative artists, sportspeople or entertainers (12 months maximum)
- Voluntary workers (12 months maximum)
- Religious Workers (24 months maximum)
- Accredited exchange program (12 months maximum)
- International agreements such as the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR) 1961 relating to diplomatic household servants (12 months maximum)
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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| A UK marriage visa, or spouse visa, enables your husband, wife or civil partner to apply for leave to enter, or leave to remain in the UK on the basis that they are married to a person who is present and settled in Britain. Settled status means that you are living here lawfully with no time limit on your stay. Your spouse must apply for entry clearance before travelling to the United Kingdom. If you intend to bring your unmarried partner to join you, please refer to our section detailing the requirements for making a UK fiance visa application. |
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| Initially visas for spouse immigration are issued for a two year period. After this time, a person can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) commonly known as permanent residency in the UK. In some cases, settlement entry clearance may be granted allowing a partner to stay in the country permanently; however, this is only applicable to a person who has been married and living abroad with their spouse for four years at the time they apply for entry to the UK. |
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| A UK spouse visa allows a person with settled status in Great Britain to bring their spouse to join them in the Country. The applicant will be able to seek and take up employment in the United Kingdom as soon as the document is granted without the need to arrange a UK work permit. British marriage visas do not place any restrictions upon the type of work that can be undertaken. |
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Eligibility Criteria ˆtopˆ |
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For a marriage visa application, candidates must be 21 years of age or over and the partner with settled status in the British Isles must be 18 years of age or over.
Children of the marriage who are under 18 years of age will be granted entry to the UK as dependants. They will be able to make their application at the same time as the main applicant. After a total period of three years in the country if you meet the residence requirements you may then apply for British naturalization in order to remain in the country under a grant of UK citizenship.
If you are an HSMP visa holder, having embarked upon the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, your spouse/unmarried partner may be able to apply for a Dependency Visa. For more information on this route to UK immigration please visit our section on how to apply for the Highly Skilled Migrant Program. |
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Additional Information ˆtopˆ |
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As of 1st February 2005 people who are subject to immigration control and wish to get married in the United Kingdom must give notice to marry to a registrar at one of a number of designated register offices throughout Great Britain. The General Register Office can provide you with details of your local register office.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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The Unmarried Partner Visa provides de-facto couples and same sex-couples with the same benefits and rights as those who are married or have undergone the Civil Registry. This visa offers a two-year probationary period which can eventually lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British Nationality.
In order to be eligible for the Unmarried Partner Visa the couple must have lived together for two years before they are entitled for apply for the two year probationary Visa.
If however, the couples have been living together for four years or more outside of the UK, an application for ILR can be made immediately.
The UK citizen or permanent resident must be their genuine partner and the couple must intend to continue living together.
This visa is for couples who do not intend to marry or who cannot marry and same-sex partners of British Citizens or permanent residents.
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Certificate Of Approval To The UK ˆtopˆ |
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If you are not British or citizens from an EEA country or if you have not been given permission to live in the UK permanently you will need the Home Office's authorisation to get married legally or to enter into a civil partnership in the UK.
However, if you wish to marry in the Church of England you do not need to apply for a Certificate of Approval.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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Fiance(e) / Prospective civil partner visa to the UK ˆtopˆ |
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The Fiance(e) / Prospective Civil Partner Visa allows entry into the UK for a period of six months in order for the couple to marry or register their civil relationship.
Applicants for a Fiance(e) / Prospective Civil Partner Visa must intend to marry or register with a partner who is a British citizen or permanent resident. Applicants will be required to provide evidence of their intention to marry or register with their partner.
After the marriage or registration applicants are required to apply for the Spouse/Civil Partner Visa. This visa is for a 2 year probationary period and subject to meeting all requirements and continuing to live together the applicant may be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain.
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Spouse / Civil Partner to the UK ˆtopˆ |
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IThe Spouse / Civil Partner Visa is given initially for a two-year probationary period and can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British nationality.
If however, the couple have been married or have been in a civil partnership for at least four years and have been living together outside of the UK during that time, an application for ILR can be made immediately.
At the time of submitting the Visa application applicants for a Spouse / Civil Partner Visa must demonstrate that they are legally married to, or in a Civil Partnership with a partner who is a British National or permanent resident. This person must be their genuine spouse / partner and the couple must intend to live together in the UK.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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- Tier 1 Spouse Immigration and Dependent Immigration
Since tier 1 immigration is designed for skilled migrants immigrating to the UK for a long-term to permanent stay, a successful applicant may bring their dependants, including their spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and/or children with them. However, the main applicant must demonstrate their ability to support and maintain their dependents in the UK.
These dependents will be eligible work, however, if they wish to be in the UK in their own right i.e. rather than as a dependent, they will need to leave the UK in order to apply.
- Dependents - For all other categories
A successful applicant may bring their dependants, including their spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and/or children with them. However, the main applicant must demonstrate their ability to support and maintain their dependents in the UK.
These dependents will be eligible work, however, if they wish to be in the UK in their own right i.e. rather than as a dependent, they will need to leave the UK in order to apply.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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In order to enable adopted children to join one or both parents in the UK, the parents must be able to show that:
- you currently live and are settled in the UK legally, with no time limit on your stay, and
- you can support your child and provide somewhere to live without needing help from public funds.
You, or your child, must show that he or she
- cannot support themselves financially, is not married and is not living independently away from their parents
- is under 18 years of age
- was adopted when both parents lived together abroad or when one or the other parent was settled in the UK
- has the same rights as any other child of the adoptive parents
- was adopted because their birth parents could not care for them and there has been a full and genuine transfer of parental responsibility
- has broken all ties with their birth family, and
- was not adopted just to make it easier to enter the UK.
Your adopted child must get a visa before they travel to the UK, unless they qualify for a passport issued by an EEA member state.
The Adoptions with a Foreign Element Regulations 2005 aim to prevent people from bringing children into the UK to adopt them unless
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- adoptive parents have already been assessed and approved by a local council or a voluntary adoption agency (VAA), and
- their suitability has been approved by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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Please use the contact us form for queries on this category of UK Visa |
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Entry clearance is issued to all people who apply to UK Visas for leave to enter the UK. Entry Clearance is issued to all commonwealth and non- visa nationals who wish to remain in the UK for six months or more.
Visa nationals are required to apply to UK Visas for Leave to Enter the UK regardless of the length of stay. A UK visa takes the form of a vignette or sticker placed in a passport at a UK visas issuing post overseas (normally a UK embassy or consulate). Bio Metric Visas will require a person to attend the British Embassy for their Biometrics to be taken. The Visa specifies the purpose for which the holder wants to enter the UK, as well as the conditions of the visa.
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| When UK Entry Clearance is granted, it will state a "valid from" date and a "valid to" date. Depending on the purpose of travel to the UK this will vary. |
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Eligibility Criteria ˆtopˆ |
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A person must be able to show they are conductive to the public good and the UK economy. It is important they are also able to prove their reason for applying for the visa is valid and meets the UK immigration law requirements. In the case of HSMP or Work Permits a person must be able to prove their qualifications meet the immigration requirements. If they are relying on previous experience and/or salary to assist in their UK visas case they will have to provide documentary evidence to confirm their claims. Often due to the high number of forged documents that are easily available in the modern world, British Entry Clearance Officers will run further local checks to make sure the documents are genuine.
A person maybe required to attend an interview so the Immigration Officer can determine if the person is respectable but also to confirm any facts about the case that are unclear. These interviews can take some time and an officer is liable to ask many difficult questions. Their training and experience allows them to make decisions on a case based on their feeling about the person during the interview.
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Visa Status ˆtopˆ |
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| Work permit holders who are non EEA nationals (including non-visa nationals) who wish to immigrate to the UK for more than six months must obtain UK entry clearance before travelling. HSMP and other working visas also allow people to work while in the UK. While medical visitors and business visitors are prevented from working in the UK. The status of a visa is determined by the reason for travel to the UK. |
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Processing Times ˆtopˆ |
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Processing times vary depending on the country in which the person is applying.
The types of entry clearance cases we can assist with cover the following categories
- HSMP Entry Clearance
- Work Permit Entry Clearance
- Marriage Entry Clearance
- Dependents Entry Clearance
- Student Entry Clearance
- UK Ancestry Entry Clearance
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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The United Kingdom is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Sightseeing, visiting family and friends, travelling, business trips, and even medical visits make the six-month Visitor Visa the most popular category for travelers to the UK.
A UK visit visa allows a person to travel and stay in the UK for up to six months. It also covers people coming to the UK for business trips or medical treatment and those passing through the UK.
A Business Visitor Visa is often the best temporary immigration route for business people who wish to attend the UK for short trips. As long as they are not entering into any type of work and will only be attending meetings, conferences or auditing work they are allowed to stay for up to six months.
A Business Visitor Visa can be granted for a single entry or for multiple entries with a validity of two years. This way a person does not require constant renewals every time they wish to travel to the UK on business. Artists who are not performing can also use this visa to enter the UK if they wish to attend interviews or promote a piece of work such as a movie or a book without needing to apply for any further permits to work.
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| The UK tourist visa lasts for up to two years if it is granted for multiple entries. A person can stay on a visitor visa for a maximum of six months except for medical visitors who can extend their leave to remain if required. As outlined above, the key benefit of a UK Business Visit Visa, or a visa for tourism is that the requirements on the part of the applicant are few. Unlike longer-term business visa, student visas or the Tier 1 visa, this short-term visa service allows its holder to enter the country freely and in the case of business people, to engage in a range of business activities without the more demanding requirements of other immigration services. |
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Public Funding ˆtopˆ |
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| To be eligible for a UK visit visa you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds. You must also intend to return home at the expiry of your UK travel visa. If a person has family settled in the UK an Entry Clearance Officer may question a person's intention to return home. For a UK visit visa to be granted it is important to note that it is not just your Immigration history that will be taken into account but that of your family.
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Visit Visas for Medical Purposes ˆtopˆ |
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Medical Visitor visas are often issued to individuals who wish to attend the UK for medical treatment. In the past, the UK was a highly respected destination for medical Visitors. From IVF to plastic surgery it was accepted that the United Kingdom was a leader in these fields.
Today, fewer people attend the UK for medical treatment however, it is still important to note that a Medical Visitor visa can only be granted in certain cases. For a visa to be granted a person must not have a terminal illness and the treatment concerned must be private.
A medical visa is granted for six months at a time and is renewable for the duration of the treatment. Once again the grant can either be for a single entry, or for multiple entries for those people who wish to continue their treatment as an outpatient, only flying into the UK for appointments.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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Many applicants from Commonwealth countries who can prove their descent from a grandparent born in the UK may be eligible to migrate to the UK for a period of 5 years. After this time it may be possible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Nationality.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com |
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A key feature of the UK Immigration Points Based System (PBS) is the need for all sponsors of non-EU workers, students and even Ministers of Religion to be licensed as a sponsor if they wish to bring a person to the UK
The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) are responsible for the issuing of sponsorship licences, grading sponsors as A or B grade and conducting site visits and audits to monitor and enforce immigration regulations. It is the responsibility of the sponsor to ensure that the conditions of the UK immigration sponsorship licence are continually met.
Some of the key issues of sponsorship under the Points Based System are examined in brief on our site.
Key Things to be Aware of
- A sponsor must demonstrate they have the relevant processes and procedures in place to ensure ongoing compliance with the immigration law
- If a sponsor is deemed as issuing a sponsorship certificate in error All non EU people they sponsored may be told to stop work and be given 28 days to leave the UK
- If found to be in breach of any immigration laws, the responsible person within the sponsoring organisation will face a fine of £10,000 or two years in prison
- A sponsor must judge who is worthy of sponsorship; no official feedback is provided until an audit is conducted which could be months or years later
- If a sponsor has been granting sponsorship outside of the PBS rules their licence will be suspended or revoked, all overseas nationals will have their leave in the UK curtailed to 28 or 60 days to leave the UK and a fine may be imposed
- A representative's office can be the place registered by sponsors for Immigration Officials to attend when conducting a 'site' visit. This reduces the interference to the business and allows all immigration records to be presented in a compliant way with expert representation
- A sponsor for employment will have to ensure an overseas qualification is comparable to a UK NVQ level 3 or above and that advertising for the post is acceptable under changing immigration criteria
- The person who is sponsored will still have to apply for Entry Clearance and may be refused a UK Visa if the Entry Clearance Officer is concerned about the case
- An application that is refused has no right of appeal
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What Does Sponsorship Mean for Me? ˆtopˆ |
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The UK Immigration tier 1 to 5 PBS means, with the exception of those in tier 1, all migrants, not including those coming to the UK through family based immigration require a UK sponsor before they can apply to live and work in the UK. The UK sponsor may be a British company, a college or university or another establishment such as a church or mission. In every case, having a sponsor is the first step in applying for a PBS UK visa. All non-EU nationals also require a biometric identity card if they are staying longer than six months.
For UK businesses, this means greater responsibility and more accountability with sponsors ensuring that they comply with the requirements for sponsoring non-EU citizens and continue to do so. They will also continue to be responsible for the conduct of the people they sponsor. If the UK Border and Immigration Agency believes a sponsor does not have the relevant processes and procedures in place to ensure absolute UK Immigration Compliance their sponsorship licence will be revoked
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How Will Sponsorship Work? ˆtopˆ |
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Sponsorship is based on two key principles, that firstly UK institutions who benefit most from skilled migration shoulder the responsibility for helping to prevent abuse of the system. Secondly, the system aims to ensure that those coming to the UK are eligible to do so, and that they have a genuine offer of a place of work or study and therefore sponsorship.
In the first instance, a prospective sponsor will apply to the Border and Immigration Agency in order to be granted a licence. When successfully licensed, a sponsor can apply for a number of certificates of sponsorship, which they can then present to their people whom they intend to sponsor. Once a prospective employee has been allocated a certificate of sponsorship, he or she will be eligible to apply for UK entry clearance. It should be noted that a successful grant of a sponsorship certificate does not constitute the right to enter the UK; rather, it fulfils the prerequisite of sponsorship, allowing a candidate to progress to making a visa application.
Once a person is present in the UK, their sponsor will be obliged to take responsibility for them. This extends from keeping sufficient records of each person through to informing the Home Office Border and Immigration Agency in cases where a person does not turn up for work or study and takes absence without permission for a significant time.
To know more about this service or to book an appointment please email us at info@smartmove2uk.com
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| Also see details on: |
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| 1. Our Services |
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| 2. Working in UK |
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| 3. Studying in UK |
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