Requirements for naturalisation – residence in the UK (absences) One of the key requirements for British Naturalisation applicants is to meet the residence requirements which in a nutshell means not to have too many absences from the UK. Applicants have to be present in the UK during the relevant time (5 years or 3 years, depending if married to a British citizen on the date of Naturalisation application) and do…
Read MoreSkilled Worker & other sponsored visas – salary payment, unpaid leave, salary reductions
Payment of salary for sponsored workers including Skilled Worker and GBM First key point to note: Salary for Skilled Workers and other sponsored workers may be paid in the UK or abroad. Where the worker will be paid from abroad in a currency other than pounds sterling, the salary entered on the CoS must be based on the exchange rate for the relevant currency on the day the CoS is…
Read MoreSpouse visa extension
Spouse or Partner visa extension Spouse or Partner visa extension must be submitted from inside the UK. You and your Partner must be physically present in the UK when the extension application is submitted and the applicant must not travel out of the UK until the Home Office makes the decision on the application. Currently there are two expedited processing options for family visas: £500 extra fee applicable (5 working…
Read MoreSkilled Worker ILR
Skilled Worker (former Tier 2 General) ILR A person applying for ILR as a Skilled Worker must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified application form and must be physically present in the UK on the date of application. To qualify for Skilled Worker ILR applicant must meet requirements that we explain further below. Suitability (‘good character’) requirements for settlement as a Skilled Worker The applicant must not…
Read MoreCitizenship by naturalisation
BRITISH CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALISATION If you are at least 18 years old and have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)/permanent residence in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for Naturalisation to become a British citizen. For an overview of the fees associated with naturalisation application see our page. Naturalisation checklist What to check before applying for naturalisation. Absences (last 5 yrs, or 3yrs if married to British)ILR…
Read MoreReferees for British citizenship naturalisation
Who can be a referee for British citizenship application Applicants for British citizenship have to provide signed declarations from two suitable referees. Each referee needs to confirm that the applicant’s personal details in the application form are correct and the applicant’s photograph attached to the referee’s declaration is a true likeness of the applicant. To be accepted by the Home Office as suitable, your chosen referees have to meet the…
Read MoreSole representative visa
WHY THE OVERSEAS BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE VISA (KNOWN AS ‘SOLE REPRESENTATIVE VISA’) IS A GOOD IMMIGRATION OPTION FOR THE UK: The Sole Representative visa allows overseas businesses to send one senior employee to the UK to establish their first commercial presence. If the overseas business already has an active branch or subsidiary in the UK the Sole Representative visa is normally not a suitable immigration route. The Sponsorship Licence is the…
Read MoreSubject Access Request (SAR)
What is SAR (Subject access request) SAR (Subject access request) is a procedure in which a person can submit a request to a body or organization for information held by that body about him. Home Office is one of the organizations obliged by law to provide such information. All you need to do is ask the Home Office and wait until it is provided to you, which normally takes about…
Read MoreUK Ancestry visa Guidance
UK Ancestry visa – key points Ancestry visa is for Commonwealth citizens who are 17 or over at the date of planned arrival in the UK and who are able to prove that one of their grandparents was born in the UK or Islands. Applicants must intend and be able to work in the UK (job offer is not mandatory for the initial application but some other evidence of intention…
Read MoreStart up visa
Start up visa Start up visa category is for those who have an innovative business idea and wish to open their first business in the UK. There is no specific level of investment required. However, applicant must present a business plan that is innovative, viable and scalable, and the business plan must be considered as such by one of the Home Office approved business organisations called ‘endorsing bodies‘ Start-up endorsing…
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