Criminality, criminal record, criminal offences and traffic offences may cause UK visa refusals Applicants for UK visas have to meet the specific requirements for their chosen visa category. For example, Skilled worker visa applicant must have a Certificate of Sponsorship assigned to them by their sponsor employer in the UK. Spouse visa applicants need to provide evidence of their relationship with British national or Settled person. In addition to the…
Read MoreWhen and which uk visas require Overseas Criminal Record Certificate
Overseas Criminal Record Certificate Overseas Criminal Record Certificates (OCRC) are mandatory only for some UK visa categories. The OCRC requirement means that in addition to disclosing your criminal offences just like you would need to do for any other visa application, you must also provide the criminal record certificates as one of the supporting documents for your application. It is important to bear in mind that all criminal convictions and…
Read MoreWhat UK immigration options are for those affected by conflict in Ukraine
UK visa options for Ukrainians What are the UK immigration options for Ukrainians In this blog we focus on the immigration options that were created by the UK Home Office following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. There are three recently introduced immigration routes for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine: the Ukraine Family Scheme; the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme; and the Ukraine Extension Scheme. Home Office…
Read MoreLeave outside the Immigration Rules application (LOTR)
What is Leave Outside the Immigration Rules application Leave Outside the Rules (LOTR) on compelling compassionate grounds may be granted where the decisionmaker (Home Office) decides that the specific circumstances of the case include exceptional circumstances. For the leave to be granted, those circumstances must mean that a refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant or their family, but which do not render refusal a breach of…
Read MoreUkraine Family Scheme
Special treatment for Ukrainian nationals in the UK visa applications We previously wrote on this topic in our blog on 26 February. A new scheme is being launched for those Ukrainian nationals who are family members of British citizens, persons settled in the UK, and certain others (holding permit as refugee or under humanitarian protection). The eligible family members will be able to come to the UK under the Ukraine…
Read MoreTraffic parking offences fixed penalties naturalisation
Traffic offences and naturalisation application Applicants for British citizenship may have one, two, three, or more traffic offences or parking tickets and may wonder what impact those will have on their applications. Luckily, traffic offences, parking tickets and fare dodging only in some circumstances can lead to refusal of naturalisation application. Therefore, before submitting the naturalisation application, it is important to take sometime to understand the Home Office guidance relating…
Read MoreGeneral grounds for refusal guidance
General grounds for refusal – suitability (‘good character’) In addition to all the specific requirements for the chosen UK visa category, applicants have to meet additional conditions set out in ‘General Grounds for refusal’ which are called ‘Suitability Grounds’. In simple words those are linked to the applicant’s ‘Good Character’. Applicants who fall under any of the ‘General Grounds’ may get their immigration application refused (discretionary refusal), or, in certain…
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 MoreRecent news -Deportation appeal
Upper Immigration Tribunal appeal UK The appeal case described recently in the press perfectly encapsulates the harsh deportation policies towards foreign nationals. Polly Gordon is a 75 years old USA citizen who has lived in the UK for 53 years. She suffers from poor health and has a history of substance abuse and alcohol addiction. After she served 12 month sentence for drug related offences Home Office decided to deport…
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…
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