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Showing posts from February, 2015

Points-Based System training course 28-29 March: Tiers, Points, Dependants, qualifying for ILR.

We offer a 2-day weekend course at our office in the City of London. Multi Travel Visas Ltd and its sister company, 1st 4Immigration Ltd, are both accredited by The OISC, ref F201100418 and F200800152 respectively.  This course has a particular emphasis on Tier 2 General and Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa categories, applying for a Sponsor Licence and using Tier 2 Code of Practice as well as qualifying for an Indefinite Leave in these routes. It also covers (often forgotten in training) rules for family members of PBS migrants. You can earn 12 core CPD hours credit, subject to the successful completion of the test after the course. You can book PBS training courses here: http://www.mtv-training.co.uk/index-pbs.php As a practicing company, we are offering to share our experience to help you deal with the applications of Points-Based System migrants, their family members and ILR applications based on PBS categories. Our tutors are our very own OISC-accredited practicing immigration advise

New successful case and testimonial on a same-day Spouse visa, switching from a Private Life visa.

“Dear Lucy and Christina, I would like to say a very big thank you for all your support over the last 2 weeks (Yes, this is how quickly we handled this application!). For putting my mind at ease through the application stages and constantly re-assuring me of positive results. I have never felt so relaxed whilst undergoing an immigration application and submission. Also, Christina was very professional today at the premium service centre (in Croydon) and once again reassured me and explained the processes to me. There was a slight hitch just before the approval came through but Christina was able to offer reasonable explanations to the immigration officer regarding it and the permit was granted right after her discussion of the same. My husband and I are very grateful for her effort. She made the process seamless and the wait less agonising. I would recommend 1st 4Immigration to anyone with doubts about switching from discretionary leave to spouse visa!!!” This came from Gerry, a

Home Office Immigration fees go up from 6 April 2015. If you're eligible - apply now. Especially for a Spouse/Partner in-country visa or an ILR, fees go up by £350 and £400 respectively!

As it happens every year, the Home Office increases the immigration fees from 6 April, as the new tax year starts. If you are eligible for a visa or British Citizenship - apply before April to save money! The new fees usually come in force on 6 April, however, this year 4 – 5 April falls on a weekend and 3 April is Good Friday (a bank holiday!). That means the last working day with the old fees will be Thursday 2 April. When to apply and how to determine how much to pay? If you are planning to use same-day service your appointment has to be by 2 April. Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR, permanent residency): fee goes up by £407! Postal service fee is going up from £1,093 to £1,500 while the same-day service up from £1,493 to £1,900! Spouse/Partner visas, in-country applications, are another example of a substantial increase. Postal fee is going up from £601 to £956 (the difference is £355) while same-day service from £1,001 to £1,356! This applies to those switching to this v

How to count absences for Indefinite Leave to Remain? From what date? Date of entry, date when the visa was issued or date of ILR application?

This is one of the most common question for those applying for an ILR in the Points-Based System routes, such as Tier 1 and Tier 2, as well as in the Ancestral route. The limit on absences is well-known, 180 days in each 12 months of the (5 years) qualifying period. The questions is: how do we count these 12 months, from which date? From the date of entry to the UK? No. From the date of when the visa was issued? No. A calendar year? No. The answer is: from the date of application for an ILR. Since there is no obligation to apply for an ILR on the 1 st day you are eligible, ‘your’ 12 months for this purpose will depend on the day when you’re applying for an ILR. To make it more complex, you can apply for an ILR within 28 days before you qualify, thus potentially ‘moving’ your application date and therefore ‘your’ 12 months again. There may be further questions re whether to count the period between the date your Entry Clearance was issued and the date you entered the UK; p

Accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for immigration advisers. CPD credit accepted by the OISC.

1st 4Immigration Ltd is an accredited CPD provider and can be found on the OISC list of CPD providers.  Current CPD courses: Online OISC LEVEL 1 course. CPD 16 core hours.   Classroom OISC LEVEL 1 course. CPD 16 core hours. Weekends 28 February - 1 March and 21 - 22 March 2015.      Classroom Points - Based System (PBS) training course: Tiers, Points, Dependants and qualifying for ILR. CPD 10 core hours. Weekend 28 - 29 March 2015. Self-Employment Income in Visa Applications (by a Self-employed immigration adviser). CPD 6 hours. British Citizenship - a Dream for Many! CPD 7 core hours.   British Citizenship for European/EEA nationals and their Family Members. CPD 5 core hours. Spouse/Partner Visas - Case Studies and FAQs. CPD 6 core hours. The courses are offered by our company, 1 st 4Immigration Ltd, which is a practicing immigration company, registered with The OISC and based in the City of London.  Classroom training is organised by our sister company, Multi Travel

New successful case and testimonial on a British Citizenship application for a Zimbabwean national.

"Lucy, the (Citizenship) ceremony went very well. May I take this opportunity to thank you all for the assistance given to me to obtain my citizenship." This came from Brian, a national of Zimbabwe. We dealt with both Brian’s Citizenship and Indefinite Leave application prior to that. Brian had a UK Ancestral visa in the past, which allowed him to qualify for an ILR. A year later we applied for British Citizenship, which has now been successfully achieved!     For an individual advice or to make your application as successful please contact us: info@1st4immigration.com or visit www.1st4immigration.com       If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our immigration Training and CPD website: www.1st4immigration.com/training