UK Visas and British Citizenship

We are now well-used to the UK Government traditionally increasing visa, immigration and Citizenship fees each year in April, just as the new UK tax year starts on the 6 th April 2017. Just as traditionally there is a rush to submit visa applications before the increase to benefit from the old (usually lower) fees.   This year the Government has revealed the new fees on the 4 th April 2017, thus giving only a 2 days’ notice. The main increase is for Indefinite Leave (Permanent Residence), up by £422 to the new fee of   £2,297 per person. Entry visa fee for a spouse of a UK citizen is up by £269 to £1,464; in-country Spouse visa or extension fee is up by £182 to £993. Same-day service surcharge (in-country applications) is up by £90 to £590. Priority service surcharge for a Spouse visa (applications outside the UK) is up by £101 to £501. British Citizenship fee is now £1,282. No changes to health surcharge amount and only small changes to Points-Based System and visito...

A business plan was made compulsory for initial applications from 6 April 2015.   Over the past several years we’ve been dealing with the Entrepreneur visa applications for our clients. As a part of each application, we have to read client’s business plan, ask to make changes and generally, to include the information relevant to the Entrepreneur visa rules as well as based on the questions a client may be asked at a interview (from our experience of clients’ visa interviews). Our experience allowed us to develop an approach to creating the business plans from a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa point of view. Instead of using standard templates, we focus on what the visa officers want to see, ie on what a migrant will be required to do while holding this visa: investment of £50,000 or £200,000 and what your client is going to spend it on. For example, paying yourself a salary is not counted, yet it is very common for clients to do this.    Another example will be in...

The timeline of Brexit events so far has been both interesting and concerning for Europeans living in the UK as well as for Britons living in Europe.   Firstly, we had a vote in June 2016, voting to leave the EU. The UK Government then took almost a month to publish a statement on the immediate effects on status of EEA citizens, which can be found here (updated now since its first publication in July 2016). At the time it was, and still is, simply saying not to worry and everything remained as before for the time being - quite rightly and legally accurate.   Yet it is not the past or present that is on the people’s mind – it is the future!     The Government triggered Article 50 (of the Lisbon Treaty) on 29 th March 2017 and again published the reassuring statement just over a week later, again telling the EU/EEA citizens not to worry for the time being while the UK remained a full member during the upcoming 2 years. That statement can be found here:...

"Thank you very much for your help, your service has been very professional, extremely fast, friendly, and efficient and you have patiently listened to my needs. Multi Travel Visas has made application of Schengen visa extremely simple. I will continue to use this service and would highly recommend them."  Danny, Indonesian national  It is possible to obtain a French Schengen visa within 3-4 working days from the date of appointment for most nationals, such as South African, Thai, Filipino, Russian, Indian, Chinese and most others. We can also assist with the German and Portuguese Schengen visas. The good thing about applying through French Embassy is that they tend to issuer longer, multiple-entry, visas. Although you have to go through a very stringent process of application, you may have a visa lasting for several years.  Contact us at Multi Travel Visas: French Schengen visa:  http://www.multitravelvisas.co.uk/schengen-visa-france.php ...

Just 11 days ago (on the 7 th April 2017) the UK Government has finally published a statement called Status of EU nationals in the UK: what you need to know on the UK Visas and Immigration website. Quite rightly, the Government is saying the EEA citizens continue to acquire their residency rights under the EEA law for now, as the UK reins the part of the EU even during the period of Article 50 being triggered (for up to 2 years since 29 th March 2017. Also quite rightly, the Government says the EEA citizens acquire their residency rights automatically from the law and don’t have to apply for a formal immigration document. Same applies to the direct family members (of any nationality) of EU/EEA citizens, such as spouse, children under 21 yo etc (but not unmarried partners and other extended family members). Today (18 th April 2017) Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that snap General Election were to be held on the 8 th June 2017. Mrs May and her Party may well win it ...

“AMAZING. I could not recommend enough! Worth every penny. Genuinely helpful and friendly service. Fast, easy and efficient. I would use again.” Candice, South African national It is possible to obtain a French Schengen visa within 3-4 working days from the date of appointment for most nationals, such as South African, Thai, Filipino, Russian, Indian, Chinese and most others. We can also assist with the German and Portuguese Schengen visas. The good thing about applying through French Embassy is that they tend to issuer longer, multiple-entry, visas. Although you have to go through a very stringent process of application, you may have a visa lasting for several years.  Contact us at Multi Travel Visas: French Schengen visa:  http://www.multitravelvisas.co.uk/schengen-visa-france.php German Schengen visa:  http://www.multitravelvisas.co.uk/schengen-visa-germany.php Portuguese Schengen visa:  http://www.multitravelvisas.co.uk/schengen-visa-...

“ Hi Daniel, thank you for your hard work and efforts in securing my EU Dependant visa. I am therefore writing to give you the appreciation for all your consideration and professional advise for the past few months. Once again, thank you so much. ”  Sylvia, Nigerian national In this case the client was submitting an EEA residence card application as a family member of an EU national from within the UK, for 5 years in this category. For an individual advice or to make your application as successful please contact us: info@1st4immigration.com or visit  http://www.1st4immigration.com. If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our immigration Training and CPD website:  www.1st4immigration.com/training . We have a weekend OISC Level 1 course as well as a Points-Based System course and we also have online training courses, including Online OISC Level 1 course and courses focusing on Spouse/Partner visas. All our training courses are CPD-a...

“I was pleased with the service provided by Daniel Metibemu of 1st 4Immigration. The process was much less stressful than making a DIY application, which I have done in the past. The result was my Chinese partner being granted leave to remain in the UK as my spouse/partner, despite us not being married.” Rod, British national In this case the client was submitting a Spouse visa application from within the UK for his partner, for the first 2.5 years in this category. For an individual advice or to make your application as successful please contact us: info@1st4immigration.com or visit  http://www.1st4immigration.com. If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our immigration Training and CPD website:  www.1st4immigration.com/training . We have a weekend OISC Level 1 course as well as a Points-Based System course and we also have online training courses, including Online OISC Level 1 course and courses focusing on Spouse/Partner visas....

We are now well-used to the UK Government traditionally increasing visa, immigration and Citizenship fees each year in April, just as the new UK tax year starts on the 6 th April 2017. Just as traditionally there is a rush to submit visa applications before the increase to benefit from the old (usually lower) fees.   This year the Government has revealed the new fees on the 4 th April 2017, thus giving only a 2 days’ notice. The main increase is for Indefinite Leave (Permanent Residence), up by £422 to the new fee of   £2,297 per person. Entry visa fee for a spouse of a UK citizen is up by £269 to £1,464; in-country Spouse visa or extension fee is up by £182 to £993. Same-day service surcharge (in-country applications) is up by £90 to £590. Priority service surcharge for a Spouse visa (applications outside the UK) is up by £101 to £501. British Citizenship fee is now £1,282. No changes to health surcharge amount and only small changes to Points-Based System and visitor...