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Showing posts from March, 2019

My dog doesn't need a visa but I do! Humorous story amidst Brexit gloom

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Dear friends,  As we are all fed up with what’s happening with Brexit, we wanted to send you something cheerful. It’s 2 years today since Article 50 was triggered , and the only thing we know is that Brexit has been delayed until 12 April 2019.  On the visa side, for now , the rules remain the same as pre-Brexit, until 12 April anyway, if it doesn't change again… So, the humorous story was told by a client who came to us for a French Schengen visa. He said,  "My dog doesn't need a visa but I do”. Indeed.  Is it because of Brexit? No, some nationals needed a Schengen visa for years, Brexit or not.  In this case, it was a South African national. South Africans, as well as many others (Chinese, Russians, Indians etc),  need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe.  A dog, however, needs a passport but doesn't need a Schengen visa.  Since it is a UK pet passport, a dog is kind of a British ‘citizen’,  so doesn't need a visa. I myself (Na

Business Plan for UK Business Visas - from immigration entrepreneurs

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Let’s make a perfect Business Plan! And surprise the UKVI visa officers with the research, preparation and knowledge of the visa rules. We prepare business plans for UK visa categories: Start-up, Innovator and Representative of Overseas Business as well for funding from banks and investors. Why choose 1st 4Immigration? OISC-accredited company at the highest level 3. 10+ years of experience & many successful cases despite business visas being a difficult category. Fixed fees and 2-3 weeks turnaround. How we can help: Business plan in 2-3 weeks!  Very competitive fixed fees.  Personalised plan based on UK Immigration Rules, such as creating jobs for settled workers. We don't use standard templates, we create our own plans.  We have successfully worked with businesses in IT and digital technology, engineering, manufacturing, food, sport events, health & beauty, consultancy, lifestyle, nanotechnology, marketing, export/impo

(Updated March 2019) English language for spouses of UK citizens: A1, A2 or B1?

When you are applying for your 1 st  Spouse visa, you need the most basic A1 level. This is true whether you are applying outside the UK or switching from another category inside the UK.  After the 1 st  Spouse visa you will need an extension. At this stage, after 2.5 years in the UK, you will need A2 level.  After that you could normally apply for a permanent visa, known as Indefinite Leave to Remain. This is where an even higher B1 level would be needed.  If you chose to have a Fiancée visa first, you need A1 level for this and then again A1 level when you get married and apply for your 1 st Spouse visa. In this case you meet the A1 rule automatically. Then you need A2 at extension and B1 at the permanent visa stage. The rules for Unmarried Partners are the same as for spouses.  We also have a very good post earlier on the confusion between A1 and B1 level when applying for “settlement”, as many spouses applying outside the UK are told – incorrectly – that they need a

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa – apply by 28 March 2019 to make it before the new rules!

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New rules for UK business visas will come in force on 29 March 2019 and apply if you are planning to apply for Entrepreneur visa for the first time.    If you prefer the current Tier 1 Entrepreneur rules, you need to submit the online form and  pay UK Government fees by 28 March 2019. You can submit the actual documents after that! Summary of changes from 29 March 2019:  #1 New categories:   Start-up and Innovator visas replace Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur and Tier 1 Entrepreneur respectively. Start-up is for those starting a business in the UK for the 1st time. Open to all, not just graduates on Tier 4 visas.  Innovator visa is for experienced business people, and it will lead to settlement after minimum 3 years (or any time later when you have met the criteria).  #2 Endorsement: is required for all applications, from initial visa to extension and ILR. The biggest change is your business plan won’t be assessed by the Government officials (who never run a bu

Faster Schengen visa for Easter – often without biometrics!

Dear customers of  1st   4 Immigration and Multi  T ravel Visas , Sooner appointments- officially accredited agency with French Consulate! We offer fast processing of Schengen visas for your travels, using special appointments reserved exclusively for only 10 accredited agencies in the whole of the UK (ours being one of the oldest covering last 10 years).  In most cases, we can provide an appointment in  next  few working days  and it takes maximum 1 week from then for most nationals. Biometrics aren’t always needed! If your previous Schengen visa shows  "VIS", you wouldn’t need to submit biometrics again for the next 5 years!  It means you can simply apply through us without travelling to London for biometrics. Just bring or send your documents to us and we’ll do the rest - quickly and efficiently.  Saving you time, hassle and most importantly, money! Schengen visas to Europe: We can assist with Schengen visa through France or Germany that allow travellin

New business visa rules from 29 March 2019: end of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

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The UK Government has published the new rules for UK business visas, in force from 29 March 2019. These changes only apply if you are planning to apply for Entrepreneur visa for the first time. If you already have a Tier 1 Entrepreneur or Graduate Entrepreneur visas, you will be able to continue to settlement under the current ‘old’ rules.  If you are planning to apply under the current Tier 1 Entrepreneur rules, you need to submit the online form and  pay UK Government fees by 28 March 2019.  Summary of changes from 29 March 2019:  #1 New categories:  Start-up and Innovator visas replace Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur and Tier 1 Entrepreneur respectively. Start-up is for those starting a   business in the UK for the 1 st time. Open to all, not just graduates on Tier 4 visas.  Innovator visa is for experienced business people, and it will lead to settlement after minimum 3 years (or any time later when you have met the criteria).  #2 Endorsement: is required for

Celebrating our 100th Google review!!!

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We have recently reached 100 positive Google reviews about our Schengen & Worldwide visa services.  To celebrate and give something back we would like to offer a 10% discount on our UK visa services during the month of March! Hongni Wu applied for German Schengen Visa: Highly recommended for anyone who needs an urgent Schengen visa! I had a business trip coming up in 15 days, tried to get a German Schengen visa by myself but couldn't even find any available date for an appointment on the official website. Found Multi Travel Visas Ltd on Google and called them on Monday, they got me an appointment confirmed straight away on Friday!! Sebastian helped me gathered and triple checked all the required documents the day before the appointment and Andre handled everything for me on the day at the appointment. My visa was granted and my passport was back on the third business day after submitting the application. The whole process only took one week, from getting in touch wit

TIER 1 (EXCEPTIONAL TALENT)

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Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) is for people who are high-achievers in the fields of science, arts, engineering, architecture, digital technology and others. It also covers those who aren’t experienced yet but show exceptional promise. This visa allows to work in the UK  or set up a business, It also leads to settlement after 3 or 5 years.  This category can be an answer to a pressing question of Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer migrants on how they could achieve a permanent residency status in the UK.  Annual limit: Every initial application must be endorsed by a ‘designated competent body’. There is a limit of 2,000 endorsements per UK financial year. It is usually divided in 2 parts, some are given in the 1st half of UK tax year and the other half in the next half.    Endorsements can be from the following designated bodies: Royal Society,  Arts Council England, British Academy and Royal Academy of Engineering, Tech Nation.    Initial application – Stage 1 – Talent: Ini

New UK business visas from 29 March 2019: old v new rules comparison table

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Before 29 March 2019 From 29 March 2019 Categories Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), open to   all migrants. Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) for graduates from UK universities, who completed a degree on Tier 4 visa and obtained an endorsement from their university to support their business idea   Start-up and Innovator, both open to everyone.   Start-up – your 1 st business in the UK (but not first ever – you can have had a business outside the UK). Innovator - for experienced business people.   Endorsement is needed for all. Visa duration Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) – 1 year, extension for another year.   Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) – initially 3 years, extension – 2 years. ILR can be after 3 years (accelerated route) or after 5 years. Start-up visa - 2 years. After that can switch to Innovator (or to another category, such as Tier 2 or Spouse visa). Innovator – 3 years, then extension for another 3 years. No limit on how many extensions, every tim