UK Visas and British Citizenship

Changing from one UK visa type to another is one of the most popular subjects in our immigration work. It is what we call ‘switching', ie changing without leaving the UK.   Normally, the answer lies in the Immigration Rules for the category you are switching into. For example, until December 2020 the work visa rules didn’t allow switching from most categories. Now, however, it is possible to change from almost (but not all) every UK visa under the post-Brexit Points Based Immigration System. Other useful examples:  If you have a Visitor visa, you cannot, normally, switch to a Skilled Worker or a family visa. However, at the moment, it may be possible to do so under Covid-19 concessions, albeit in limited circumstances. You still have to meet the rules, such as having a Sponsor for a work visa, or meeting the Financial Requirement £18,600 for a visa as a spouse/partner of a British citizen, but may be able to secure your status without leaving the UK. The latest Covid-19 p...

This review came Kathryna who was switching from Tier 4 to a Spouse visa: I highly recommend 1st 4Immigration. Initially I was determined to work through the Home Office's rules and documents, but increasingly I found that the wording was confusing and at times contradictory. Jules and Sebastian at 1st 4 Immigration were very helpful even from the first email, many times going out of their way to answer my questions and alleviate my concerns. The expertise offered by them provided a calm and guiding hand during my visa application process -- if you are still unsure about whether to use their services, I say it is definitely worth it. Here is a copy of Google review, which can also be found here:  https://goo.gl/maps/YLxSEPtSpYq     Although we often say “switching” (and it even appears on some Home Office policies), it is not a legal term. It simply means changing a visa category while in the UK, as opposed to leaving the UK and applying abroad. Examples: switc...