UK Visas and British Citizenship

This usually relates to children, so we’ll start from them. British by birth means the child is British because of his/her family. It can be because of a parent being British, or because of a parent who has an ILR and a has a child born in the UK (who will be British by birth). In this case parents can just apply for a UK passport (here meant as a ‘passport book’), in the same way as British parents apply: sending documents to IPS (Identity and Passport Service), paying a passport fee and getting a passport. Most British-born parents here would not even think about anything else but simply applying for a UK passport (‘a passport’) for their child, without even thinking how lucky the child is :o)) 'Not British but can be registered as British' means a child is not a British citizen when he/she is born, so parents could not just apply for a passport. However, in certain circumstances they can register the child, ie submit application form and pay some fee to the UK Border...

"I wanted to thank Ms Lucy Crompton and Ms Natalia Andrews for all their help. I will definitely recommend them to my family and friends. Very helpful and supportive service. I got an extension for 3 years on Tier 2 General case."  This came from Zahra, an Iranian national, who we helped to switch from a Post-Study Work visa to a Tier 2 visa inside the UK. We used same-day service in Croydon. We also assisted the applicant's employer with getting a Tier 2 Sponsor Licence and assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship including advising on Resident Labour Market Test (which was not required) and on using a Code of Practice and SOC codes. For an individual advice or to make an application 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 CDP website:  www.1st4immigration.com/training  

As part of our services we offer advice session, which can be at our office (Tower Hill in central London) or over email. This is available to the migrants as well as to fellow immigrations advisers and solicitors. Email advice is becoming very popular because it is available to anyone anywhere in the world, plus answers are written and you can refer to them later without a fear of forgetting the advice given. You can also show it to your partner or to your employer. We promise to provide answers to your queries by the end of the next working day after receipt of advice fee, which is £70 and is counted towards our service fee if you proceed with an application through us later. Advice fee can be paid online on our website or to our bank account. Examples on the issues we can advise during the session: absences from the UK for an ILR (are they within the limit?), what to do if you have a criminal conviction or a driving offence, how   your British spouse/partner c...

'Thanks a lot for all your support! I really appreciated your prompt replies and orderly approach throughout my citizenship application process. All ran smoothly and quickly.'' This came from a Romanian lady, Ms S, who applied for British Citizenship through us in the beginning of October 2013 and the application took only 5 weeks at the UK Border Agency. Our client arrived in the UK in 2006 and had a work visa under the Immigration rules. When Romania joined the European Union in January 2007 our client continued working for the same company, also securing a Blue Card on the basis of working in the UK for 12 months ending on or after 1 January 2007. After Exercising treaty rights in the UK for 5 years, ie having worked for 5 years, Ms S became eligible for Permanent Residence, without having to apply for it. 1 year later she was eligible to apply for British Citizenship. As usual, we submitted certified copies of the applicant’s passports, which allowed her to...

“I can't thank you enough for your hard work on this. I am so ecstatic I don't know what to say. I am actually in tears!!!”. Mrs A, national of Antigua & Barbuda who applied for a visa in the UK under the   Exception EX.1 for spouses of UK citizens applying on the basis of exceptional circumstances. In this case the Financial Requirement (£18,600) was waived as well as the requirement to be in the UK with a valid visa. In this case our client entered the UK as a visitor (nationals of Antigua & Barbuda do not need a visitor visa), then made an application for an EEA Residence Card. Unfortunately, it was refused because EEA applications for spouses of EEA (non-UK) citizens while our client was married to a British citizen. This application took the whole 9 months (and was refused), so when it happened Mrs A contacted us for a professional advice. We submitted application for a leave to remain (ie inside the UK) on FLR(O) form in the so called 10-year Parent/Partn...

We are often asked by people who are on PSW visas and who are already working as ‘contractors’, whether they also need advertising when they are planning to apply for an Entrepreneur visa. Contractors usually work as if they were employees but on paper they are self-employed. So, one may be going to the same office every day and working   at the same desk every day and doing the tasks set by his/her ‘employer’. When it is a ‘full-time’ contract then there is no need for advertising from the common sense point of view. However, visa rules are rarely based on common sense. If the rules say you need advertising then you need to advertising, even if you only produce an advert just for a visa application. Goes further – an advert must have specific details, such as your name and a business name plus description of your services and your contacts.      The good news is that it can be an online advert, can be free advertising. If your business is trading onl...

Such a switch (application inside the UK) has many strings attached. There had to be some, since 'only' £50,000 in funds is required, as opposed to the main amount of £200,000.  So, if you are thinking of switching from a PSW to an Entrepreneur visa then you need to have a business already (or register one before you apply). Registration has to be in place together with things like appointed accountant, a business bank account, business insurance and if applicable, VAT certificate.  Also, the services your business provides to the clients must be at min NQF level 4 from the Tier 2 Code of Practice (available in the UKBA website). This is the services your business provides rather than what you personally do in your business.  As evidence of trading you have to indeed provide at least 1 contract. This is compulsory, even though in your work you may not need a contract with every client. These rules are basically written for 'contractors', ie people who are ...