UK Visas and British Citizenship

  We are pleased to confirm that Priority services are back for many visa categories, so you can get a decision faster. This applies to application inside the UK, such as switching to a different category, extension or settlement (Indefinite Leave).    Examples of eligible categories inside the UK: Skilled Worker visa (which replaced Tier 2 General); Health and Care Worker visa, Student visa (which replaced Tier 4), Tier 1 Investor and dependants of these. Plus, Tier 1 Entrepreneur Indefinite Leave (but not extension). Priority services cost more in Government fees: 5-working-day option costs extra £500 per person; 24-hour option costs extra £800 per person.    Priority services for visas for spouses and families of UK citizens have not resumed (yet).    Applications outside the UK: depends on your location, Priority services resumed in many countries for all visa categories including for spouses and families of UK citizens.    For more inf...

  #1 What’s going on in the lockdown? #2 My visa expires soon but I need to do an English or Life in the UK test, is anything open?  #3 My visa expires soon but I haven’t met the income requirement or was on furlough.  #4 I had to stay abroad longer than planned, will this affect my next application or settlement? What if my visa expired while abroad? #5 Is the new ‘Brexit’ Points Based System operating?  The answers:  #1 What’s going on in the lockdown? The immigration work continues, the UK authorities consider applications and issue visas. This work is done remotely, without facing a Government official, although this has been the case for over 2 years now. What did change due to Covid were the processing times: many applications take longer (but not all, we had some cases approved within days), plus there is no Priority services. Visa application centres in the UK are classed as essential services and remain open in the lockdown. Visa centres outside the UK ...

  We have moved all our training online!    We now offer OISC Level 1 course livestream on Zoom and Skype 26-27 January 2021.   It is a 2-day course, 10.00 - 16.00 with breaks. CPD 10 hours. Price £250+VAT. It is live training (livestream), where you can interact with the tutor and ask your questions. You can check the date and book here: https://www.1st4immigration.com/training/     Extracts from Description:   THE BASICS – CRUCIAL TO YOUR WORK! Covid-19 concessionary policies and links 2 systems of immigration law: UK law, European law and Brexit Types of visas: Entry Clearance, Visitor visa, Leave to Remain, Leave to Enter, Residence Permit, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Indefinite Leave is not  indefinite’ ‘Settlement’ and 2 confusing meanings of this term Common question: Passport has expired, do I have to transfer my visa to a new passport? The answer is both Yes and No What is Switching? Common examples when switching is not allowed Wha...

    New five-star Google review of our immigration services! Abraham: I suppose we weren't the "easiest" of clients, as our nerves were shot for most part of the Visa process due to Covid restrictions. Jules helped us through all of this, and we got a  positive result in the end. Hats off to Jules Review link:  https://goo.gl/maps/efG2d1PHJwqtK8WQ6    We are here to help if you wish to talk to an Immigration Lawyer or to start the process of preparing your visa application. We work with customers worldwide via What's App, Skype, Facebook, email as well as in person at our office in the City of London.  The best start is  to book an online consultation on our website here . As always, a consultation fee counts towards our full service!    1st 4Immigration  is one of the most experienced UK immigration law companies, OISC - accredited at the highest Level 3. We have been in business for over 10 years, our OISC reference is 200800...

  The New 2021 Year is almost here. 2020 has been unusual but rather than indulge in cliché, we’d like to highlight the positive things. #1 As always, you, our customers, kept us busy.  And for that, we are saying a Big Thank You! The immigration work doesn't stop in the pandemic, visas still expire and need to be renewed or changed from one to another. We have adapted by offering more online consultations and appointments (face-to-face meetings are still available, subject to the London restrictions); using Dropbox for the documents and generally, working in the "new normal”.   #2 UK Visas & Immigration was still processing applications and issuing visas.  Yes, the process wasn't anywhere near as fast as normal, and Priority services were paused (still mostly the case now), but the Government officials did adapt, in their own ‘Government’ way. When visa centres shut their doors in the spring (when we all thought it would be over by the summer), we were aske...

If you have been furloughed, how does it affect your UK immigration status? Here at 1st 4Immigration it has been a common question during 2020.   Spouses/Partners of British citizens - Financial Requirement £18,600. The time you spent on furlough can be considered as ‘normal' employment on a full pay. For example, if you normally earn a salary of £18,600 pa, and were paid 80% of that while on furlough, your salary will be treated as being £18,600 for the purpose of the visa application. Tier 2 (General) workers - appropriate salary. The short answer is Yes, it's OK to be furloughed under the Government scheme, ie Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, with the salary reduced accordingly. It wouldn't be a problem in the next visa application (extension or Indefinite Leave). The migrant workers are eligible for these schemes in the same way as resident workers. However, such reductions in salary must be temporary and a part of a company-wide policy to avoid redundancies and in whi...

    New five-star Google review of our immigration services! Syed: I would like to thank everyone at 1st4immigration for their excellent work, professionalism, kindness and understanding, especially on those occasions when I must have asked what could have been construed as pretty 'silly' questions. At a time when things were very stressful and anxious, I always felt that however busy Joules  was, I was always lent a sympathetic ear which was very much appreciated. I hoped for total support from 1st4immigration when I instructed them, I got so much more. I would highly recommend 1st4immigration (Joules )would definitely use them again in the future. Many many thanks again for Joules, you were brilliant” Review link: https://goo.gl/maps/efG2d1PHJwqtK8WQ6    1st 4Immigration team    We are here to help if you wish to talk to an Immigration Lawyer or to start the process of preparing your visa application. We work with customers worldwide via What's App, ...