UK Visas and British Citizenship

Enquire now!  As an agency, we have priority access to Schengen visa appointments every week, so you can apply now and plan your travel for the next 6 months—including the Christmas 2024 and New Year holidays!   The time to apply is now – please contact us by phone 0871 472 1468 or email:  info@multitravelvisas.co.uk .Website:  https://www.multitravelvisas.co.uk/contact-us If you need a UK visa advice, we have a temporarily discounted fee for an initial consult with a lawyer. You can find our more here:  https://www.1st4immigration.com/  OISC-accredited at the highest Level 3, specialising in immigration law as the only area allowed by this specialist immigration accreditation. Our ref F200800152, in which 2008 stands for the year of accreditation.  

Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK: Settlement as a worker, partner, family member or after 10 years residence. Advice on settled and pre-settled status under EU Settlement Scheme, including how time you spent abroad could affect it. Advice on new eVisa after BRP ends in 2024.   eVisa and what happens when all BRPs expire on 31.12.2024 From 2025 all UK visas will be as an eVisa. An electronic status in the UK Government system, without a physical card or stamp. All current BRPs “expire” on 31.12.2024, but it does not represent the expiry date of your status. The visa eligibility rules, and requirements towards the evidence, remain the same. If you have  a BRP that expires on 31.12.2024,   you can transfer to eVisa now by creating a new-generation UKVI account here.   Waiting times for ILR The standard processing time by the Home Office is within 6 months. There is a fast-track service in most categories, with decision made by the next working day after the bio...

We are often asked about how time spent outside the UK affect a UK visa or eligibility for Settlement. The answer depends on your category.  If you have a work visa (Skilled worker, Ancestral etc):  There is a strict rule of maximum 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months, on a rolling basis. Similar to a Schengen rule of 90 days in 6 months. The same rule applies to dependent partners and spouses (but not to children).  If you have a visa as a Spouse/Partner of a UK citizen in the standard 5-year route:  This category doesn’t have a specific rule, other than the UK must remain your main home. As a rule of thumb, we use 6 months per year, but it is not the law. The Home Office tends to expect to see that 50% of the “visa time” has been spent in the UK. Unless there was a compassionate reason, like a medical emergency or having to care for a parent. If you spent too much time abroad during 5 years, you would have to apply for extension, rather than Indefinite Leave.  If you have a...

Online OISC Level 1 course - study in your own time! CPD 16 hours, accredited by CPD Standards office, with an official certificate issued upon successful pass of the mock test. Accepted by The OISC as part of CPD training. We are a Level 3 OISC-accredited immigration firm.  Online self-study course. This is a text-based course, in which we put together our knowledge and 15 years of experience in one PDF file.  All in one place! It contains approximately 130 pages and is updated, depending on the changes in the UK immigration law. You can download this course and study in your own time, in any other location, from any device.Our popular training material explains the Rules and terms in plain language. Buy and download here, £199+VAT, CPD 16 hours: https://www.1st4immigration.com/oisc-training/ If you need a UK immigration advice yourself (advisers also need advice), you can arrange a consultation with our lawyers here:  https://www.1st4immigration.com/book-a-consultation/...

This is for nationals who don’t normally need a visa to come to the U.K. for holidays or short visits. Also known as non-visa nationals.  You could continue to visit “visa-free” but would have to get a pre-authorisation online under the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). It’s the same principle as the USA has had for many years now. If the online system “approves”, you can head to the airport. If not, you would need to apply for a Visitor visa.  From 27 November 2024 ETA will become available to most non-visa nationals: Americans, Australians, Malaysians , Japanese, Brazilians etc.  You can check your nationality here:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta From 5 March 2025 it will become available to the European tourists.  The above is only re the Visitor visa. All other visas (Student, Work, Spouse) retain the same rules and procedures as now. Meaning a formal application, evidence (financial etc), ...

  We are often asked what happens once a migrant is in the UK, how they could get a National Insurance number or how paying IHS affects using the NHS. Here is some useful info!  1. National Insurance number (NI number or NINO)  is like a social security number, used for taxes and many other things. You could usually apply for it when you have a job offer. If you are on a Skilled Worker visa, it would be issued automatically with the visa.    2. There is tax also called National Insurance.  It’s deducted from wages of workers and passed on to the tax authority. Not connected to any immigration fees paid for visas. It applies to all workers (migrant or not), will be deducted by the employer’s payroll system before they pay your money. It is also used to calculate your entitlement to UK state pension.    3. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)  is what most migrants pay during the visa application. It’s supposed to be passed on to the Na...

Most UK visas say “No public funds”, but the National Health Service (NHS) is not public funds, and the migrants can use it. It is free at the point of use, such as when you come to a see a doctor. Of course, it is not really “free”, as most visa applicants pay Immigration Health Charge (IHS). Although not all have to pay IHS. Those applying for Indefinite Leave or to EU Settlement Scheme don't have to pay it.  So, most UK visas have the endorsement, what does it mean? There is a list of benefits that are included in the Public Funds list. Examples: Child benefit, Universal Credit, Council tax reduction, Carer’s allowance,  Housing benefit, Personal Independence Benefit (PIP) etc.  There are some contributory benefits that aren’t public funds. Examples: maternity allowance, statutory sick pay, unemployment benefits based on contributions from the previous work, state pension (but not Pension Credit).  Note on Child Benefit:  it is not uncommon for the Register O...