UK Visas and British Citizenship

If you stay in the UK and do not get ‘caught’ then you will be allowed to leave the UK. In theory it is up to the UKBA whether to fine you or even detain you but in practice you would not probably face any punishment. However, you may well have a problem in the future. Normally, overstaying within 28 days and leaving the country voluntarily is more or less OK, though you have to declare it on the visa forms when asked. Overstaying does not matter at all for some categories, such as a Spouse/Partner of a UK citizen or of a person settled in the UK. Visas under the Points-Based System (Tier 1 -5, ie for work or study in the UK) have strict rule of the applicant not to fall under the General Grounds of Refusal. This means that even if you meet all the visa rules but have some adverse immigration history you may not get a visa. These General Grounds include overstaying for more than 28 days, so if you overstay for less than that and leave the UK voluntarily you should be OK in the future

This is a dilemma faced by people who are approaching the end of their 2 year Spouse/Partner visa in the UK as a Spouse/Partner of a UK citizen or of a settled person. Most should qualify for Settlement on SET(M) form, ie for the permanent residency. But what if you have some concerns that you won't qualify? Can you extend and get another 2 year visa using an FLR(M) form? The normal process is applying for a Permanent Residency. Extending a Spouse visa (ie getting another Spouse visa for 2 years) is not 'normal' unless you have a good reason for it, which you have to explain in your application. For example, you have not passed the Life in The UK Test, so the only option is to extend. I am often asked if absences from the UK matter and some people think they have 'too many days out' and believe they should apply for an extension because of that. Abcences from the UK matter a lot less if you are a spouse/parter of a UK citizen or of a settled person. If you heard

Apply now, before it is closed. After 6 April 2012 you would need to find an employer who is willing to sponsor you for a Tier 2 visa if you wish to remain in the UK. There will be no limit on such switching (from Tier 4 to Tier 2) for in-UK applications but there will be an annual limit for applications from abroad. We can help with Post-Study Work applications and Premium service appointments, we are officially registered at the UK Border Agency in Croydon. http://www.1st4immigration.com/

UK Border Agency WILL INCREASE IMMIGRATION FEES from 6 April 2012. Plus from 27 February 2012 applications for INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN (ILR, permanent residency, settlement) will require biometrics, ie fingerprints.  APPLY NOW! You'd avoid a longer wait wait for an appointment and/or higher fees! Until 21st Feb we can submit ILR applications, without appointments, every Tuesday. We also regularly deal with other applications, such as Tier 1 General extension, Tier 2, Post-Study Work, Spouse/Partner of UK citizens, applications for family members of European citizens, British Citizenship. For example, Tier 1 General extension will go up from £1,300 to £1,800, up by a whopping £500!

From 21st February ILR applications will become biometric (fingerprints will be needed) and it would mean a much reduced number of Premium service appointments and much higher prices! APPLY NOW! Until 21st Feb our company, 1st 4Immigration, can submit ILR applications every Tuesday WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS! Www.1st4immigration.com

Timing - only 1 week from a Tuesday, ie we submit on Tuesdays and visas are ready a week later on next Wednesday. The whole processing time is faster than the nearest appointment date at most Schengen Embassies. Cost £95 plus Embassy fee or only £95 if you are married to a UK/EU citizen. Www.multitravelvisas.co.uk

A child born in the UK is entitled to become a British Citizen one his/her parent(s) become settled in the UK, ie once parent(s) get an ILR or in case of EEA nationals after exercising Treaty rights for 5 years. You can apply via Registration process, which would take on average 3 weeks. We have dealt with many successful applications and would be happy to help. Www.1st4immigration.com