UK Visas and British Citizenship

1) BEFORE: Spouse/Partner visa for 2 years, then permanent residency. FROM 9 JULY 2012: Spouse/Partner visa for 2.5 years, then extension for another 2.5 years, only then permanent residency after 5 years. 2) BEFORE: Spouses/partners who have been together for 4 years outside the UK were given a Permanent Visa straight away. NOW: This was stopped, instead the same 5 years wait applies to all. 3) BEFORE: Finances (income, savings) were required to be ‘adequate’. It was assumed that income should be high enough for the couple not to be eligible for the state welfare support (benefits). NOW: Minimum income threshold of £18,600 per annum gross before tax; £22,400 for one child and an additional £2,400 for each further child being brought to the UK. It can be from work, self-employment, rental income, pension or disability-related benefits. Savings can also be counted in addition or instead of earnings but only savings over £16,000 would qualify. This income test applies

If you already have a valid UK Spouse/Partner visa then the new changes would not affect you. This relates to spouses and partners of UK citizens or of permanent residents (it does not relate to spouses/partners of Tier 1 or 2 or other visa holders). So, if you have a valid visa (Entry Clearance or Residence Permit as a Spouse/Partner) then you can still apply for Permanent Residency, called Indefinite Leave to Remain, under the same rules as before 9th July 2012. It means you can still apply for permanent residency after you have spent 2 years in the UK on a Spouse/Partner visa (not 5 years). Likewise, you'd need to meet the financial   requirements of the 'old rules' also. If you feel you need a detailed consultation we offer individual advice sessions over email or at our office at Tower Hill in Central London. We charge a £70 advice fee and would count it towards our service fee if you make a visa application through us later. Website: www.1st4immigra

This page is for those who have a Tier 1 Post-Study Work visa now and wonder what to do after these 2 years. It is no longer possible to apply for a Tier 1 General (commonly known as HSMP), which use to be the natural next step in the past. Available options: Please note: below is a simplified summary only, for an advice for your individual circumstances we advise to book our advice session (over email or at our office at Tower Hill in Central London). 1) Tier 1 (Entrepreneur): for those with entrepreneurial spirit and access to £50,000 in funds, which will be available to start a new business. Such new business has to be registered only within 3 months before switching from a PSW to an Entrepreneur visa (not earlier, ie previous entrepreneurial activities won't count, or rather count but the standard £200,000 if funds). The outcome is a visa for 3 years, which then can be extended for another 2 years and after this you could apply for permanent residenc

This page is for those who have a Tier 4 Student visa now and wonder what to do after completing their course. It is no longer possible to apply for a Tier 1 Post-Study Work visa or Tier 1 General (commonly known as HSMP), which use to be the natural next step in the past. Available options: Please note: below is a simplified summary only, for an advice for your individual circumstances we advise to book our advice session (over email or at our office at Tower Hill in Central London). 1) Tier 2 (General): for those who are lucky to have a job offer from a licensed Sponsor (employer) and a Certificate of Sponsorship. In this case, when switching from Tier 4 Student to Tier 2 General inside the UK, there is no annual limit and there is no need for employer to advertise the job first (ie no need for a Resident Labour Market Test). The job still has to be at a relatively high skill level (NQF6) and pay appropriate salary as on the Code of Practice (but minimum £20,000). To qualif

If you cannot get an appointment we can help, we have worked with the French Consulate in London for years! We submit applications using separate system of appointments for representatives. It takes 4 working days from ... the appointment date for most nationals (S.African, Indian, Russian, Thai, Chinese, Turkish etc), takes 2-3 weeks for some nationals. We can also apply via Portuguese Embassy. Contact us: www.multitravelvisas.co.uk

Just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for all your hard work. We got the visa today its such a relief. Its been such a long journey and difficult journey but we and our families are so happy we have reached a happy conclusion. And now we can start planning a wedding! Thank you for all your help. We will definitely recommend you to others and we will be using you I am sure in the not so distant future! " This is a feedback from Miss T, applying for a visa for her Fiancee in Nigeria. In this case clients were refused a visa first, before coming to us, so when we assisted with the 2nd application it has been successful. Contact us via www.1st4immigration.com for a consultation or for a successful application.

This page is for those who have a Tier 1 Post-Study Work visa now and wonder what to do after these 2 years. It is no longer possible to apply for a Tier 1 General (commonly known as HSMP), which use to be the natural next step in the past. Available options: Please note: below is a simplified summary only, for an advice for your individual circumstances we advise to book our advice session (over email or at our office at Tower Hill in Central London). 1) Tier 1 (Entrepreneur): for those with entrepreneurial spirit and access to £50,000 in funds, which will be available to start a new business. Such new business has to be registered only within 3 months before switching from a PSW to an Entrepreneur visa (not earlier, ie previous entrepreneurial activities won't count, or rather count but the standard £200,000 if funds). The outcome is a visa for 3 years, which then can be extended for another 2 years and after this you could apply for permanent residency. Entrepreneur ap

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. Here are the answers: 1) Spouses of British citizens do NOT need to wait for 12 months after receiving an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). They (spouses of Brits) do need to have 3 years of residency in the UK, and need an ILR (whenver it was issued), comply with the absences limit and be free of unspent criminal convictions. However, there is no rule of waiting for 12 months after an ILR. This also covers civil partners (spouses of the same sex) but does NOT apply to unmarried partners and does not apply to spouses of people who are not British but have an ILR. This paragraph only applies to spouses (married) of the British citizens. 2) Everyone else (ie all except spouses of British citizens) DO need to wait for 12 months after they have received an ILR. Plus all other requirements (5 years of residency, absences within the limit etc) and also, on top of all that the one needs to wait 12 months after the date when an ILR was i

If you cannot get an appointment we can help, we have worked with the French Consulate in London for years! We submit applications using separate system of appointments for representatives. It takes 4 working days from the appointment date for most nationals (S.African, Indian, Russian, Thai, Chinese, Turkish etc), takes 2-3 weeks for some nationals. We can also apply via Portuguese Embassy. Contact us: www.multitravelvisas.co.uk

"Thank you so much for all your efforts and skill in assisting my wife and me with her visa application. We heard just yesterday that it was successful (2 years) and we've now purchased the tickets for my wife and her son to fly over. We both really appreciate all the help, advice, and guidance you gave us and we're very glad that we engaged your services to make this application." This was from Tim, applying for a visa for his wife and his step-son to come over from Kenya.