UK Visas and British Citizenship

This seems to be the most confusing subject at the moment – which level of English language is needed from 28 Oct 2013 for those applying for a Spouse/Partner/Fiancee visa? The short answer is “Still the same – A1 level in Listening and Speaking”. Yet why is there such confusion? First of all, this article only relates to spouses/partners of British citizens and spouses/partners of permanent residents (or ILR holders). This article is not applicable to partners of Points-Based System Migrants and to partners of EU (non-UK) nationals. I had already written in this blog, back in December 2012, about 2 meanings of a term ‘Settlement’ when it comes to the UK visas, so this is what has created the current confusion. The Rules on English are changing indeed from 28 October 2013, however, the new Rules will apply to those applying for ‘Settlement and Citizenship’. The term ‘Settlement’ here represents ‘Permanent Residency’ in the UK, known as an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). So, thos

It is useful if you need to travel abroad and cannot be without your passport. But the main benefit in our opinion is, although more expensive, it allows the applicant to know result right on the day, including if there are any problems, rather than waiting for 3-4 months postal service and then possibly being told there is a problem or even that application has been refused. We at 1st 4Immigration are authorised by The UK Border Agency to submit clients' visa applications using this service in Croydon, south London. Same-day service is available for applications: - Indefinite Leave to Remain for those holding Tier 1 General, Tier 2 General, Work Permit, Ancestral visas - SET (O) form. - Indefinite Leave to Remain for those holding a Spouse/Partner visa - SET (M) form. - Tier 1 General extensions. - Tier 2 General and Intra-Company Transfer. - Tier 4 Student. - Extensions for domestic workers. - Ancestral visa extension. - Visas for dependants of Points-Based System

1st 4Immigration is an accredited CPD distance learning provider, o ur online training courses are accepted by the OISC and SRA, CPD provider ref number EJE/14IM. Current online courses:   What’s Next after Post-Study Work and Tier 4 Visas? 4.5 hours CPD credit.   British Citizenship - a Dream for Many! 7 hours CPD credit.   OISC Level 1. 16 hours CPD credit     Download from our website, study in your own time on any computer, iPad or iPhone, complete the test and we will award your CPD hours and send you a certificate. Visit website now: http://www.1st4immigration.com/training The courses are offered by our company, 1 st 4Immigration Ltd, which is a practising immigration company, registered by The OISC at a highly respectable Level 2, based at the Royal Mint in Central London. We are also accredited by the UK Border Agency in Croydon and submit applications using Premium service for accredited representatives. We provide biometric appointments every week

The wait is over! This is a most requested training course and you can now download our OISC Level 1 training course to your computer and study in your own time - to prepare for your OISC accreditation and Level 1 Assessment. No need to travel to a classroom, no need to wait for the next date. You can start your immigration training right now! As we are a practicing OISC-accredited immigration company, we have designed this basic level course to be of practical help for those who are preparing for OISC accreditation at Level 1 (Initial Advice) and for compulsory Level 1 Assessment. Or perhaps to those who are planning to open a UK immigration consultancy based overseas. It would also be of interest for practicing advisers and immigration lawyers as well as for community group advisers, council or Citizens Advice Bureau workers, volunteers etc. This is not a boring coverage of the Immigration Rules! We tried to keep the language as simple and entertaining as possible. See the C

When the New Rules were introduced on 9 July 2012 using the value of property was not allowed at all. Rental income from it - Yes, but not the value of a house or a flat. The only way was to sell a property, put the proceeds in a cash account, wait for 6 months and then apply for a visa using a Savings category to meet the Financial Requirement.  The same was applicable to the funds held in investments (stocks, bonds, funds etc), however, from April 2013 the 6 months period can be combined of the time the funds were held in investments and the time when the money was transferred to a cash account.  Finally, a similar change in the Rules is coming  on 1 October 2013 . Instead of waiting for 6 months after selling a property, it will be possible to sell a property, put the proceeds (after mortgage and fees) on a cash account and apply for a visa right away. As long as the last 6 months period can be made up of the time the property was owned by the applicant/Sponsor and the t

“Thanks for all you advice and assistance to become successful in my bid to get the spousal visa. I do not believe that the final outcome would have been so quick or so positive without your professional approach to the whole manner. I would not hesitate for a moment to recommend your company to anyone.” Melvin, applied for a Spouse visa from Canada. Melvin and his British wife lived in Canada for many years and now decided to relocate to the UK. Both the applicant and the sponsor were living/working in Canada, so Melvin’s spouse had to come to the UK and look for a job , to enable them to meet the Financial Requirement. Even though Melvin himself (the applicant) was the main earner, the Rules do not allow to count the earnings of the applicant at Entry Clearance stage (ie for applications outside the UK). After Melvin’s wife has secured a job in the UK, with a salary over 18,600, the couple were OK on meeting the 2 nd part of the Financial Requirement.   However, the 1 st pa

The new rule on English language is not bringing anything ‘horrible’ but does mean more to do for quite a few migrants, both EU and non-EU nationals. Probably even more for Europeans than for non-Europeans because European nationals don’t need to evidence English language ability up until the Citizenship stage. Unlike non-EU migrants, many of whose need to meet English language requirement if they want to work, study or join a partner. The change: from 28 October 2013 those applying for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, Permanent   Residency) or for British Citizenship need to pass a Life in the UK Test and also demonstrate English language ability in Speaking and Listening at a B1 level. For many it will mean having to take 2 tests: Life in the UK and English. Those applying (if eligible on residency rules, criminality etc) before 28 October 2013 can only pass a Life in the UK Test, at the moment it is sufficient on its own. Once this requirement has been met, it i

Multi Travel Visas Ltd is accredited with various Embassies and official visa centres in London. FAST CHINESE VISAS: we can submit applications any day without appointments. processing time 3 or 4 working days. RUSSIAN VISAS and INVITATIONS: work, business and tourism on next-day service or 1-week service. We have a Russian-speaking member of staff to process and read visa invitations. SAUDI ARABIAN visas in 3-4 working days. INDIAN VISAS: Same-day business visas are available without appointments. 1 week service is also available as standard for both business and tourist visas. SAME-DAY UK PASSPORT RENEWAL: We can assist with renewing a UK passport using same-day or 1 week service at the Passport Office in London. We submit applications on next working day after receiving your documents, there is no need to wait for an appointment. Our service fee £152 plus official fees. If we have your documents before 12pm we can also submit on the same working day and your new passport

Multi Travel Visas Ltd has been accredited for years with various Embassies in London. FRENCH SCHENGEN VISA takes 4 working days from the date of the biometric appointment for most nationals (personal a ttendance required for the biometrics). We use separate appointments for agencies and can provide one much sooner. PORTUGUESE SCHENGEN VISA takes 1 week from the nearest available Wednesday. No biometrics, no personal attendance needed. FAST CHINESE VISAS: we can submit applications any day without appointments. processing time 3 or 4 working days. RUSSIAN VISAS and INVITATIONS: work, business and tourism on next-day service or 1-week service. SAUDI ARABIAN visas in 3-4 working days. INDIAN VISAS: Same-day business visas are available without appointments. 1 week service is also available as standard for both business and tourist visas. SAME-DAY UK PASSPORT RENEWAL: We can assist with renewing a UK passport using same-day or 1 week service at the Passport Office in London.

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 can meet the F