UK Visas and British Citizenship

We are often asked by the clients when to extend a Tier 1 General visa? When is the earliest?  Answer: You can extend your Tier 1 General visa anytime, as early as you want (but before it expires). There is no rule on extending it only within last 3 months or within 28 days on the current visa, as many people tend to think. Tier 1 General extension can be anytime, it just may be more sensible not to extend too early.  If you extend earlier than 3 months before your visa expires then your new visa will start on the day of decision, in other words, you'd lose some time on your current visa. If you are planning to apply for an ILR based on the two Tier 1 visas then you'd be short of time and would have to do another extension, which in most cases is unnecessary.  However, if you had other visas before Tier 1 which can be combined with Tier 1, such as HSMP or Work Permit or some (only some!) Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visas, then you probably won't need another extension. I

If you cannot get an appointment we can help, we have worked with the French and Portuguse Embassies in London for years! We submit applications using separate system of appointments for representatives. French visa 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. Portuguese visa takes 1 week from a Tuesday. Contact us: www.multitravelvisas.co.uk

There are plenty of Rules governing children who are born in the UK, so we'll try to keep the answer simple. A child born in the UK does NOT automatically become British (unlike in America). Instead, it depends on child's parents status. 1) If child's parent (one or both) is British then the child will be a British citizen too. 2) If child's parent (one or both) is not British but has permanent residency in the UK, ie holds an Indefinite Leave to Remain or Permanent Residency under European law, then the child will be British also (even if both parents aren't British). 3) If the child's parents are both not permanent residents and hold visas, such as Tier 1, Tier 2, Work Permit etc, then the child will NOT be British, even though he/she was born in the UK. In such cases a child can be given a dependant visa on his/her parents. This can be done as a separate application, though it's not compulsory and can be done instead at the time of parents'

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. The slots (appointments) we use are separate from the ones offerred to the general public, our cases are submitted to a separate Team who deals with cases from representatives. We can submit the following visa applications every week but need to give the Home Office details of an individual client in advance. Same-day service is available for applications: - Indefinite Leave to Remain for those holding Tier 1 General, Tier 2 General, Work Permit, Spouse/P

As you probably heard from 9 July 2012 those who want to bring a spouse, fiancée or a partner to the UK need to earn at least £18,600. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as for those who are in receipt of disability-related benefits.for example, if you receive a DLA (Disability Living Allowance) or AA (Attendance Allowance) then the new rule of £18,600 in earnings does NOT apply to you. However, you still need to meet the old Maintenance requirement, which is based on your income compared to your rent/mortgage. For more information book our Advice Session now! Www.1st4immigration.com or email: info@1st4imigration.com

If you cannot get an appointment we can help, we have worked with the French and Portuguse Embassies in London for years! We submit applications using separate system of appointments for representatives. French visa 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. Portuguese visa takes 1 week from a Tuesday. Contact us: www.multitravelvisas.co.uk

"I received my passport today! EVERYTHING OK!  permanent residence, I can't believe! Thanks so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!" Cristian, national of Chile, applied to retain residency rights under European law after his marriage to an EU citizen broke down. Contact us for an immigration advice or application: www.1st4immigration.com , email: info@1st4immigration.com

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.

From 14 June 2012 Tier 1 applicants will need: - if applying within the UK - £900 held for 3 months; - if applying outside the UK (where applicable) - £3,100 held for 3 months; - dependants will need £600 per person if the main applicant has been in the UK for 12 months or more; - dependants will need £1,800 per person if the main applicant has been in the UK for less than 12 months. From 14 June 2012 Tier 2 applicants will need: - main applicants - £900 held for 3 months; - dependants will need £600 per person if the main applicant has been in the UK for 12 months or more; - dependants will need £1,800 per person if the main applicant has been in the UK for less than 12 months. From 14 June 2012 Tier 5 applicants will need (for Youth Mobility Scheme this will apply from 6 April 2012):  - main applicants - £900 held for 3 months; - dependants will need £600 per person if the main applicant has been in the UK for 12 months or more; - dependants will need £1,800 per person

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

"I got the extension for another 3 years. I greatly appreciate the assistance you have provided me. Home office representatives was happy with the overall documentation and they did not find any difficulty in approving my case (as they told me so). So well done and thanks to you . It could not have been possible without your help. " Sourabh, Indian national. In this case the client was claiming points for the earnings from his own limited company (working as a contractor for an IT company). For more Testimonials or to make your application as successful as above please contact us via www.1st4immigration.com

"I just wanted to thank you for the great service you provided with my visa renewal. All the help and guidance you provided is much appreciated. We (client and family) were a bit stressed by the time we arrived but having (one of our staff) there to walk with us through the process immediately help me to relax. The service you provide is good value for money and I would happily recommend it". Waldo, South African. For more Testimonials or to make your application as successful as above please contact us via www.1st4immigration.com

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for these great news! I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for your great support and assistance!" This is from Boris, a Bulgarian national from Varna, we helped him, his partner and children to obtain Blue Registration Certificates using HSMP programme.  It is a common knowledge that Bulgarian/Romanian nationals (also known as A2 nationals) need  authorisation if they wish to seek employment in the UK. One of the ways is obtaining a Blue Registration Certificate. However, it is less known that Blue Registration Certificate can be obtained by applying under the HSMP (Highly Skilled Migrant Programme) under the rules in place before January 2007, ie before Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union. This programme awards points for Age, Qualification, Earnings and if you have scored 75 points then you would qualify. You don't need a proof of English language or Funds. Other ways of obtaining a Blue Registration Certifica

All visa categories are now biometric (require fingerprints) including Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as a PR or Permanent Residency. We can still assist with fast Premium service, as an accredired representtatives at the UKBA in Croydon we book appointments using separate slots for representatives. We get appointments every week for an ILR, Tier 1 General, Tier 2, Spouse/Partner FLR M and others. Www.1st4immigration.com

As usual, the Home Secretary Theresa May makes an announcement, which is not what it seems once you've read the small print. The £35,000 minimum income threshold will only apply to Tier 2 General visa holders (also commonly known as Work Permit). And it will only apply from 2016 to those Tier 2 General visa holders who joined Tier 2 from 6 April 2011. Since £35k threshold is applicable for Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) applications only for those who joined Tier 2 after 6 April 2011 the first such applications will be made in 2016. For those Tier 2 visa holders who joined Tier 2 before 6 April 2011, or those who still have a 'Work Permit' the rules remain the same (at least for now). Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer already has restrictions on settlement and they will remain. Tier 1 General applicants won't be affected by this announcement at all, they still need to pass the points test, as now. Spouses of UK or EU citizens or those with UK Ancestry won't

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

I am often asked: "Can I apply for an ILR when my current visa is about to expire but I am short of, say, 3 months? I don't want to pay for an extension only to apply for an ILR 3 months after that." My answer: If your issue is that you delayed your entry to the UK (ie did not enter as soon as your visa was issued) then it is not a problem if you are applying on the basis on 5 years on work visas. You are allowed to count your 5 residency from the date of visa issue (not date of entry to the UK) as long as that delay (between visa issue and arrival in the UK) is no more than 3 months. However, if you are applying on the basis of 10 years in the UK then you need to have a full 9 years and 11 months of residency in the UK, with no breaks between the visas. You need 10 years but you can apply within 28 days before that. Sometimes we see clients who are only a few months short of 10 years and face a prospect of applying for another extension (which is not cheap) only to a

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

On Monday, 6th February 2012, French Embassy in London will start issuing biometric Schengen visas. It will mean compulsory appearance of all applicants - to provide fingerprints. It will bring back the old problem of having to wait for weeks for an appointment to submit your documents (and biometrics!), not having enough appointments and long queues and waiting. We predict there will be a long (weeks or even months) wait for an appointment to submit the documents and long queues on the day. APPLY NOW! As long as we submit your documents before that we could apply using our special system for agencies, which allows to process most visas within 4 working days. http://www.multitravelvisas.co.uk/ Tel 0871 472 1468. Email info@multitravelvisas.co.uk Officially accredited by the French Embassy in London.

From March 2012 (from 29th Feb actually) ILR applications will become biometric (fingerprints will be needed), same as Tier 1, 2, PSW or Spouse/Partner now. Because more visa categories will be 'squeezed' into a limited number of biometric appointments it will mean a much reduced number of Premium service appointments and possibly higher prices! APPLY NOW! Until March our company, 1st 4Immigration, can submit ILR applications every Tuesday WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS! This (submission without appointments) is going to stop in March and we would have to book a biometric slot which are very limited now and will be even more limited next year due to UKBA staff cuts. http://www.1st4immigration.com/

In January 2012 French Embassy in London will start issuing biometric Schengen visas. It will mean compulsory appearance of all applicants - to provide fingerprints. It will bring back the old problem of having to wait for weeks for an appointment to submit your documents (and biometrics!), not having enough appointments and long queues and waiting. We predict there will be a long (weeks or even months) wait for an appointment to submit the documents and long queues on the day. APPLY NOW! As long as we submit your documents before that we could apply using our special system for agencies, which allows to process most visas within 4 working days. http://www.multitravelvisas.co.uk/   Tel 0871 472 1468. Email info@multitravelvisas.co.uk   Officially accredited by the French Embassy in London.