UNITED KINGDOM IMMIGRATION

  1. Standard Visitor Visa (Tourist Visa)
  • Purpose: For short-term visits to the UK.
  • Duration: Up to 6 months (can be extended under special circumstances).
  • Common Uses:
    • Tourism (holiday, vacation).
    • Business trips (meetings, conferences).
    • Visiting family or friends.
    • Medical treatment.
    • Short-term study courses (less than 6 months).

Key Requirements:

  • Valid passport.
  • Proof of financial means to cover the stay.
  • Proof of travel itinerary and accommodation.
  • Demonstrate intent to return to home country after the visit.

Extensions:

  • The visa can be extended in some cases, such as for medical treatment or certain academic programs.
  1. UK Work Visa

The UK offers several types of work visas based on the type and length of employment. Here are the most common types:

  1. Skilled Worker Visa (formerly Tier 2 General Visa)
  • Purpose: For skilled workers with a job offer from a UK employer.
  • Requirements:
    • A job offer from an employer with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
    • Minimum salary requirement (currently £26,200 or specific salary threshold depending on occupation).
    • Knowledge of English (usually CEFR level B1).
  • Duration: Up to 5 years (can be extended or lead to settlement).
  1. Global Talent Visa
  • Purpose: For highly skilled professionals in fields like science, research, digital technology, arts, and culture.
  • Requirements:
    • Must be endorsed by a recognized UK body (e.g., Tech Nation for digital tech or the British Academy for academic/research positions).
    • No job offer required.
  • Duration: Up to 5 years, with a pathway to settlement.
  1. Health and Care Worker Visa
  • Purpose: For medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and social care workers, to work in the UK.
  • Requirements:
    • Job offer from the NHS, NHS suppliers, or an eligible adult social care employer.
    • Proof of relevant qualifications.
  • Duration: Up to 5 years with the option to extend.
  1. Temporary Worker Visa (formerly Tier 5)
  • Purpose: For short-term work such as charity work, creative jobs, sporting roles, or youth mobility programs.
  • Duration: Varies from 1-2 years depending on the specific visa.
  1. Seasonal Worker Visa
  • Purpose: For temporary agricultural work (usually in farming or horticulture).
  • Duration: Up to 6 months.
  1. Student Visa (Study Visa)
  2. Student Visa (formerly Tier 4)
  • Purpose: For international students pursuing higher education in the UK.
  • Requirements:
    • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK educational institution.
    • Proof of financial means to cover tuition and living expenses.
    • English language proficiency (usually CEFR B2 for degree-level courses).
  • Duration: Length of the course plus a few months (varies with the level of study).
  1. Child Student Visa
  • Purpose: For students aged 4 to 17 to attend a school in the UK.
  • Requirements:
    • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
    • Parental or guardian consent for students under 18.
  • Duration: Depends on the length of the study program.
  1. Short-Term Study Visa
  • Purpose: For students attending short courses in the UK (less than 6 or 11 months for English language programs).
  • Duration: Up to 6 or 11 months, depending on the course type.
  1. Family Visa
  • Purpose: For individuals joining family members who are British citizens or settled in the UK.
  • Common Types:
    • Spouse/Partner Visa: For those married to or in a civil partnership with a UK citizen or permanent resident.
    • Parent Visa: For parents of children who are UK citizens or permanent residents.
    • Child Visa: For children joining their parents who are UK citizens or settled.

Requirements:

  • Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).
  • Financial requirements: The UK resident must meet a minimum income threshold (usually £18,600 for a spouse/partner).
  • Knowledge of English (for partners/spouses).

Duration:

  • Typically up to 2.5 years, with the option to extend and eventually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
  1. Investor, Business Development, and Talent Visas
  2. Innovator Visa
  • Purpose: For experienced business people intending to set up or run a business in the UK.
  • Requirements:
    • £50,000 minimum investment for a new business.
    • Endorsement from an approved UK endorsing body.
    • Viable and scalable business idea.
  • Duration: Up to 3 years, with a pathway to settlement.
  1. Start-Up Visa
  • Purpose: For entrepreneurs looking to establish a business in the UK for the first time.
  • Requirements:
    • No minimum investment required.
    • Endorsement from a UK educational institution or an approved endorsing body.
  • Duration: 2 years (cannot be extended but can switch to Innovator Visa).
  1. Investor Visa (Tier 1)
  • Purpose: For high-net-worth individuals who want to invest in the UK.
  • Requirements:
    • Minimum investment of £2 million in UK businesses or government bonds.
  • Duration: Up to 3 years, extendable with a pathway to settlement.
  1. Settlement Visa (Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR)
  • Purpose: For individuals who want to live in the UK permanently after meeting specific residence requirements.
  • Eligibility: Usually after 5 years of residence on a work, family, or other qualifying visa.
  • Requirements:
    • Continuous residence in the UK for 5 years.
    • Proof of income and financial stability (for certain visa holders).
    • Pass the Life in the UK Test and meet English language requirements.
  1. UK Ancestry Visa
  • Purpose: For Commonwealth citizens who have a grandparent born in the UK.
  • Requirements:
    • Proof of ancestry (grandparent’s birth certificate).
    • Proof of intention to work in the UK.
  • Duration: 5 years, with the option to apply for ILR afterward.
  1. Transit Visa
  • Purpose: For individuals traveling through the UK on their way to another destination.
  • Types:
    • Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV): For those changing flights in the UK without passing through border control.
    • Visitor in Transit Visa: For those passing through border control to change flights or continue their journey.

Additional Information:

  • Visa Processing Times: Vary depending on the visa type, but standard visitor visa decisions are usually made within 3 weeks, while work and family visas can take longer.
  • Visa Fees: Fees vary based on the visa type and duration. For example, the Standard Visitor Visa costs around £100, while work visas and settlement visas are more expensive (can range from £400 to £2,000).