Want to Live and Work in the UK?

How to apply for a UK visa

A move to the UK, whether to start a job or to enjoy a new lifestyle, can hold many advantages, from an internationally recognised education system to plentiful employment opportunities across a number of industry sectors.

Before you can begin a new life in the UK, you or your family must hold a valid visa. Here is some useful advice for making sure you get the UK visa you need:

Know which visa you require
There are many different types of UK visas and work permits. From business visas for skilled migrants, to study and short-term visitor visas.

Business visas are split into Tier 1 (individuals with desired skills coming to the UK) and Tier 2 (individuals with a company sponsor). These visas both operate on a Points Based system and with the Tier 2 only, businesses, educational institutions and other organisations who wish to bring non-EEA nationals to live and work or study in the UK must apply for a sponsorship licence.

There’s also a special Entrepreneur visa for overseas investors who wish to start a business in the UK and a Tier 1 Investor visa for self-employed migrants.

Moving the family with you is also a concern and special visas exist to allow your partner and children to join you in the UK. A range of visas exist depending on your and your partner’s relationship status, including a UK Marriage visa, a UK Fiance visa or a De Facto visa, often known as an unmarried partner visa.

Work or your relationship may not be your only route into Britain. The UK Ancestry visa is open to any Commonwealth citizen with a link to the UK. Any applicant must have a grandparent born in the UK or Republic of Ireland before March 1922 to be considered. Unlike applying for a business visa, the UK Ancestry visa is not points based and is granted for a five year period after which applicants can apply for permanent residence.

Sometimes the move to the UK isn’t permanent. For tourists, there is a temporary UK visit visa that allows non-EU visitors to come to the UK for up to six months. It should be noted that no holder of such a visitor is allowed to work in the UK or receive state benefits.

Students coming to the UK on a Tier 4 student visa can both train in their field and experience life in the country. Beyond a study permit, the Post Study Work Programme and Youth Mobility Scheme offer young people the opportunity to work in the UK for a limited period of time.

No matter what UK visa you require, the UK’s strict immigration laws make applying for any visa a time-consuming process involving a lot of paperwork, phone calls and dealing with immigration officials. For many, it is a complex and frustrating journey that can often be made a lot easier by using a reputable immigration company.

Getting a UK visa can take anything from a few months to over a year and every year cases are delayed or rejected. Best advice for applicants is to be patient and let UK immigration deal with your application without harassment. While you wait, do not make travel plans to move to the UK until your visa is granted.

Finally, when your visa does arrive, always check that you have the correct documentation. Mistakes occasionally happen from a typing error to the wrong type of visa being issued. Any mistake by an immigration official can be easily fixed providing you contact them and they agree to make the changes. This takes no longer than a couple of weeks.

So now you know how the UK visa system works, what are you waiting for? Start applying for your UK visa today.


About Global Visas
Global Visas provides Immigration and Visa Solutions, assisting corporate and individuals to secure visas and work permits for destinations worldwide, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and South Africa. Visit their website and start your work visa application
today.

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