Immigration Solicitors

This is one of the questions that doesn’t have just one answer, as there are several things that determine what kind of visa you need to apply for. Those include:

• your country of origin
• your reason for coming to the UK
• the time period you are planning on staying in the UK
• your personal circumstances and skills.

For example, if you have secured a job in the UK, you will need a Skilled Worker visa.

To discuss your immigration options and what kind of visa will be the best for you to apply for, you should get in touch with one of Cartwright King Immigration Lawyers.

There are dozens of different visas that you can apply for. Some of the most common ones include:

Family Visa – if you have a family member with permanent UK citizenship, and you are planning on staying with them for more than six months, you’ll need a family visa. If you are planning on staying less than six months, you might need a standard visitor visa.

Ancestry Visa – if one of your grandparents has British citizenship and you want to live or work in the UK, you’ll need to apply for this visa. After being approved, you can stay in the UK for five years.

Transit Visa – if you are travelling to another country and you need to, for example, have a layover in the UK that is longer than 24 hours, you are required to have this visa.

Tier 1 Visa – If you’re a non-UK national seeking to invest in the UK, securing a Tier 1 Investor Visa for UK entry is potentially your pathway to securing a major investment, and potentially settlement and British Citizenship in the UK.

Study Visa – depending on the duration of the course you wish to pursue while being in the UK, there are a few different subtypes of student visas you can apply for. For instance, if you want to complete a short course, no longer than six months, and you are over the age of 18, you can apply for a short-term study visa (in some instances, it can be extended to 11 months).

Skilled Worker Visa – If you’re a non-UK national with a job offer in the UK, the Skilled Worker program is now the main visa entry route for EU and non-EU workers. The new Visa has different qualifying criteria to the Tier 2 (General) visa and has a very strict criteria.

Unfortunately, not everyone who applies will be granted a visa. There are several things that affect a person’s eligibility. Here are some of them:

• if you can prove that your entrance to the UK will not be harmful to the country or its residents, but it will be productive
• if you can prove your qualification to obtain a visa
• if you have a valid passport – for at least six months
• if you can prove that you have financial resources to support yourself and those coming with you for the duration of your stay
• Visa applicants should undergo a medical examination to acquire a clean bill of health
• Visa applicants cannot be involved in any criminal activity at the time of the application
• Visa applicants might be asked to attend a face-to-face interview before they receive a visa.

The fee you pay will depend on the type of UK visa you’re applying for. However, for some UK visa applications, there are some mandatory fees, including the £624 per year Immigration Health Surcharge.

For more information on UK immigration fees, get in touch with Cartwright King immigration solicitors.

As of 1 January 2021, all UK employers need a Sponsor Licence to hire EU and non-EU workers. A Sponsor Licence comes with a list of duties that you must comply with to avoid breaching UK immigration rules and compliance duties. Every non-UK national that you hire is subject to the Immigration Skills Charge fee.

To discuss hiring non-UK nationals, get in touch with an experienced Cartwright King Business Immigration Lawyer, now.