In the United Kingdom, for a company to be able to hire an employee from overseas, it must be a licensed sponsor, and to become such a sponsor, there are some basic requisites the company has to meet:

1.The company has to be a legitimate organization, for instance, a corporation or limited-liability partnership, or a sole trader.

2.The company has to be operating legally in the United Kingdom.

3.It must be clear and confirmed that the organization and its key staff are not a threat to the United Kingdom’s immigration control.  In other words, the company should not have a history of immigration abuse.

4.The organization has to propose at least three staff members that will execute the jobs related to immigration within the company.  Their roles will be: Authorizing Officer, Key Contact, and Level 1 User.

5.The company has to be able to meet its responsibilities as a sponsor.  To confirm this, the organization has to prove it has effective HR systems.

6.The organization has to submit all the documentation requested to the Home Office.

7.The company has to meet any other requisites pertinent to the specific tier under which their potential employee(s) will be working.

Even though an organization complies with all the above, receives its sponsorship license, and is included on the sponsor’s register, this does not mean that every employee it chooses will be granted permission to enter and remain in the United Kingdom.

Just as the company, the potential employees have to meet several requisites to get their visa and entry authorization, and they have to remain in compliance with the conditions of their stay.

Any employer wanting to hire workers through the ‘Tier 2 Work Permit’ programme has to have the Employer Sponsorship License.

For more information, download the Employer Sponsorship License Information File and contact experienced UK immigration lawyers for guidance.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

The European Union Association Agreement is a visa specifically created for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania who aspire to go to the United Kingdom to start a new business and work on running that business.

The requisites to be granted a European Union Association Agreement are:

-The candidates may start any kind of business that suits them, however, they have to work full-time in the management of that business.  They are not allowed to get another job.

-The candidates have to have enough money to look after themselves until the business turns profitable.

-The candidates have to have a realistic business plan in place.

-The candidates do not have to employ extra personnel.

-The candidates can trade as a limited company, as an individual, or in partnership with others.

The conditions of the European Union Association Agreement are:

-To begin with, an accepted candidate normally gets a visa for 2 years.

-Later, he or she can get an extension of 3 years for as long as the business is in operation along the lines of the original plan, if he or she has not had to access public funds, and if the business remains viable.  If these stipulations are not met, the candidate may not be granted a visa extension.

-After 5 years, the candidates may apply for the ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ or ‘Permanent Residency’.

-Dependent children and partners can join the candidates on this visa and are allowed to study and work in the United Kingdom.

Any citizen of Romania or Bulgaria who does not qualify for this type of visa will have to ask for permission to work in the United Kingdom through a ‘Work Permi’.

If you want to confirm that you qualify for a European Union Association Agreement, visit this link: UK Visa Assessment and contact a professional UK immigration lawyer to guide you through the process.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

Occasionally when you are living or travelling away from home, situations arise that may leave you wondering how your legal status is affected. In some cases, information on current immigration UK law may be required, or you can look for help at various government and immigration web sites.  For the purposes of this article we will look briefly at some of the more common situations that arise from time to time.

If your marriage breaks up while you are in the UK

If you are a spouse or partner of a British citizen and have yet to receive your permanent status to remain in the UK and your marriage suffers a break-up, you will likely have to leave the UK.  If you are no longer living with your partner then you are not meeting the requirements of your visa.

If you are bereaved while in the UK

If you have temporary permission to stay as the partner of a settled UK citizen, and that person has passed away, and you were living together at the time, you can apply on your own to remain in the UK.  There is an application form that you must fill out as soon as you have made the decision that you wish to remain.  You do not need to wait until the remaining time of your temporary stay has expired.

If you are the victim of domestic violence

If you have temporary permission to stay as the partner of a UK citizen, and that relationship breaks down due to domestic violence, you may be able to apply to remain on your own in the UK as a permanent resident.  There will be an application process, and you will have to demonstrate proof of the violence.  Your dependants if any can also be included in your application.  For complete information of the procedures to be followed in this situation it is highly recommended that you contact a reputable UK immigration lawyer or recognised government organization.

If you want to extend your stay in the UK

If your temporary or visitor visa is about to expire and you wish to extend your stay, you may be able to apply to stay under a different migration category.  If you have come to the UK as a visitor you will not be able to extend your visitor status as it can only be for six months. There are other migration categories that may suit your situation just as well.  If this is your planned course of action, be sure to make your application before your existing visitor visa expires.  If you leave it until the visa has expired you may be asked to leave the country.  Be sure to check out the different immigration categories well in advance in order to determine if there is a category that fits your situation and is worth the time, expense and effort of the application.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

Travel to another country can be exciting, educational and a lot of fun, but a lack of proper preparation can often make the difference between a great adventure and a total disaster.  Doing a little research long before you make your final travel plans will really pay off in the end.  Visiting the UK Immigration web sites, travel sites and perhaps even a immigration lawyer in the UK are all good ways to get the information you need.  Here are a few important items to put on your list of what to know before you go.

-Find out well in advance if you need a visa for your stay and if so, give yourself plenty of time to take care of the application.  To find out whether or not you need a visa, you can consult one of the many visa websites available.

-If you already have a visa, be sure you are adhering to the conditions that it sets out.  For example, your visa likely has an expiry date which means you are not allowed to remain in the UK beyond that date.

-If you require a passport for travel be sure it is valid and contains a blank page for your required travel dates.

-If there are items you want to bring with you be sure they meet the regulations of the UK border agency.  Finding out ahead of time if you can bring those gifts for friends and family will avoid any possibility that they may have to be seized at the border. This area can be a little complicated and professional advice is recommended.  Many people realize that endangered animals and plants are not allowed across the border, but they fail to realize that the law also bans products made from those things as well, unless a permit has been granted.

-Obviously you cannot bring illegal items such as drugs or weapons into the country with you.

-If you are travelling from any country outside the European Union you must also inform border officials of any amount of cash you are carrying in excess of 10,000 Euros.

-Proper documentation may be needed for certain prescribed medications.  If you take a prescribed medication on a regular basis, check first to find out whether it needs to be cleared before you travel.  For some medications an actual license to transport them must be issued.  Your health is of the utmost importance so be very certain you have this covered.

-Food products that can be brought into the UK are very closely monitored, even items that you might have packed for a travel snack, or are bringing as a gift for friends or family.  Meat and dairy products cannot be imported and there are many other items as well that are restricted.  Simple items such as eggs, honey and fish are just a few that you might not think of as restricted but they are.  Many fruits and vegetables are also banned.

-The final thing to consider is the number of things you might be bringing with you.  Even though they are legal to bring, they may very well have a number limit that you must adhere to.  Knowing this in advance can save a lot of time and frustration at the border.

-If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

So your immigration process is underway and you have received all the help you can from your UK immigration lawyers and other officials.  It’s time now to start on the great adventure that living in a new country can bring.

Fortunately modern technology has invented some pretty handy devices that can help to make the adventure even more exciting.  New travel and relocation phone apps are proving to be a true lifesaver for new residents and travellers alike.  Practically everything from finding a restaurant to language translation is available in a phone app of some type.  Here is a brief description of a few that you might want to consider before you travel too far.

Mobile Translator
If language translation is a concern, then this is an app for you!  Reviewers all say it is very user-friendly and has been said to be the best mobile translator of all.  This app gives you instant on the spot translation right where you are when you need it most.

ACT Universal Currency Converter
Probably the second most valuable app, this currency converter can make conversion headaches a thing of the past.  If you’re new to the country and still thinking in your old currency this handy phone app can help you make better budget wise spending decisions.  Out of the box it retrieves over 190 different currencies and their daily exchange rate.  You have the option as well, of manually entering in others that you need to have.

London Tube
Great for new UK residents, this app offers service disruption notifications, official subway maps with marked stations, a bookmark manager so you can save the routes you use on a regular basis, and even a trip planner tool that can help save you time when planning your trips around the city.  A really super feature of this app is that it does not require a network connection and will work efficiently even while you are travelling the tube.

London2Go
Another really handy app for those living and travelling in the UK, especially around London, this app is almost like having a personal tour guide in your pocket.  Instead of only a few words about points of interest, you can retrieve a full page of historical facts and trivia.

MapPin Weather UK
Nothing can ruin travel plans faster than foul weather.  If you’re going to be travelling around the UK to visit friends and family, or even if you’re just trying to tour the area, being able to plan for good weather is easy if you have this app on your mobile device.  Cities are “pinned” on the map and just a touch of any pin gives an instant read on that locations temperature, precipitation and even sky conditions.   Included with the app are weather stations for England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with the ability to have others added manually.

With all of these handy apps available there is really no way to get lost, be uncertain about money, be unable to translate your needs, or even run into bad weather as you experience all the joy of exploring the UK or anywhere else you go!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

If you’ve been considering a move to the UK, one of the first concerns you may have is where to get accurate and helpful information about the process.  Finding a good UK immigration lawyer is often the first resource that many people seek out, but there are numerous other organizations that can offer help and advice during the initial information gathering stage.   Listed here are a few of those organizations and what they can do to help.

Immigration Advisory Service

The Immigration Advisory Service or IAS is an organization that operates independent of the government and offers free immigration advice to those who are eligible.  They also offer fee structured help as well.  They can answer questions about visa, immigration processes and procedures.  Help is available in several languages and all services are confidential.

Refugee and Migrant Justice

This organization offers advice and help to refugees to the UK and those seeking asylum in the UK.    They have several offices throughout England and offer advice giving sessions both by appointment and through drop in sessions.  They also help direct people to the correct offices for assistance with other matters such as housing, education and financial assistance.

UK Council for International Student Affairs

This is a most valuable resource for international students hoping to study in the UK.  They supply current and accurate information on student visa applications and procedures, fees, housing, and regulations regarding your requirements to be able to work in the UK while you study there.

UK Border Agency

Operating under the Home office, the UK border agency was formed to increase border security and be a welcoming first contact to legitimate travellers and workers.  On their website you can find a wealth of resources concerning working, living, visiting and studying in the UK.

Immigration Law Practitioners Association

This group is made up of lawyers who specialize in immigration law.  Their main objective is to connect people who are seeking immigration advice with a qualified immigration lawyer who can help them.   While the ILPA office itself does not offer advice, it does provide a directory of members who are available.

Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner

The OISC is an organization that monitors the quality and accuracy of advice that is given to those seeking to immigrate to the UK.  They regulate advisors and ensure that they are competent and qualified and act continuously in the best interest of the customer.  They are also responsible for handling complaints that may be made against certain immigration advisors.  Their website includes an interactive advisor locator service so you can locate a certified advisor in your area.

Immigrating into the UK can be a challenge and it is important to be sure that you are getting the most accurate and up to date information possible in order to make the process run smoothly.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

Parents in the UK will have more choice and flexibility in regards to how they use maternity and paternity leaves with the new legislation that the government is planning on releasing soon.

New fathers will be able to request additional paternity leave and pay during the second six months of their child’s life in case the mother wishes to go back to work with maternity leave outstanding.

This will allow parents to share, between them, a period of paid leave, offering families a lot more flexibility to decide on how to take care of their children.

Knowing that employers need time to adjust to this new legislation, the changes will benefit parents of children due on or after April 3rd 2011.

The good news is released with the publishing of the government’s response to a discussion on the subject held at the end of 2009.  The important points of the new regulations are:

-Fathers can ask for up to six months of additional leave.  It can be taken once the mother has returned to work.

-The new regulation will be available during the second six months of the child’s life, allowing parents to divide a period of paid leave entitlement between them.

-Part of the leave may be paid if taken during the mother’s 39-week maternity pay period.  It would be paid at the same rate as Statutory Maternity Pay (£123.06 at present).

-The parents will have to certify personally by providing their employer with details of their eligibility.  The employer and HMRC will perform additional checks of entitlement if they consider it necessary.

The government has scheduled the regulations so that the Parliament deliberates on them as soon as possible.  Each House will have to debate and approve them before they can be implemented.  Under this scenario, the government expects to see the law in force by April 2010, and be effective for parents of children due on or after April 3rd 2011.

Contact your immigration lawyer in the UK if you are an immigrant and wish to know if you qualify for this parental leave.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

If you are American, live in one of the states mentioned above, and plan to travel to the UK, apply for your visa within the three months prior to travelling, because the UK Border Agency can only post-date visas by a maximum of three months from the decision date on its visa application.  You should know, however, that there are visas that cannot be post-dated.

You must apply for your UK visa online, and can enter the country anytime after your visa’s issue date, not before, hence, it is recommended that you wait until your visa is approved and delivered to confirm your travel plans to the UK.

The processing time for your visa starts to count once the personnel at the UK Border Agency is in possession of the application, and it varies according to the type of visa you are applying for.

The UK Border Agency recommends that you buy a non-refundable and non-flexible ticket only if you already have a visa to travel to the UK, because it will not assume responsibility for any financial losses, and it does not rush any visa-processing times just because you have already chosen a travel date.

This chart shows the average processing times of UK visa applications received in New York during February 2010, however, these times are not guaranteed.  Every visa application is considered individually, because every person’s situation is unique, thus, processing times may vary.

Processing times are shown in working days, excluding weekends and public holidays.  These are calculated from the day the visa application centre in New York received your visa application form.

The biometric enrolment must be done at a Department of Homeland Security Application Support Centre in the US at the person’s convenience before the documents are delivered.

Contact an experienced immigration lawyer in the UK if you need more information or assistance.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

A recent survey performed by the executive and business support recruiter Crone Corkill confirmed that almost fifty percent of the multilingual jobseekers in the UK market think that knowing several languages only works for translation or interpreter careers.

They asked visitors to their stand at the Language Show Career Fair what role first came to mind when they considered jobs that involved languages, and forty five percent of the people interviewed answered ‘translator’ or ‘interpreter’.  Others talked about teaching, tourism, and customer service.

Helen Hook, from Crone Corkill, explained that the Language Show offered a wonderful opportunity for them to meet very talented linguists and to open their eyes to the amazing career opportunities available for someone who speaks several languages.

Hook stated that they met people who spoke many different languages, from French to Latvian to Yoruba.  However, she was shocked to see how many of them still mechanically think only of translation when considering jobs related to languages.

She affirmed that whether it is a secretary, receptionist, or team assistant, many companies are always looking, and in great need of, candidates who, besides having the right skills and experience to perform the job efficiently, are also able to communicate clearly and effectively with people from all over the world.

The languages that are hunted for the most are French and German, especially in the banking, finance, energy, and media industries.  Nevertheless, there is an increase in the demand for Eastern European and Nordic languages, and for Japanese and Mandarin too, as these markets expand throughout the world.

If you are a multilingual immigrant in the UK, open your mind and expand your horizons.  Ask for the help of your UK immigration lawyer or from a recruiting agency to find new job opportunities where you can use the languages you master.

It may very well be that a brilliant future is awaiting you through the communication skills you thought you’d never use.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.

Below you will find the fees charged for the different types of UK visas.  These fees are given in pounds sterling, however, you can pay in local currency; just contact the corresponding application centre in your country, region, or city to get information about the local fees and what you have to do to pay for your visa.

Every dependant has to pay the same fee as the main applicant, and all of them must pay the fee, whether they are included in the main applicant’s passport or not.

The fees are appraised at regular intervals; the fees shown below have been effective as of April 6th 2010.

A fee can be refunded only if the application is cancelled, in writing, before it begins being processed and if biometrics hasn’t been taken or the applicant refuses to provide it.

The fees are listed by the following categories:

-Visit
-Study
-Employment
-Settlement
-Point-based system
-Exempt
-Others

If you have any doubts as to which category you fall under, for example which tier in the points-based system you correspond to, don’t hesitate to contact UK immigration lawyers.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk as the original source).

Please note that these articles and the information contained herein are purely for general guidance and do not constitute a professional legal or any other opinion as to the merits of a particular application or whether specific immigration requirements have been met of a particular category. This information is generic and should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to fulfilling specific category requirements. However should any individual do so it is at his or her own risk for which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be held responsible in any way.