The British government puts a high value on attracting foreign students to come study in their county, from all over the world, and prides itself on its history and its diversity.  UK universities are renowned all over the world, for having some of the highest academic standards, while harboring some of the finest higher learning institutions in the entire world.  UK universities have a reputation around the world for not only being some of the best schools academic wise, but also culturally and spiritually as well.  If you are looking to join the already 1.3 million students currently studying in the UK, the first thing you’ll have to do is get a student visa.  You may want to first contact an immigration lawyer in the UK to see if you are eligible to get a student visa.

To obtain a student visa you will need to supply the UK immigration services with several documents.  You will need to obtain a formal acceptance letter from the school or university you will be attending, not to mention proof that you are the actual recipient of this letter.  You will most likely need to contact the admissions office, at the college or university you will be attending, to provide you with an original signed document, indicating the purpose and length of your study.  You must also make sure that your school of choice is registered with the Department of Education and Skills Register of Education and Training Providers.  This is a basic requirement for admittance, and you will not be able to enter the UK without it.

You will then need to complete and submit an online application form on the visa4UL website, where you will incur a small fee to complete the application.  After your online application has been submitted, and completed, you will send in the completed application to the British Embassy Government Consulate that is located in your area.  Upon obtaining clearance from this consulate, you are free to enter the UK and start studying.

To complete the process you will need a valid passport, and evidence of your residential status in the country where you reside.  You will need a passport photo, and possibly evidence of government sponsorship, if applicable.  You will also need to prove financial support for yourself, during your stay in the United Kingdom.  A student visa to the UK is usually good for about a year.  Students cannot work more than 20 hours while classes are in session and any dependent that may be accompanying you will need to file for a separate visa as well.

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Disclaimer: 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.

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The United Kingdom has no primary restrictions on requiring travel visas, known as Tourist Visas.  They are widely available, and not even that hard to get.  Tourist visas are available to anyone who wants one, but you need to follow the correct process in order to get one.  Applicants do not need to have friends or family in the UK; they don’t need to know anyone. All they need is a strong desire to enter and visit the country.  You’ll need to have a few documents, a purpose for visiting, and you’ll will be in the United Kingdom in no time.

A Tourist Visa allows applicants to travel to the UK purely for a visit of 6 months, in which time the visa is revoked, or subject to an appeal hearing.  They may be allowed multiple entries back into the UK, during this 6 month span if this is requested.  All applicants must prove to the United Kingdom Immigration Authorities that they can financially maintain and accommodate themselves, without need of public assistance or government aid.  If they have assistance from family members, or close friends, that may be considered.

To qualify for a Tourist Visa you must be able to meet the following requirements.  You must be able to obtain a valid passport that will only be eligible for a 6 month visit to the UK.  Once fully completed, dated, and signed, it will be submitted for application.  Once that is completed you will be directed to make an appointment at one of the Application Support Centers in your area, so that you can submit a copy of your fingerprints.  You will need one recent passport-sized photo, as well as identification, and sometimes even a birth certificate.

You will also need evidence of your status in the country where you currently reside, to make sure that you have permission to re-enter that country on completion of your 6 month visa.  If you are going to the UK to conduct business, you will need an Employment Letter, or confirmation of employment status, which clearly states your cause and business in the UK.  If you are visiting family and friends you will need proof of a sponsor that will be supporting you, or if you are supporting yourself, you may need pay slips, bank statements, or other evidence that you can support yourself.  During your visit you are not eligible for any paid or unpaid employment in the UK.

It is important to remember that unless you are a U.S. citizen, you will need to follow these necessary steps in order to obtain tourist visas to the UK.  United States citizens do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom for tourism or business at any time.  If you may be confused about tourist visa restrictions, you may contact a UK immigration lawyer, or just contact your local immigration services for more information.

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Disclaimer: 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.

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A spouse or civil partner of a UK resident can apply for a visa that grants admittance into the country for 2 years – after which permanent status can also be granted.  In order to be able to apply for this visa, both parties must be over 21 years of age, show that they intend to live together permanently as husband and wife or civil partners, can support themselves and any dependents without help from civil funds, and have adequate accommodations.  They also have to have met each other – which may sound strange, but in some cultures arranged marriages in which husband and wife do not meet until the wedding date are common.

If a couple has been married or in a civil partnership for four years prior to admission to the UK, this two year visa process can be bypassed altogether, and an application can be made for Indefinite Leave to Remain which is a more permanent entry to the country and can lead to citizenship.

If the couple is in a civil partnership rather than a legal marriage, they must come from a location that recognizes such partnerships and show proof of its legality.  In the US, California and Maine, among others, currently recognize such partnerships.

The applicant will also need to show that he or she has significant command of the English language, unless he or she is over the age of 65 at the time of application.

British law treats an unmarried partner applicant differently from the spouse or civil partner category – an unmarried partner must have lived with the person who is now settled in the UK or is being admitted at the same time for two years, must show proof of any previous marriage as having dissolved, and the couple cannot be close blood relatives.

If for any reason this Visa is denied, there is a right of appeal.

Consult an immigration lawyer in the UK to find out whether or not you qualify for either classification.  Simply contact one if you have any questions, and he or she’ll clarify all issues.  They can also help expedite your admission process considerably!

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Missionaries and other members of the religious community are valued members of any society, and the UK recognizes their contributions.  A special sponsored worker visa was created specifically for ministers, which is a tier 2 classification work visa.

If applying under the tier 2 Minister of Religion category, an applicant must score a minimum of 70 points on attributes which include command of the English language, sponsorship, and funds available to maintain the work being performed.

This visa permits a religious worker an initial entry into the UK for up to three years –with the possibility of extensions.  After remaining in the country for five years, an applicant can apply for ILR or Indefinite Leave to Remain status, which grants a permanent right to remain in the country as well as visa free travel to and from the UK.

Duties that religious personnel can perform that are covered under this tier classification include:

•    Leading worship

•    Religious education; preaching sermons or teaching religion

•    Officiating at marriages, funerals and other religious services

•    Offering counselling or welfare support to members of a congregation

•    Recruiting, training or coordinating the work of local volunteers and preachers

•    Organising missionary activities

Anyone applying for this classification must show proof that he or she is ordained in the faith professed or has worked for at least one year as a minister, that he or she is indeed a religious worker, and that no UK public funds will be needed for personal support.  If coming to the UK to perform missionary duties, an applicant must show that he or she is trained as a missionary, and sponsored by an organization recognized and approved by the UK.

Please note that this classification is not for temporary performance of religious rites.  If the need for religious services is only temporary, then the appropriate classification to use is Tier 5 for temporary workers. When in doubt, it is best to consult with UK immigration lawyers.

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Here’s a straightforward guide to obtaining your UK visa. Basically, you can apply for a UK visa in two ways: either do it yourself or ask for expert help.

Our best advice: At least four months prior to the expected departure, find a UK immigration lawyer you can trust and request a consultation. Some visas may take up to 3 months and the process is so complex that you risk being denied entry clearance and losing money.

Most people have difficulties when applying and the forms are filled with “trick” questions. If you don’t know how to apply properly, ask for help; but ask a specialist. Don’t rely on your friends’ experience and (usually wrong) advice.

During consultation, explain your circumstances to your lawyer. Hide nothing. Better clarify now than regret later. Tell him or her when you intend to travel to the UK and how long you expect to stay. The lawyer will suggest the best strategy according to the information you provided.

Ask your lawyer for a To-Do list for the next steps.

If you still want to do it all by yourself:

1.    Get a passport

2.    Get 2 photographs, 2×2 inches (5 by 5 cm), similar to the ones used for the passport.

3.    Make an effort to understand the different visa categories available.

4.    Go to the official British Government website at www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk to find out if your country accepts online applications. Look for the supported countries page.

5.    Complete the official application offered there. You need an e-mail address to complete the applications at visa4uk. Make sure you have the following information before you start filling out the online application:
•    passport
•    itinerary (when you intend to enter AND leave the UK)
•    postal address of the hotel/house/school where you’ll be staying in the UK.

6.    Forms are in English only. If you can’t understand something, save the application and return later with someone fluent in English. The official site will keep your records for seven days.

7.    If you don’t have all the information available, save the form and come back later that week.

8.    Print the completed form. You must sign the printed form. Don’t make the mistake of believing that the online application is all you need.

9.    Pay the fee and make an appointment for the biometric data procedure.

10.    Pass the Biometric scan at the Application Support Centre in your area. The inkless fingerprints scan takes a couple of minutes. For more information, find the “Thumbs Up for Biometrics!” video at YouTube.

Also, depending on the category you are applying for, you will need:
•    Documents showing your financial ability to support yourself
•    Employment letter
•    Hotel reservations
•    UK University/School admittance documentation
•    Other supporting documentation

Once again, we strongly advise you against applying for a visa without expert assistance.  At the end, it will cost you more. Remember the old proverb:

He who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client”.

Feel free to share this “adviceware” if you found it useful. Tell your friends about this article and feel free to post it to your blog or site. Please, mention the original source: ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk

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.

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5. Failing to recognise the many TRAPS in the forms
4. Filling out visa applications IN A HURRY
3. Not demonstrating you’ll be able to SUPPORT yourself.
2. Weak or no EVIDENCE of your admittance (for example, as a student)
1. Not seeking EXPERT HELP!

Any one of the previous mistakes may cause a rejection. Don’t mess with immigration UK law. You may be banned from visiting the UK for 10 years or face deportation once you finally make it there. Immigration fees are expensive and minor mistakes make the process more expensive. On the other hand,

huge mistakes put you
or your relatives at risk.

Now, let’s review each mistake to understand why.

5. TRAPS. Immigration applications are filled with traps. Many questions ask for a Yes or NO answer and people are not aware that each answer needs supporting evidence. Others offer multiple choices.

Take this real question from a UK Visa application form:

Real Form Example:
“What is your marital status?”

You mark “Divorced/Dissolved Partnership” and move on to the next question, not realising you’ll be required to present documentation to prove your status.

4. IN A HURRY. Some people fill out their applications at the embassy. Even worse, some fill out applications at the embassy under the pressure of closing hours. Let’s state it once: never, ever, fill out visa applications in a hurry.

Visa applications are available online; print the forms and take them home. Then, gather ALL the relevant information (passport number, etc.) before returning to the website to complete the application.

Some questions have tremendous relevance and once you answer in a particular way, you resign certain benefits and opportunities. So, take the time to answer correctly.

Real Form Example:
“What is the purpose of your visit?”

If you answer this question to request a General Visitor visa, you can’t switch to student or other temporary visas later (only exceptions are parent visit or medical).

3. LACK OF SUPPORT. You must show you won’t need public funds. This includes financing your education or money for expenses while in the UK. Supporting bank statements will be contrasted to time you intend to remain in the UK as specified in the form. The UK Border Agency WILL ASK you when you intend to leave.

Real Form Example:
“On which date do you intend to travel to the UK?”
“On which date do you intend to leave the UK?”

2. LACK OF EVIDENCE. Have you been admitted to a university in the UK? You must show evidence of admittance.

And the number one mistake…

1. NO EXPERT HELP. Don’t rely on the past experience of your friends and colleagues. Each applicant has his or her own characteristics and needs. Only UK immigration lawyers can understand the complexities involved in the process. Remember that you have a right to a lawyer… to an immigration lawyer.

If you found this article useful, tell your friends about it. Feel free to post this article to your blog or site; just mention the original source: ukmigrationlawyers.co.uk

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.

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