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.

In the spring of 2008 immigration UK law underwent a series of changes that introduced a five tier, points-based visa system.  The newly designed system is intended to make the visa process far more streamlined and logical.  Where once there were over 80 different types of visa application processes, there will now be fewer, more simplified procedures. All applicants under the new system must provide passport with photo, application, required fee, biometric details and any other tier specific documents.

Here is a breakdown of the five tiers:

Tier One Visa:
It applies to migrants who possess specific job-related skills, or wish to become a self-employed person in the country.  No sponsor is required but you must provide proof that you have the funds to support yourself.  A spouse or partner and dependent children under 18 may accompany you if they have received the proper visas as well, and you can demonstrate proof that you can support them. This visa is good for a maximum of two years.

Tier Two Visa:
It applies to skilled workers who have obtained an offer of employment.  A sponsor and certification of sponsorship must be obtained prior to making your application.  You must demonstrate proof of funds to support yourself and any dependants who will be accompanying you.  This visa is good for a period of three years and one month, or the period of time stated in your certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter.

Tier Three Visa:
It applies to workers with minimal skills wanting to work temporarily in the country.  This visa is only good for a maximum period of twelve months and the individual is required to return home at the end of that time.  Dependents are not permitted to accompany you with this visa.

Tier Four Visa:
It applies to students wishing to complete studies in the UK.  A certificate of sponsorship is required for this visa and is generally provided by the school that has accepted the applicant to a study program.  The school will be asked to verify your ability as a student, and this visa is good for the duration of the specific course of study.

Tier Five Visa:
It applies to young persons in the country for short term specialty projects.  The government of your home country must act as your sponsor and you will need to provide proof that you have funds to support yourself.  This visa is good for a period of two years, and dependants or spouses are not permitted to accompany you.

This is just a basic description of each of the main five tiers to the new points-based visa system.  Each main tier also contains sub tiers that carry their own specific application details and requirements.  If you are uncertain as to which tier your application falls under, it is always wise to seek the advice of a respected and professional immigration lawyer in the UK.  There are also many government web sites and offices that can provide visa details, application procedures and the answers to many of the frequently asked questions regarding UK Immigration today.

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.