Our multi-lingual advisory team is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), which is the official governing body for immigration advice practitioners. The OISC aims to ensure the highest professional standards from the practitioners that it governs and Britannia Business Solutions is proud of its reputation for professionalism in all its fields of operation.
Tier1 (Investor)
Wealthy individuals who plan to substantially invest in the UK can qualify for the investor visa. At least £1m of disposable income is needed but investors are exempt from the English language requirement and do not need to prove they can support themselves and their dependants.
Tier1 (Enterprener)
Individuals who plan to invest in the UK by setting up or taking over a business, and being actively involved in running the business can come to the UK under and entrepreneur visa. At least £200,000 of disposable income is required to qualify.
General Highly Skilled Migrants
For people who are highly educated and highly skilled and who can score enough points based on their qualifications, education, previous earnings, age and UK experience. This replaces the old Highly Skilled Migrant Visa (HSMP).
Graduates: Post-Study Work
This category is designed to keep the brightest foreign students who have studied in the UK. It is simply there to bridge the gap between study and highly skilled or skilled work. If you are granted a visa under this category, the Home Office expects you to switch into another part of the points system as soon as you are able. You must apply for this category within 12 months of receiving your qualification and, if successful, you will be granted 2 years leave and it is non-renewable. This replaces the similar International Graduates Scheme.
Tier2 (Work Permit)
Tier 2 of the Points Based System replaces the work permit entry route to the UK.
Applicants are required to have a job offer to submit a successful application. Tier 2 caters for people with qualifications or work experience in a wide range of sectors. Tier 2 visas are meant to fill jobs where there are shortages in the labour market such as engineering, information technology, and teaching and nursing.
Applying for a Tier 2 visa requires a certificate of sponsorship from your sponsoring company. Tier 2 visa applications are employer led, whereby it is the employer who submits the application, as it was in the old UK work permit application.
The Points Based System (PBS) is also in effect for Tier 2 visas and applicants are required to score at least 50 points on a skills assessment and prove that they are proficient in the English language.
Sole Representative
This visa type is designed for companies wanting to expand their business abroad and set up in the United Kingdom. Overseas companies are permitted to send one representative to the UK to set up a branch or subsidiary office, including carrying out market research, registering the company in the UK and negotiating with suppliers and customers.
Although the nominated representative must have the authority to make day-to-day decisions in the UK, they cannot be a director or major shareholder in the company.
Student Visa
This visa is for students who intend to study at a United Kingdom institution in a full time course. The student visa is flexible to apply to both short and long term courses.
Usually Student visas would be granted for courses of at least six (6) months in length however it is possible to obtain a visa for shorter courses. The student must be able to maintain and accommodate themselves while they are studying and show that they are able to pay their course fees.
The Fiancé(e) /Prospective Civil Partner
The Fiancé (e) /Prospective Civil Partner visa allow entry into the United Kingdom for a period of six months in order for the couple to marry or register their civil relationship.
Applicants for a Fiancé (e)/Prospective Civil Partner visa must intend to marry or register with a partner who is a UK national citizen or permanent resident. Applicants will be required to provide evidence of their intention to marry or register with their partner.
Following the marriage or registration, applicants will be required to apply for the Spouse/Civil Partner visa. This visa is for a two year probationary period and subject to meeting all requirements and continuing to live together, the applicant may be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Spouse/Civil Partner visa
The Spouse/Civil Partner visa is initially granted for a two (2) year probationary period and can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British nationality.
If however, the couple have been married or have been in a civil partnership for at least four (4) years prior to lodgement of the application, an application for ILR can be made immediately.
At the time of submitting the visa application, applicants for a Spouse/Civil Partner visa must demonstrate that they are legally married to, or in a Civil Partnership with a partner who is a UK National or permanent resident. This person must be their genuine spouse/partner and the couple must intend to live together in the UK .
To qualify for an Entry Clearance or Further Leave to Remain application as a Spouse/Civil Partner for a two (2) year probationary period, there are basic requirements that must be met. Both parties must be at least 21 years old, have met and be legally married OR have undergone a civil partnership registration.
Applicants will also need to prove that their relationship is of a genuine and continuing nature.
Indefinite leave to remain
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can be granted once applicants have been living in the United Kingdom for specified period of time on certain visas. The applicant must not have spent too much time outside the UK or committed any offences. ILR enables people to travel freely in and out of the UK . They are subject to limited immigration control and can eventually apply for UK Nationality.
UK visa categories that lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain include:
Certificate Of Approval (Coa)
Individuals who are not British nationals or citizens from another EEA country or who do have not permission to live in the United Kingdom permanently require the Home Office's authorisation to marry or to enter into a civil partnership in the UK.
Individuals you wish to marry in the Church of England you do not need to apply for a Certificate of Approval.
Visitor Visa
The United Kingdom is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Sightseeing, visiting family and friends, travelling, business trips, and even medical visits make the six month Visitor visa the most popular category for travellers to the UK.
Dependants
Migrants granted leave in the UK under Tier 1will be able to bring their dependants provided they can support them during their stay. Dependants include children, spouses, civil partners, same sex partners, and unmarried partners.
Dependants of migrants in the highly skilled Tier 1 will be able to work in the UK as well. However, they will not be able to switch into any points system tier other than as a dependant of the main applicant to switch.
Worker Registration Scheme – (WRS)
Since 1 May 2004, most nationals of the new EU accession states, often known as the A8 countries, will need to register on the Accession State Worker Registration Scheme or WRS. This will not apply to nationals of Malta or Cyprus, nor to those from the nations listed below if they are self-employed.
The UK Working Registration Scheme monitors new EEA nationals coming to work in the UK for their first 12 months of employment. Beyond this period, subject to meeting the appropriate requirements, non-visa nationals from these countries will be able to apply for an EEA Residence permit, a visa for confirming their right to move freely throughout the EU.