Things to Consider When Applying for Immigration to the U.K.

While swapping your dollars to pounds may be a simple thing to do, filing for an immigration application isn’t.

Here are some things that will help you make your leap to the left side easier:

Knowing the Difference between UK, England and Great Britain

Knowing the differences will help you answer questions during your immigration process.

The UK is a sovereign state and is the political union of four nations including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island. The UK does not include Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands but the four nations it does include are also countries in their own right.

Great Britain on other hand refers to England, Wales and Scotland. It does not include Northern Ireland .Therefore, it can’t be used interchangeably with the ‘U.K.’.

Moreover, only the citizens of England, Wales and Scotland are British, while citizens of Northern Ireland are Irish—even though they are UK citizens. Similarly, only the citizens of England are called English.

Applying for Visa

According to the official government’s website, you need to first look into the type of visa you want to apply for. This can be for work, joining a family member, or for educational purposes.

The UK visa can be quite expensive, so ensure that you actually need visa to visit the UK or not. Some commonwealth countries offer a right of abode for the U.K. so check to see if your country is part of the list.

Individuals who do not need a visa to visit the UK include:

• Citizens of European Union
• Citizens of Switzerland
• Citizens Non-EU members of the European Economic Area
• Citizens of OCT (Overseas Countries and Territories) members

However, you will need to carry your European passport or identification.

According to the official government site, you can stay up to 6 months in the U.K. with a standard visitor visa. However, you should be able to pay for the costs of your stay.

If you are unable to display proof of your ability to afford your stay, your application might be rejected. Similarly, if you are applying for a student visa, then you must be able to cover all your tuition and living expenses.

However, if you’re visiting for medical and research purposes, you can extend your stay. This will cost you an additional £186 fee, however.

As for work visas, you can no longer apply for a Tier 1 (General) visa. Your family members can still apply to join you.

You can apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa if you have been offered a job in the U.K. and you’re not from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. Furthermore, you need to be hired by a licensed sponsor to be able to be able to live in the U.K.

If you’re setting up a business in the U.K., you will need to apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa. However, you should not be from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Pets

If you are taking your pets with you, vaccination, blood-testing and micro-chipping should be up-to-date. Have all this taken care of beforehand.

Weather

Be mentally and physically prepared for cold and wet weather throughout your stay.

On an average, a typical day in the UK has up to 5 hours of cloudy sunlight. So it can take some time to adjust to the weather.

Cost of Living

Make sure you know how real estate works in the UK and the present rental values. London is the most expensive city in the UK to live in, but it is also the most exciting.

Do your research about the prevailing rents in various parts of the UK, as this will help you find places that fit well within your budget.

If you want to learn more about UK Immigration, then visit our website. We are the leading UK immigration solicitors and aim to make the process as smooth as possible.