Visa Overview

Visa Overview

EK Consulting offers No Win No Fee Visa applications to anyone wishing to enter or remain in the UK! We provide one-stop solutions at highly competitive prices. For more information, please contact us on Tel: (++44) 121…. Email:…..

We also hold weekly one-to-one free immigration advice sessions (subject to assessment and assessment fee)

Tier 1 Visa Overview


Tier 1 visas are for entrepreneurs and investors with significant business funds to set up or invest in a UK business, university graduates with an edorsed business plan and those who are internationally recognised as an exceptional talent in their field.

Tier 1 categories

  • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa For those with at least £50,000 to invest in the UK by taking over or setting up a UK business.
     
  • Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa For those endorsed by the home office as a leader or emerging leader in the fields of science, humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology or the arts. Restricted to 1,000 places a year.
     
  • Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa  For graduates of UK universities who are endorsed by their university or by the UK government’s UK Trade and Investment department. Restricted to 1,900 places in 2015.
     
  • Tier 1 (Investor) visa For those wishing to invest at least £2,000,000 in a UK company.

Family members (dependents)

In some circumstances you may be able to bring your partner or children with you for the duration of your stay via a family visa, but you must show that you have sufficient funds to support them. Please speak with our visa specialist team for more information.

The Tier 2 visa allows skilled workers to enter the UK in order to fill a skilled job vacancy within a field on the Tier 2 occupation list or Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List. Before applying, Tier 2 visa applicants must have a job offer and a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 sponsorship licence.

Tier 2 jobs must usually first be advertised to workers from within the European Economic Area (EEA) before they can be offered to non-EEA immigrants, unless the job is on the Tier 2 Shortage Occupations List. This is called the Resident Labour Market Test.

 

Tier 2 Visa Overview

  • Tier 2 (General) visa For workers who have a skilled job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 sponsorship licence. The vacancy must be advertised to UK workers before it can be offered to an immigrant, unless it is on the Tier 2 Shortage Occupations List. Restricted to 20,700 places a year for job applicants resident outside the UK.
     
  • Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) visa For employees of a multinational company who are being transferred to a UK branch. Applicants must have a valid certificate of sponsorship from their employer. The visas are open to employees in the following categories:
    • Long term staff
       
    • Short term staff
       
    • Graduate trainee
       
    • Skills transfer

 

Tier 2 Shortage Occupations List

In the UK skilled jobs usually need to be advertised for a set period of time before they can be offered to a Tier 2 worker. The UK publishes an annual list of occupations which employers find difficult to fill. These jobs do not need to be advertised to residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) before they can be offered to a non-EEA immigrant.

The full Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List for 2015 can be found here.

The Resident Labour Market Test

If you are a UK employer wishing to recruit a skilled worker from outside the European Economic Area, in order to sponsor them for certain types of Tier 2 visa, including the Tier 2 (General) visa, you will need to complete a Resident Labour Market Test unless the role is on the UK’s Shortage Occupation List.

Documents

Tier 2 applicants must provide a number of documents along with their application, these include:

  • Current passport and/or other travel documents
     
  • A recent passport photograph
     
  • Proof that they can meet the maintenance funds requirements for their visa, such as bank statements, unless their Tier 2 sponsor can guarantee their maintenance with the UK Home Office. Only ‘A rated’ sponsors are eligible for this.
     
  • Proof that they meet the Tier 2 English Language requirements, such as a qualification equivalent to a bachelors degree or higher taught in English or English language test results.
     
  • Proof of a clear tuberculosis (TB) test result if the applicant is from one of the countries on the Home Office’s TB testing list 

Tier 2 Visa Family members (dependents)

In many cases you are able bring your partner or children with you during your stay, but you must show that you have sufficient funds to support them. They can apply for a family visa.

Tier 2 English language requirement

Tier 2 visa applicants may be required to complete an English test if they are not nationals of an English-speaking country or have not completed any academic courses in English.

Please consult with our EK specialists for more details.

 

Tier 4 Visa Students

    • Tier 4 (General) Student visa For those aged 18 or over who have been offered a place on a course at a UK educational institution. Courses of study covered by this visa include degree level courses, and level 3 courses such as ‘A’ levels. Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays. Students at further education colleges on this type of visa are not allowed to work.
       

 

  • Tier 4 (Child) Student visa For students under the age of 18 who have been offered a place on a course at a UK educational institution with a valid Tier 4 sponsorship licence. Tier 4 sponsors are generally independent fee-paying schools. Students over the age of 16 may work for up to 10 hours per week during term time and full time during holidays. Students at further education colleges on this type of visa are not allowed to work.

 

 

 

  • Short-term Study

 

  • Short-term Study visa: For students offered a place on a short-term course in the UK, such as an English language course or a training course. Overseas university students may also carry out a short period of research in the UK. This visa usually lasts for 6 months, or 11 months for migrants aged over 18 who are attending an English language course.

Tier 4 Visa Family Members

Tier 4 (General) Student visas allow family members to apply to come to the UK with the visa holder, or to remain here if already in the UK. Family members covered include married, civil, and unmarried partners; and children under the age of 18. In order to bring family members to the UK, students must meet at least one of the following conditions:

  • Studying towards an NQF level 7 (UK Master’s degree) or higher qualification in the UK for at least 1 year, OR;
     
  • Sponsored by the UK government on a course lasting at least 6 months, OR;
     
  • Studying on a Doctorate Extension Scheme

Parents of children on the Tier 4 (Child) Student visa may also apply under the Parent of a Tier 4 Child visa. Please see our UK Family visas section for more details.

Further information, help, and advice

EK has a team of specialists with over 25 years of experience in immigration services, and has helped thousands of people to study and work in the UK. We work with OISC registered advisers who can submit your UK visa application directly to the Home Office.

For more information and advice on UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on (44) 121…….

 

Family Visa Types

Family visas allow certain family members and dependents of people already in the UK visa to join them. Most family members are covered, including married or civil partners, unmarried partners, children, grandchildren, parents, and dependent adult relatives. In some cases extended family members may be also be eligible.

Family of a Settled Person visa For family members of British citizens and those with permanent residency (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK. Family members covered by this visa include married or civil partners, unmarried partners, children, parents, and dependent adult relatives.
 

 

  • EEA Family Permit For those from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) with an EEA national family member who is either already living in the UK, or planning to travel with them to the UK within 6 months. The visa applicant must apply for this visa from outside the UK; if they are already in the UK they must apply for a different type of family visa. Family members covered by this visa include married and civil partners, unmarried partners, children, grandchildren, and dependent parents and grandparents. Family members of the EEA citizen’s married or civil partner are also covered by this visa.
     
  • UK Residence Card Similar to the EEA Family Permit, but with different conditions, this visa allows family members and extended family members of a European Economic Area (EEA) national, who is either a permanent UK resident or a ‘qualified person’, to join them in the UK. Family members covered by this visa include married or civil partners, children, grandchildren, and dependent adult relatives. You must apply as an extended family member if you are an unmarried partner or other relative, such as a sibling. This visa must be applied for from inside the UK.
     
  • Parent of a Tier 4 Child visa For parents of children aged under 12 who are studying at an independent fee paying UK school. The child must hold a Tier 4 (Child) Student visa or be in the UK under the immigration rules in place before March 31, 2009.

Further information, help, and advice

The laws on UK immigration and nationality for obtaining a UK family visa are complex, with different family visa types for different family members, and different conditions depending on your status in the UK.

For more information on UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on (44) 0121…

 

UK Permanent Residence/Indefinite Leave to Remain

The length of time you must spend in the UK before being eligible for Permanent residence in the UK:

Permanent residence Time needed to gain permanent residency
Tier 1 / HSMP and Tier 2 / Work permit 5 years
Ancestry 5 years
Marriage 2 years
Unmarried partners 2 years
Investors 5 years
Writers, composers and artists 5 years
Sole reps 5 years
Persons establishing themselves in business 5 years
Unlawful stay or a combination of lawful and unlawful stay 14 years
Lawful stay on any basis 10 years

 

NB: Some of the times needed to gain permanent residence were changed in April 2006 and as of April 2007, those requesting permanent residence must take the “Life in the UK” test.

Once permanent residence (indefinite leave to remain) has been granted, there no immigration related restrictions on the work or business you may carry out in the UK, or time limits on your stay.

For more information on UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on (44) 0121…

 

EK English Test for Visa application

EK Consulting Group runs a series of English language courses to help non-native speakers to successfully obtain visas and pass life in the UK test and English tests.

For more information please contact us on (44) 0121…