Visas & Immigration Expat Guides 2023

The Home Office is the lead government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, fire, counter-terrorism and police.

The main website for the Home Office is https://gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office.

Probably, yes. To live, study or work in the UK, the majority of people require a visa. Long stays may also require a visa. As of January 1, 2021 this includes visitors coming from the European Union (excluding Ireland), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Some people, such foreign diplomats, are exempt from the visa requirements.

There is a quick and easy way to find out if you need a visa on the main government website.

PBS stands for Point Based System.

The UK’s Point Based Immigration System applies to several types of visa:

• Skilled Worker visa

• Health and Care Worker visa

• Global Talent visa

• Graduate visa

• Intra-company Transfer visa

• Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa

• Start-up visa

• Innovator visa

• Student visa

Under the UK's point-based system, there are two different kinds of points: mandatory points and tradeable points.

Mandatory points will be awarded for essential requirements that must be satisfied in order to be eligible to apply for a visa.

Tradeable points are awarded when certain eligibility requirements are completed and can be used where the candidate may lack in other areas

You should find out if your visa application was successful in 3 weeks. However, depending on the sort of visa you applied for and where you applied from, the time frame for a decision may differ.

If you require a visa quickly, you may be able to select a speedier service, such as Priority visa service or Super Priority visa service. This does cost money, typically ranging from £220 and £956.

Yes, you might have to show (‘financial requirement’) you have enough money to support yourself - unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application.

If you arrived in the UK as a visitor, you are usually not permitted to extend your visa whilein the United Kingdom. You must leave the United Kingdom and apply for a new visa from outside of the UK.

If you are in the UK on a longer-term visa, you may be able to extend your stay without leaving the country. However, this is depends on your specific circumstances.

Citizens of EU nations (other than Ireland) who wish to relocate to the UK for work or education must apply for a visa from January 1, 2021.

The primary government website includes a simple online approach for determining whether you require a visa. Check if you need a visa here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

If you arrived in the UK before December 31, 2020 and are an EU citizen or a national of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, the process is different.

If you want to stay in the UK, you must apply for 'Settled Status'.

If you have lived in the UK for 5 years or more, you can apply for Settled Status.

If you have not been in the UK for 5 years, you can apply for Pre-settled Status The deadline was 30 June 2021, but applications may still be accepted.

You do not need to apply for Settled Status if you are an Irish citizen or if you already have Indefinite Leave to Remain/Enter. However, your children or partner might need to apply.

Read more about Settled Status on the official government website.

You risk being removed from the UK forcibly if you do not depart the country after your visa expires or if you fail to submit a legitimate application for a visa that extends your stay. Additionally, you can be banned from from returning to the UK for up to 10 years.

If you have overstayed your visa, you should seek legal counsel right away.