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Live in the UK

In the last decade the UK has become a highly sought after place to live and work. However, due to the recession and current economic slowdown, the UK government has made it more difficult for migrants to move to the UK through the implementation of stricter UK Visa requirements.  New Immigrants are now required to have more money in their banks, higher qualifications and genuine offers of employment from licensed sponsors in order to get the approval needed to live and work in the UK.




visa box

It has recently been reported, that despite the UK government’s attempt to clamp down on immigration law and policy – factually speaking, the majority of new job posts are being taken up by foreign migrants. 

In order to live and work in the UK individuals need to obtain the necessary UK Visas.  The most obvious paths are through work, ancestry and marriage.

The Tier 1 General Visa and Tier 2 work permits are popular ways of moving to the UK and both lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) also known as permanent residency and ultimately British Citizenship.  For the Tier 2 work permit visa, one must have a job offer from a UK licensed sponsor, for the Tier 1 General Visa the applicant will need the minimum of a master’s degree or the UK equivalent and will need to be earning £20 000 or more. Further to these there is the Tier 2 intra company transfer which allows the employer (work permit sponsor) to transfer staff members for an allotted period of time across borders.

The UK Marriage Visa has recently had its requirements changed to include both partners having to be 21 years of age or older - this is a settlement visa with no work restrictions.

The UK Ancestry Visa like the UK Marriage Visa is a settlement visa (ILR and British Citizenship) where both the applicant and their family have no work restrictions. The Ancestry visa is open to all Commonwealth citizens with ancestral ties. To be eligible, the applicant must have a grandparent born in the UK or Republic of Ireland before March 1922.

It is the job of the UKBA to manage immigration into the UK and depict how one can work in the UK.  Dependent on the type of UK Visa a migrant has dictates the restrictions they may or may not have to work in the UK. These restrictions include having to work a limited amount of hours per week, being self employed or having to work for a specific employer.

If you have a job offer from a licensed UK based Company look at the Tier 2 – Work Permit.

If you are a highly skilled professional wishing to work in the UK - the Tier 1 – General skilled Visa will be the most viable options to consider.

If you’re married to, engaged to or in a relationship with a UK permanent resident, than a Family Visa could be the best option for you.

For those of you already in the UK and looking to remain permanently, read about Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

Persons looking to study an approved course should read about UK Student Visas and those who have recently graduated from a UK University, wishing to remain in the UK to work must read Tier 1 – Post Study Work Visa.

 
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Why 1st Contact?

When you apply for a visa, you have two options:

  1. You can take the DIY route and work directly through the UK Border Agency website  
  2. You can work through an agency like 1st Contact Visas.

While doing things yourself could save you money in the short term, the benefits of working with us could outweigh many risks and implications that you could face in the long run.

With us, you get:

  • Help with your specific application. We don't believe that any visa application is generic – you have a different background and may have very unique needs from the next applicant.
  • Industry expertise. We're known for being specialists in the immigration industry. With over 250 staff in our London, Melbourne and Cape Town offices, we have the knowledge and resources to make sure your migration journey runs smoothly.
  • Dedicated consultants, here to talk you through your visa options.
  • Less stress. We apply on your behalf, and take care of the admin for you.
  • No gimmicks. If you don't get the visa, we don’t charge for our services.