UKBA has issued a press release confirming that border personnel at all British ports of entry will be taking part in planned strike action tomorrow (Wednesday 30 November). Continue Reading

Opening a Bank Account in the UK is notoriously difficult, irksome and often quite stressful. But with the right information, advice and support, it doesn’t have to be that way.

With more than 15 years’ in the UK immigration market, 1st Contact has learnt a thing or two about the immigration system and all the ins and outs of relocating to the UK. So we  put together the Kickstart Package which, amongst other things, makes it a breeze to get a UK bank account. Continue Reading

Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa was recently declared one of the provisional “7 new Wonders of Nature” in a campaign that lasted 4 years and was decided by public vote – more than 100 million votes were counted.

Other winners included The Amazon, Halong Bay in Vietnam and the Komodo Island in Indonesia. While re-counting and verification still needs to take place, we are sure Table Mountain will remain as one of the Worlds 7 New Wonders of Nature.

For Capetonians, Table Mountain is a source of immense pride and enjoyment – from Cable Car trips to rock-climbing, amazing fauna and flora to incredible hikes, Table Mountain has it all. Continue Reading

Tensions are still flaring between Theresa May and Brodie Clark after leaked UKBA documents and emails revealed that border control measures were severely relaxed over the summer. According to the evidence, thousands of non-EU passengers were able to enter the UK without the correct passport checks or screening against the terrorist watch list.

Continue Reading

Conservative MP Nicholas Soames and Labour MP Frank Field have put aside their differences to issue a joint public warning against UK overpopulation. According to them, the UK population will reach 70 million within the next 15 years unless the government takes drastic measures to curb the inflow of migrants. Continue Reading

This month we chat to Karol K, a South African who left Jo’burg to do a Gap Year in London in 1998, and never came back! Continue Reading

The UKBA website announced last week that 25 illegal workers were arrested during a crackdown operation on the Asian-owned ‘Quality Foods Supermarket’ on South Road in Southall, West London.
Police did checks on all the supermarket’s staff members and arrested 23 Indians, 1 Pakistani and a Ghanaian.

• 15 staff members were working in breach of their immigration conditions
• 4 had overstayed their visas
• 6 had entered the UK illegally

The supermarket owner received a penalty notice, and could face hefty fines of up to £10 000 per illegal employee, unless he is able to prove that he took the necessary steps and performed all the correct right-to-work checks before offering them employment.

According to Jennifer Money, head of the UKBA Ealing team, businesses have a legal responsibility to make sure that all their employees have the right to work in the UK.

Money also sent out a stern warning that more such raids are planned and that civil penalties will be issued to business owners not complying with immigration law.

The UKBA website offers advice for employers on the preventing illegal working section of their website and through their employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Amidst pressure on the UK Government to find a solution to the high levels of unemployment, the tightening of visa rules for workers outside of the EU is threatening many New Zealanders’ rights to stay in Britain long-term.

Up until now, New Zealanders working in the UK have been able to apply for “settlement” after five years, allowing them to confidently settle into careers, marry and have children. Continue Reading

This month we chatted to Carina, wife to Jacques and mother to 4 boys, aged 4 – 12, who took the plunge in 2009 and moved to Australia. Continue Reading

The UKBA’s public consultation on reforms to work routes (including routes that lead to settlement, Tier 5 and overseas domestic workers) closes on Friday 9 September.

The consultation sets out the government’s proposals for breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration. Continue Reading

What are the rights of British Citizens when it comes to passing on British Nationality to their children?

If you’re a naturalised UK Citizen planning to return to your country of birth, have you thought about the implications for your planned children?

• If you have children after naturalisation while in the UK, will they be considered British?
• What if you’ve left the UK after your naturalisation and had children back in your country of origin? Continue Reading

Justice 4 Domestic Workers this week led a protest outside parliament, which saw hundreds of migrant domestic workers demonstrating against proposed changes to their visa conditions. Continue Reading

A recent study revealed that almost 15% of people who qualify for and hold a UK Ancestry Visa are already British Citizens but don’t  know it! Continue Reading

The government announced recently that it will actively encourage “exceptionally talented leaders” in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts to come to the UK by opening a new Tier 1 category entitled “Exceptional Talent”. Continue Reading

Wales, otherwise known as Cymru, is part of the United Kingdom and a country known for its rich history and culture. Here are some facts about this fascinating place. Continue Reading

Following the government’s ‘Statement of Intent’ with regards to changes to the Tier 4 visa set out earlier this year, a first lot of changes was introduced in April and the next lot came into effect on the 4th of July. Continue Reading

New UK visa rules will reward those who contribute to the economic growth with accelerated settlement. Compared to the previous 5-year rule, those investing £10 million in the UK economy may settle after 2 years, while those investing £5 million and/or creating at least 10 jobs may do so after 3. Continue Reading

In light of recent announcements made by Immigration Minister Damien Green, 1st Contact Visas is encouraging Tier 1, 2 and 5 visa holders as well as foreign nationals wanting to switch categories, to make the necessary applications soon so as not to be affected by the proposed changes by the UK Border Agency with a suggested date taking effect on 1 April 2012. Continue Reading

Could you be eligible for a British Passport?

No?

Are you sure?

According to Robyn Cory from 1^st Contact Visas, there are thousands of people – particularly from Commonwealth countries – who often are not aware they may be eligible through Nationality law at the time of their birth and their ancestry that they may be eligible for a UK passport, when in fact they do qualify.

“A nationality status trace through 1^st Contact Visas, along with the relevant supporting documentation could well put you on your way to British citizenship, and all the possibilities that opens up.” Continue Reading

‘Readers Ask’ has been a recent addition to our email newsletter.

We’ve rounded up some of the best questions and answers and provide them here.

This month, we look at Visas, naturalisation and continuous residency.

Robyn Cory of 1st Contact Visas was on hand to give an expert opinion.

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Question: If my mother was born in the UK am I eligible for UK citizenship.

Answer: After 13 January 2010 a person who has a British mother will have a right to register as a British citizen under section 4C of the British Nationality Act 1981 if he or she would have become a British citizen at birth had women been able to pass on citizenship in the same way as men

Question: Hi, I have indefinite leave to remain since 2007. How do i go about applying for my british passport and how much would it cost? Thanks

Answer: Once you’ve held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for 12 continuous months, you will be eligible to apply for naturalisation; you are required to have passed the Life in the UK Test and should not have spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the final year prior to applying.

Question: I am a South African Passport holder with an Indefinite leave to Remain Stamp in my Passport and will be visiting SA soon Do I require a Visa to re-enter the UK ? The stamp is in my old passport as I have had to renew my passport recently

Answer: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is a Permanent Residency status in the UK. Transfer of Conditions (ToC) is an application whereby your current Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can be transferred to your new passport by the UK Home Office. Alternatively, in the interim, you can carry both your expired and new passports to provide evidence of your holding of Permanent Residency (ILR) in the UK.

Question: Hi I came uk in june 2008 on 2 years HSMP visa. last year in May 2010 i got an extension in my visa for next three years.After completing 5 years in UK i will apply for the ILR.My question is that when i will apply for the ILR is there any points of the income.As previously when i applied for the extension of my visa I submit all my Bank statements and my employer letter,pay slips which was confirming that i am getting the required salary.

Answer: HSMP /Tier 1 visa issuance after December 2006 will require the HSMP/Tier 1 holder to meet the points criteria including the income criteria as per their last HSMP/Tier 1 extension application.

Question: I obtained a Ancestral Visa for the first time in 2004, and again when I was married in 2007. I left the UK two years ago. Is there a limit to the number of times a person can apply for an Ancestral Visa? Can I apply for another one?

Answer: The UK Immigration law and policy allows for the re-application of Ancestral Visas providing the foreign national can provide all the relevant documenation. To meet the settlement requirement of the Ancestral Visa it is imperative to provide sufficient evidence that the intent is to settle in the United Kingdom. Should your current Ancestral Visa still be valid, in that the expiration date has not yet been met, the Ancestral Visa is a multiple entry visa, and will allow for entry clearance into the UK, until such time as the visa has expired.

Question: I have been granted HSMP Visa until Oct 2012, but my passport is up for renewal in May 2011. Do I need to transfer the HSMP Visa from my old passport to the new passport or can I keep holding on to both expired passport which has the HSMP Visa stamp as well as the new passport?

Answer: You would be able to obtain a new passport and then request a Transfer of Conditions from the Home Office, which is in effect another visa in your new passport, without having to reapply for your current HSMP visa.   Alternatively, you are allowed to obtain a new passport and carry your expired passport with your valid visa. 1^st Contact Visas can assist you with the Transfer of Conditions application.

Question: I’m a Kiwi who came to the UK in 2007 on a 2-year HSMP. In 2009 I switched to a 3 year tier 2 permit having been sponsored by my brand new employer (my old employer thinking it was “too hard”…). As the scheme was new there was a really long wait for my employer’s registration to go through – they were saying on the phone and the internet it would be 6-8 weeks but it ended up being  more like 12 weeks before it was sorted. Unfortunately this meant I had to leave the country as my HSMP ran out after about 9 weeks of waiting, and I had to do the application from NZ. So I was gone from the UK for 2 months and for around 6 weeks of that time, I did not have any legal right to live/work in the UK. My question is, how does this affect my continuous residency? I was hoping that next year at the end of this permit I would have 5 years residency and could apply for permanent residency, but does this enforced departure mean that my first 2 years have to be disregarded and I started from scratch again in 2009?

Answer: Continuous residency is determined by breaks in residency of no more than 90 days at one time out of country, and a total of 180 days within the 5 year period preceding your intention of application for Indefinite Leave to Remain. So you’re OK! Your 6-week period is not enough to hamper your application!

Question: Myself and my daughter have indefinite leave to remain visas. Can you please tell me when we can apply for British passports? We have being in the UK for 4 years now and came in on my wife’s British passport.

Answer: Naturalization is possible after 12 months on Indefinite Leave to Remain.  Some additional criteria of continuous residency must be met. And you should have no more than 90 days within the last year spent out of the country.

Question: My great grandfather was born in Wendron, Cornwall on 17 April 1862. Would I qualify for an ancestral visa based on these details?

Answer: Ancestral Visas are issued for foreign nationals whose grandparent was born in the UK. Unfortunately great grandparents are not considered to meet the criteria.

Do you have a pressing question you think our experts may be able to help with?

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