UK VISA - DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!

Don’t leave home without it. No, not your American Express, but a visa that entitles you to live and work in the UK. Without obtaining your visa before you leave, you will be unable to enter the UK on anything other than a visitor visa.

Immigration officials have the power to turn you away upon arrival, and it does happen. Get sorted before you arrive, with the visa that best suits your plans and circumstances. The UK has a huge variety of entry visas, but in general there are four visas that allow to work and live in the UK. 

Working Holiday Visa 

This is open to people aged 17-27 years and is valid for 2 years. It MUST be obtained in your own country. The basis of this visa is that you are coming to the UK for a holiday but are entitled to work to supplement, NOT support your trip. On a WHV, you may work part time for the duration of your time here, or full time for part of your time here. You are unable to follow or develop your chosen career on this visa. The work you do must be solely to help you cover your own costs while here. In reality, this does not always happen but it is important you understand this rule.

Therefore, don’t bring CVs, references and tools into the country when you arrive – post them. If you are a chef and bring your knives for example, the immigration official may assume you are seeking to develop your skills and you will be put on the next plane home.

You are unable to extend a WHV past two years. If you are entitled to another sort of visa when you leave the country, it is often better to apply for that, as it can be very difficult to change your visa status, and takes up valuable time and earning power. 

UK ancestry/Patriality visa 

Those with parents or grandparents who were born in the UK, you may apply for a visa which entitles you to work in the UK for four years. There are no restrictions on the sort of work you may do.

You must prove your family connections and often must be able to demonstrate you have work prospects when you arrive. If this is a requirement, you need to have a letter confirming you are registered with a recruitment company. The main restriction on this sort of visa is that you must be able to support yourself fully, so are prevented from accessing the social security benefits system.

You are also bound to paying your tax and national insurance. As long as you meet these conditions, you may, after the four year period, apply for an extension of your visa, and eventually qualify for a British passport. 

Marriage/defacto/gay relationship visa 

If you are married to someone who has a British passport or holds an ancestry visa, you may apply for entry clearance to allow unrestricted work in the UK. You may need to demonstrate you can financially support yourself and have job opportunities upon arrival. In the majority of cases, you will initially be issued with a 12 month visa, which will be reviewed at the end of that period.

If you are meeting the criteria you will be issued with a visa to allow you to stay permanently, and eventually qualify for a British passport. With defacto (known as common-law in the UK), and gay relationships, officially there is no policy which covers this. However visas are issued for defacto and/or gay couples, but Recruitment UK recommends you seek professional assistance if you wish to be considered under these sorts of relationships. 

Work permits 

Traditionally the most difficult visa to obtain, these visas are issued to people who have a job in the UK and have specialist skills that an employer has trouble finding in people from the UK/Europe. Applicants must have relevant qualifications and experience for the job the have obtained.

However significant sweeping changes have recently been announced in the UK recently, meaning the application procedure and time to process them is now quicker and easier. Work permits exist to fill shortages in the labour market, and cover a variety of disciplines.

With the recent policy changes and the chronic labour shortages in the UK, Recruitment UK predicts that work permits will become a popular option for may New Zealand and Australian nationals who are unable to obtain a visa due to their age and lack of British family connections.

Get smart 

Without a visa, you are stuffed.

You should ascertain the options you have as soon as you start to plan your trip. Do not listen to pub stories nor assume your mates’ interpretations of the rules are correct, as invariably they are not. Policy can and does change without warning, so base your decisions on facts from the official channels.

Give yourself plenty of time to obtain your visa as processing times is determined by the issuing office, not your travel plans. It is wise to apply for the visa that allows the maximum time you are eligible for. Why? Because….. Once you have arrived you may wish to stay longer than you thought Work prospects are often better and pay more in the UK.

It can be very difficult and time consuming changing visas while in the UK.

·  For full details, application forms and fees you should contact the British High Commission. Forms are available on their websites. 

www.recruitmentuk.net