Tier 1 - Entrepreneur

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is for foreign nationals applying to immigrate to the UK based on a substantial investment, by starting or assuming control of a UK business without having the need for a sponsor. However, applicants still need to reach a specified points limit based on both general Tier 1 visa requirements and more specific criteria.
Proficiency in the English Language is an important factor. The language requirement requires a pass mark of ten and candidates must be able to demonstrate one of the following. A candidate immigrating to the UK must be able to financially support him/herself and must be able to support any dependents that might accompany them.
Like the English language requirement, this criterion has a pass mark of ten which must be met in order for an application to proceed. The required amount for the main applicant is £2800, for the first dependent the required amount is 2/3 of the sum for the main applicant with any dependents thereafter requiring 1/3.

Tier 1 - Investor

The Tier 1 Investor visa is designed for those who intend to make a substantial investment in the UK.
Although this is also a requirement of the entrepreneur category, the investment sum for those in this category is much larger and no requirements to engage in business activities are in place.For these reasons proficiency in the English language is deemed unnecessary as is the mandatory requirement that applicants must be able to financially support both themselves and their dependents.By definition those investing sufficient funds to pass the requirements do not need to undergo a maintenance test.

Tier 2 - Work Permits

Tier 2 work permits are designed for medium and highly skilled workers immigrating to the UK and require applicants to have a confirmed offer of employment with a British company.
Applying for a tier 2 visa is an employer led process with the sponsoring company applying on behalf of the candidate. However, like all tiers of the new system, candidates will be assessed against a points test, in this case with a 50-point minimum pass mark. All applicants will be required to meet this threshold in order to qualify.
Like Entrepreneur and Investor visas, the Tier 2 work permit offers the long-term possibility of permanent residency in the UK. Although the tier 2 permit is not in itself a permanent residency visa, candidates living and working in the UK for the minimum residency requirement of five years may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK (ILR). Beyond this, a candidate may choose to undergo British Naturalisation as a UK citizen.

Tier 2 Intra Company Transfers

Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfers (ICT's) allow multi-national employers to transfer overseas employees to fill a specific position which they have been unable to fill from the local resident workforce.
Applying for an Intra-Company Transfer work permit allows non-citizens to work in a country in a specific role for a specific company for an agreed period. For this type of work permit candidates need to have been employed by the overseas branch of the company for a period of six months or more prior to the application and must demonstrate that the candidate has the relevant knowledge and experience to fulfil the role. Depending on the country you are applying for, applications must be made either by the sponsoring company or employee themselves.

How World Visas can help

As a specialist UK immigration consultancy, World Visas can help you to assess which British immigration service is the most appropriate for your relocation to the UK.
We can help you to navigate the wide range of UK visas and working permits available in order to determine which is the most appropriate for your needs. Whether you require a temporary visitor visa to visit Britain on a short-term basis, or a longer-term immigration solution, our immigration consultants can provide immigration lawyer advice through your UK visa application.
A World Visas immigration consultant can manage your case from your initial inquiry through to providing you with a comprehensive range of on arrival services to help you adjust to living and working in Britain.
Our online assessment area makes it easy to get started on your business visa application. Simply answer a few straight forward questions and a World Visas migration consultant will contact you. 

Post Study Visas
See above

Work Permits
Tier 2 of the points based system for UK immigration replaces the previous system of work permits as part of the new UK visa structure.
Tier 2 work permits are designed for medium and highly skilled workers immigrating to the UK and require applicants to have a confirmed offer of employment with a British company.
With the exception of tier 1 visas, which replace the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) all non-EEA nationals relocating to the UK need to have a sponsor in place and must be in possession of a Certificate of Sponsorship in order to apply for a tier 2 work permit.
As with the previous system of UK work permits, applying for a tier 2 visa is an employer led process with the sponsoring company applying on behalf of the candidate. However, like all tiers of the new system, candidates will be assessed against a points test, in this case with a 50-point minimum pass mark. All applicants will be required to meet this threshold in order to qualify.

Benefits of a Tier 2 Visa

Tier 2 immigration like tier 1, offers the long-term possibility of permanent residency in the UK. Although the tier 2 permit is not in itself a permanent residency visa, candidates living and working in the UK for the minimum residency requirement of five years may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK (ILR). Beyond this, a candidate may choose to undergo British Naturalisation as a UK citizen.

Tier 2 Work Permits – For Employers

The Points Based System places greater emphasis on the accountability and responsibility of sponsors in selecting the non-EEA nationals they bring to the UK. Under the tier 2 immigration structure, employers are responsible for ensuring that candidates are eligible and suitable to fill the positions being offered and as an organisation, they may be subjected to immigration compliance checks with or without prior notice.
Employers will be awarded either an A or B level sponsorship licence according to the Border and Immigration Agency’s risk assessment. In most cases, successful candidates will be awarded an A rating, however, where employers do not sufficiently fulfil their responsibilities they may be downgraded to a B rating or have their licence revoked altogether.
When issuing a certificate of sponsorship, employers must be able to show that the position is a genuine vacancy with remuneration equal to that which a UK national would receive were they to be employed in the same position.
The role must also be at or above the National Vocation Qualification (NVQ) level 3. For shortage occupations, positions do not have to be advertised in the UK before a sponsor can employ a non-EEA national, however where positions do not appear on the list of shortage occupations, employers must show that they have attempted to fill the role within the UK.

Tier 2 Work Permits – For Employees

Whilst the exact requirements of the Points Based System for tier 2 visas are still to be finalised, the following breakdown shows the anticipated allocation of points. Candidates will be assessed on their qualifications and their prospective earnings.

Qualifications

Prospective Earnings

Non-shortage positions are inherently worth 30 points, shortage positions will automatically receive 50 points. Candidates applying for an Intra Company Transfer (ICT) will also receive 50 points.

Changing Employment on Tier 2 Visas

Tier 2 immigration permit candidates can change their job whilst in the UK, however the process of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship must be repeated and a candidate must be reassessed against the points test.

Intra-Corporate Transfers

Applying for an ICT under tier 2 allows a candidate to transfer from an overseas branch of a UK firm to work on a specific project. Unlike the previous ICT system, tier 2 places greater emphasis upon the employer demonstrating that the salary is appropriate for the position and that no UK resident worker can fill the position.

Spouse and Dependent Immigration

As outlined above, a tier 2 immigration visa for the UK may lead to permanent settlement in the UK if the candidate continues living and working in the UK for five years.
Since visas of this kind may lead to indefinite leave to remain, tier 2 makes provision for the spouse, common law, civil or unmarried partner of the applicant and any dependent children to move to the UK at the same time. Any such dependents would be granted the same period of leave as the main tier 2 visa applicant. As dependents they will be able to seek employment in the UK.

How World Visas Can Help
World Visas provide a complete range of UK immigration and visa services under the new points based system and as the system is rolled out in the UK, we will be fully equipped to help you obtain the right visa for your needs. We help thousands of individuals and businesses to obtain UK visas and immigrate to destinations across the globe every year and we operate on a flat fee structure taking the stress out of obtaining your visa.
For businesses, we provide full immigration compliance services helping you to fulfil your sponsorship responsibilities and maintain your A rating. If you would like to know more about coming to the UK on a tier 2 work permit, or you need to apply for a sponsorship licence call us today.

ILR Permanent Residency
The ILR UK visa service is a British immigration option, which provides Indefinite Leave to Remain in Britain, commonly known as permanent UK residency.
An application for permanent residency in the UK can be made by people who have previously been successful in applying for a visa in Britain in a category leading to settlement.
Global Visas help you to obtain anything from a short-term visit visa through to long-term residency and citizenship. You can find out whether you qualify by completing our online Indefinite Leave to Remain assessment form today.

ILR Benefits

A permanent resident visa for Great Britain has no time limit imposed upon it and whereas a work permit would depend upon a specific offer of employment, there are no immigration related restrictions upon the type of work or business a person with a permanent UK resident status may undertake on arrival.

ILR Duration

There is no time limit; however, it is important to note that holders should not spend periods of more than two years outside of the United Kingdom. A long-term UK resident should consider the United Kingdom as home and spending only short periods of time in Britain may lead to the loss of ILR.
A person with ILR may be eligible to apply for British Naturalisation as a UK citizen, provided they meet the requirements for British citizenship.

Eligibility Criteria

For this kind of permanent UK residency application, the applicant must have a settled status in Britain. This usually means that the candidate has been resident in Great Britain on the same visa class for at least four years (excluding student visas). The only exception to this is for people on marriage visas or De Facto visas who only require two years and for periods of exceptionally long-term residency (10 years legal, or 14 years as a combination of illegal and legal residency).
Categories that can lead to an application for permanent residence in the UK include:

For more information on this route of UK visa application, please visit our section on applying for a Long Term Residency visa.

ILR and Marriage in Britain

If you successfully apply for permanent residency in the UK, you will be allowed to live and work in the country lawfully with no time limit or conditions on your stay. You will also be able to apply for public benefits where eligible. In order to qualify as a permanent resident in the UK you must be able to show that you were given permission to enter or remain in the country on a marriage visa, as a husband, wife or civil partner of someone settled in the country and that the period of the visa for spouse immigration has been completed.
The marriage must still be in place and you must both intend to continue the marriage. You will also need to provide a range of documentation, including passports and evidence of co-habitation as part of your permanent residence application.
Additional Information:
Please note -   Requires applicants to demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the English language and life in Britain in order to qualify.

Family Visas
Successful applicants for UK immigration (for example, HSMP applicants) can generally bring spouses, partners and dependent children with them to the UK.  The relative will then enjoy the same benefits as the main applicant in terms of work rights and rights to education for the children.
Generally, such partners or children must apply for entry clearance before coming to the UK. The partner of the main visa holder would have the same conditions placed on their visa as the visa holder.

Family Visa Categories

Alternatively, there are options available to those who are in relationships with UK citizens, permanent residents or EU Citizens (generally those who at least have Indefinite Leave to Remain) to be sponsored to come to the UK with a view to being here permanently.

Tourist Visas
A UK visit visa allows a person to travel and stay in the UK for up to six months. It also covers people coming to the UK for business trips or medical treatment and those passing through the UK.
A Business Visitor Visa is often the best temporary immigration route for business people who wish to attend the UK for short trips. As long as they are not entering into any type of work and will only be attending meetings, conferences or auditing work they are allowed to stay for up to six months.
This is a very swift and effective type of visa which allows people to enter the UK without the need for the more formal requirements of other immigration routes, such as those involved in a Work Permit application, to be approved.
A Business Visitor Visa can be granted for a single entry or for multiple entries with a validity of two years. This way a person does not require constant renewals every time they wish to travel to the UK on business. Artists who are not performing can also use this visa to enter the UK if they wish to attend interviews or promote a piece of work such as a movie or a book without needing to apply for any further permits to work.

Benefits

The UK tourist visa lasts for up to two years if it is granted for multiple entries. A person can stay on a visitor visa for a maximum of six months except for medical visitors who can extend their leave to remain if required. As outlined above, the key benefit of a UK Business Visit Visa, or a visa for tourism is that the requirements on the part of the applicant are few. Unlike longer-term business visa, student visas or the Tier 1 visa, this short-term visa service allows its holder to enter the country freely and in the case of business people, to engage in a range of business activities without the more demanding requirements of other immigration services.

Public Funding

To be eligible for a UK visit visa you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds. You must also intend to return home at the expiry of your UK travel visa. If a person has family settled in the UK an Entry Clearance Officer may question a person's intention to return home. For a UK visit visa to be granted it is important to note that it is not just your Immigration history that will be taken into account but that of your family.

Visit Visas for Medical Purposes

Medical Visitor visas are often issued to individuals who wish to attend the UK for medical treatment. In the past, the UK was a highly respected destination for medical Visitors. From IVF to plastic surgery it was accepted that the United Kingdom was a leader in these fields.
Today, fewer people attend the UK for medical treatment however, it is still important to note that a Medical Visitor visa can only be granted in certain cases. For a visa to be granted a person must not have a terminal illness and the treatment concerned must be private.
A medical visa is granted for six months at a time and is renewable for the duration of the treatment. Once again the grant can either be for a single entry, or for multiple entries for those people who wish to continue their treatment as an outpatient, only flying into the UK for appointments.