Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for the ‘Visas’ Category

There are several kinds of Visa UK, which can make an applying foreign national confused. So, here’s a quick guide to the different types of visa available.

The Tier 1 visa (General) is designed to allow non-EU foreigners who will contribute to the economy to immigrate to the UK. The granting of this visa is based on the applicant’s success in achieving a point threshold of 75. Sponsors are not needed when applying for a Tier 1 visa.

British companies wishing to sponsor an overseas employee to come to the UK should apply for a Tier 2 Work Permit.

The Entrepreneur visa permits experienced business clients to live and work in the country, as well as invest capital and start a business in the UK.

The Tier 1 Investor Visa, allows business clients to go to the UK to invest in the British economy or to relocate to the country armed with pioneering ideas under the UK innovator visa.

These visas allow for permanent residency or indefinite leave to remain in the UK to be applied for.

To obtain a study permit in the country, a foreign individual must apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa, which allows foreign students to attend college or university in the UK.

If a foreign student wishes to stay in the UK for a little longer, in order to work, they can apply for a Post Study Work visa.

A UK Marriage Visa enables a husband, wife or a civil partner of a person who is already present and settled in the UK to enter the country.

The UK Fiancé Visa permits a person who is already settled and a permanent resident in the UK to bring his fiancé into the country.

Making the decision to immigrate to USA will mean your life is never the same again. If you are planning to live there permanently you’ll find that your way of life, values, and pastimes may start to be completely different to when you lived in the UK.

Fortunately the US Visa policy is relatively straightforward and offers even more convenience and ease of use now that you can apply for your Visa online. However, it’s worth noting that Visa processing times have increased recently to an average of around 90 days, so you’re advised to apply early.

Generally if you want to apply for an immigrant USA Visa, you must be sponsored either by a US citizen relative, lawful permanent resident, or by a prospective employer. If you’re sponsored by an employer you will need to apply for an Employment-Based Visa. For this you may require labour certification from the US Department of Labour.

Anyone who enters the USA with a Visa is also required to have certain vaccinations carried out, so you’ll need to have a jab for one or more of Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Polio, and Varicella among others.

Another important thing to remember is the various fees that will apply when you begin the process of getting a USA Visa. The application fee in itself is currently $355, which is non-refundable – so you’ll want to be certain of your decision before you commit yourself. There may also be a surcharge of $45 or so – these are all things you should bear in mind when considering your move to the USA.

If you’ve decided to leave the UK and immigrate to Australia, then you’re certainly not alone. UK immigrants in fact make up the largest percentage of immigrants in Australia, with an astounding 1.2 million UK-born people now living in Australia (as of July 2009).

With Australia being such a popular home for those born in the UK, you should find that your relocation to ‘down-under’ will run smoothly with the help of immigration services and other UK locals on hand for advice. However it’s still worthwhile keeping abreast of all the latest Australian immigration news, so that you know you are up-to-date with all the most relevant changes and amendments to the Australian immigration system.

For example the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship recently announced changes to the Long Stay Visa program. Essentially this means that if you are planning to get an Employer-sponsored Visa there are now new minimum salary levels and language requirements, so you should re-check your eligibility should that be the path you wish to go down.

Similarly those who lodged applications to become chefs in Australia before April 2009 were informed in June 2009 that they no longer need to meet an English proficiency requirement – meaning that all those waiting on Visa applications of this nature should now see their processing times reduced somewhat.

News announcements such as these are worth knowing about – because you never know, a new regulation or amendment to the Australian Immigration policies could be very relevant to your application.