Both ILR (including permanent residence and EU Settled status) and British nationality give you the right to live, work and study in the UK free from immigration controls. However, these are two distinct statuses.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Once you get this status, you will be officially a British settled person, and you will be able to live permanently in the UK, have access public funds. Holding ILR is a mandatory step before you can naturalise in the UK as a citizen. However, it is essential to note that you can lose your ILR status if you live outside the UK for more than two years.
British Citizenship: British nationality will grant you full rights and responsibilities of a citizen, and can obtain a British passport. Most importantly, you will be able to leave the UK for unlimited periods of time without worrying about losing your status.
The Home Office has listed accredited centres to examine your knowledge of English Language. A list of those test centres can be found here.
A person subject to deportation is a foreign national (or his family member) that has committed a criminal offence, and who has been deemed a danger to the public good by the Secretary of State.
A person subject to removal is a foreign national (or his family member) who has been requested to leave the UK as a result of overstaying his leave or being in breach of his immigration rules and conditions.
No. You may only have one application pending under the UK Immigration Rules. If you already have a pending application and have made a new application your previous application will be varied and the new application will take precedence.
You may be able to attend a free appointment; however, usually, closer dates are provided at additional cost. Unfortunately, there is no way to find out until you have submitted your application and are redirected to book your appointment slot.
We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application. You may check the current processing times.
If you are outside the UK and have a query about your visa application, you can contact the Home Office by visiting here.
During your visit the following will be scanned: Your passport, fingerprints, digital signature and any relevant documents. A photograph of your face will also be taken. Your passport will be retained until the decision has been made.
You can track an application by contacting the Home Office directly or you may login to your VFS and TLS account to check the status. The Home Office will normally only be able to confirm that the application is under consideration or a decision has been made.
If you have been refused entry clearance, you may be eligible to request an Administrative Review or launch an immigration appeal. You must carefully read your refusal letter to find out your next steps. More information is available on gov.uk.
Only the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Payment will be refunded to the same bank account you made the payment with. Visa application fees are non-refundable.
Yes. Your visa may be cancelled, revoked or curtailed for different reasons. If you believe that there was a mistake and your visa should not be cancelled, you must seek immigration advice before taking any action. If you have had a notice of cancellation, revocation or curtailment and are seeking further advice, please contact us at 0204 525 1798.
This depends on whether you are applying from a listed country which you have been residing in for 6 months or more.
You must collect your BRP card normally within 10 days of your arrival in the UK from the Post Office branch nearest to your intended UK address or an alternative location, as stated on your application form.
It is recommended that you renew your passport at least 6 months prior to making an application.
If you fail to attend the interview with an Entry Clearance Officer without having notified the Home Office, your application is likely to be refused or a decision made considering the documents and facts available without the interview.
The following people can join the main applicant who has already been granted permission: spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner residing together for two years or more, partners in a civil partnership or dependant children under the age of 18 on the date of application.
Yes. You must inform the Home Office of any address changes. You must do so by visiting this link here or writing to the Home Office.
If your current visa has expired and you have not made an application for extensions, you will be considered as an Overstayer. Overstaying is considered a criminal offence, even if done so by one day. Although in some cases the overstay might be disregarded.
If you wish to extend your visa, you can do so from within the UK. The conditions of your extensions will vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for or switching to.
Only few visa types can be switched to another. The best way to check is by using the Home Office website and searching for the visa of your interest.
If you choose to go through the app-based application, there is no requirement to attend a biometric appointment.
The BRP card should be cut into quarters and posted (in a windowless plain envelope) to the following address: BRP Returns, P.O. Box 195, Bristol, BS20 1BT. You may have to pay a penalty of up to £1,000 if you fail to return it.
According to the decision letter and the new guidelines, all BRPs will expire on or before 31 December 2024. In early 2024, UKVI will update the information on the gov.uk website, informing the next steps that needs to be taken by you. The expiration of your BRP card before the expiration of your permission granted does not change your entitlement to work and has no effect on your immigration status.
You have 14 days from the date of receiving your BRP to inform the Home Office about any errors. Otherwise, you may have to apply and pay for a replacement.
The police registration scheme ended on 4 August 2022 therefore it is no longer required.
