Immigration to UK

The United Kingdom (UK) welcomes travelers from all over the world to either come as temporary visitors for short-term basis or to immigrate to the UK.

Therefore, there are two categories of visas issued by the UK government. The first is known as the ‘Non-Immigrant Visas’. This type of visa is for those people who happen to be foreign nationals wishing to come into the UK for leisure/tourism, business/temporary work, study, medical treatment and other related grounds. And the second is known as ‘Immigrant visas’ which are offered to those foreign nationals who wish or intend to work or settle permanently in the UK.

If an individual is planning to immigrate to the UK, the individual needs to apply for the ILR – ‘Indefinite Leave to remain visa’. Visas in the UK are divided into categories. Tier 1 is for general migration, which includes family sponsorship, Tier 4 is for study purposes and Tier 2 and 5, for work permitted migration.
The applicant can only apply for himself/herself if he or she is a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection. Otherwise, the applicant has to be sponsored by his/her family member. The sponsor will first have proved his/her eligibility, which is a small questionnaire type form on the UK government’s website, www.gov.uk. This form asks questions about how long the sponsor has been staying in the UK, how the sponsor managed to obtain either permanent residence or a UK citizenship, etc. Once all the questions are answered by the sponsor and if he/she is found to be eligible, another form opens up for the applicant, ‘Settle in the UK in various immigration categories’, also known as the SET(O) form. This is a lengthy form consisting of 84 pages. It asks for the applicant’s biometric information along with a list of applicants who are eligible to apply. After the applicant is done with the form, he/she needs to Post their application to the address stated on the form. An appointment needs to be booked and £400 application fee must be paid. Additionally, the applicant may be required to pay for his/her healthcare as well. The applicant also needs to pass an English test along with a life in the UK test before the interview and then a visa can be granted or denied

For immigration based on work, an individual can either apply for Tier 2 or 5 depending on which one is best suited for that particular individual.

Tier 2 is for skilled workers with long-term job offers

Tier 5 is for skilled temporary workers

An individual can also apply for a visa covering both Tier 2 and 5

Tier 2, as stated on the UK government’s website, requires that the applicant meet the requirements set out. This avenue is for:

Multinational companies which need to transfer employees to the UK, also known as Intra-Company Transfer
People coming to work for a religious organization for at least 3 years
Elite sportspeople and coaches
Tier 5 is for skilled workers who want to be employed on a temporary basis. It’s for those individuals who want to:

work as a sportsperson for at least 1 year,
work as a entertainer or artist for at least 2 years
carry out charitable work (unpaid) for at least 1 year
Carry out religious work for e.g. preaching, pastoral work for at least 2 years
Work for the government, Government Authorized Exchange – which requires an individual to show work experience (at least 1 year), research projects or training, e.g. practical medical or scientific training (at least 2 years)
where the worker s coming to do a job which is covered by international law, e.g. employees of overseas governments
Whichever suits the individual requirements, the forms are available on the UK government’s website, as pointed out above. The applicant must fill out the form either online or make a printout, fill it and post it to the UKVI- UK Visas and Immigration along with all the supporting documentation. Usually the address to post your application is, however, it might change depending on the circumstances.

Sponsor casework operations
Sponsor applications team
UK Visas and Immigration
PO Box 3468
Sheffield
S3 8WA

The United Kingdom (UK) welcomes travelers from all over the world to either come as temporary visitors for short-term basis or to immigrate to the UK.

Therefore, there are two categories of visas issued by the UK government. The first is known as the ‘Non-Immigrant Visas’. This type of visa is for those people who happen to be foreign nationals wishing to come into the UK for leisure/tourism, business/temporary work, study, medical treatment and other related grounds. And the second is known as ‘Immigrant visas’ which are offered to those foreign nationals who wish or intend to work or settle permanently in the UK.

If an individual is planning to immigrate to the UK, the individual needs to apply for the ILR – ‘Indefinite Leave to remain visa’. Visas in the UK are divided into categories. Tier 1 is for general migration, which includes family sponsorship, Tier 4 is for study purposes and Tier 2 and 5, for work permitted migration.
The applicant can only apply for himself/herself if he or she is a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection. Otherwise, the applicant has to be sponsored by his/her family member. The sponsor will first have proved his/her eligibility, which is a small questionnaire type form on the UK government’s website, www.gov.uk. This form asks questions about how long the sponsor has been staying in the UK, how the sponsor managed to obtain either permanent residence or a UK citizenship, etc. Once all the questions are answered by the sponsor and if he/she is found to be eligible, another form opens up for the applicant, ‘Settle in the UK in various immigration categories’, also known as the SET(O) form. This is a lengthy form consisting of 84 pages. It asks for the applicant’s biometric information along with a list of applicants who are eligible to apply. After the applicant is done with the form, he/she needs to Post their application to the address stated on the form. An appointment needs to be booked and £400 application fee must be paid. Additionally, the applicant may be required to pay for his/her healthcare as well. The applicant also needs to pass an English test along with a life in the UK test before the interview and then a visa can be granted or denied

For immigration based on work, an individual can either apply for Tier 2 or 5 depending on which one is best suited for that particular individual.

Tier 2 is for skilled workers with long-term job offers

Tier 5 is for skilled temporary workers

An individual can also apply for a visa covering both Tier 2 and 5

Tier 2, as stated on the UK government’s website, requires that the applicant meet the requirements set out. This avenue is for:

Multinational companies which need to transfer employees to the UK, also known as Intra-Company Transfer
People coming to work for a religious organization for at least 3 years
Elite sportspeople and coaches
Tier 5 is for skilled workers who want to be employed on a temporary basis. It’s for those individuals who want to:

work as a sportsperson for at least 1 year,
work as a entertainer or artist for at least 2 years
carry out charitable work (unpaid) for at least 1 year
Carry out religious work for e.g. preaching, pastoral work for at least 2 years
Work for the government, Government Authorized Exchange – which requires an individual to show work experience (at least 1 year), research projects or training, e.g. practical medical or scientific training (at least 2 years)
where the worker s coming to do a job which is covered by international law, e.g. employees of overseas governments
Whichever suits the individual requirements, the forms are available on the UK government’s website, as pointed out above. The applicant must fill out the form either online or make a printout, fill it and post it to the UKVI- UK Visas and Immigration along with all the supporting documentation. Usually the address to post your application is, however, it might change depending on the circumstances.

Sponsor casework operations
Sponsor applications team
UK Visas and Immigration
PO Box 3468
Sheffield
S3 8WA