New Tier 1 General Rules from 6 April 2014 – no more endless extensions and ILR applications in April 2018.
http://1st4immigration-visas.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/new-tier-1-general-rules-from-6-april.html
Book an appointment
https://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/iapply.portal
Tier 1 (General) of the Points Based System – Policy Guidance, 6 April 2014
- With effect from 6 April 2015, Tier 1 (General) will close and applications to extend leave will no longer be accepted. Applicants who are currently in the UK and who wish to apply to extend their stay must submit an application on or before 5 April 2015.
- With effect from 6 April 2018, applications for indefinite leave to remain will no longer be accepted in the Tier 1 (General) category. Applicants who are currently in the UK and who wish to apply for indefinite leave to remain must submit an application on or before 5 April 2018.
Extending Tier 1 Visa.
Booking an Appointment
What happens if I can’t find a suitable time slot?
If you can’t find a suitable time slot on your preferred day please widen your search to another day, or choose another office location. Demand can be high and if there are no appointments available before your leave expires, please send in your application by post. Please note, appointments are available only for six weeks from the search date and any shown beyond that will be noted as not available. Alternatively, you may choose to enrol your biometrics at one of the participating Post Offices – which operate a walk-in-service where no appointment is necessary. Enrolling at a post office
ref:https://ukbabooking.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukba/faq.html#timeslot
Legal representatives’ same-day service
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/contact/applyinginperson/sameday/
Contact UK Visas and Immigration from inside the UK
https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi
Seto app form, April 2014
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/305230/SET_O__Form_04-14.pdf
TOEFL is not accepted as proof of English in UK Visa applications after 17 April 2014
ETS tests no longer accepted by UK visa authorities, 18.04.2014
http://thepienews.com/news/ets-tests-longer-accepted-uk-visa-authorities/
TOEIC® and TOEFL iBT® testing will no longer be offered for U.K. visa-granting purposes, 17.04.2014
http://www.ets.org/toefl/important_update/update_toefl_uk
If you have not taken a TOEFL test before 17 April 2014 you will not be able to submit a TOEFL test as part of your Visa application.
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/admissions/pgenglish
“There is a qualifying period to complete in most of the categories on this form. It runs either from – the date on which you entered the UK with a visa in the relevant category; or, if you did not enter the UK with such a visa, from – the date on which you were first granted permission to remain in the UK in the relevant category.”
“If you entered the UK with a visa several weeks or more after the date from which it was valid for use, you may need to apply for an extension of stay to complete the relevant qualifying period. Please do not apply more than 28 days before completing the qualifying period. If you apply earlier than that, your application may be refused. If that happens, we will not refund the fee and you will have to pay again when reapplying.”
What may prevent someone to apply for ILR?
Driving Offences – new criminality rules from 13 December 2012
“The new criminality rules for ILR and British Citizenship affected those with driving offences. When it comes to criminality, out of all convictions by far most common are driving offences.
Drink-driving offences, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and driving whilst using a mobile phone are not minor offences but they usually result in a non-custodial sentence, such as fine. Non-custodial sentence means there was no imprisonment but a punishment such as fine, points on licence etc.
1) Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) – Permanent Residency:”
“FOR ILR: From 13 Dec 2012: If you had such an offence then you can only apply for an ILR when 2 years have passed since the date of conviction (in many cases it means waiting less than 5 years under the old rules). This includes fines. It does not include speeding or parking tickets unless they were registered in court and converted into fine. ”
“For CITIZENSHIP: From 13 Dec 2012: If you had such an offence then you can only apply for Citizenship when 3 years have passed since the date of conviction (in many cases it still means waiting less than 5 years under the old rules). This includes fines. It does not include speeding or parking tickets unless they were registered in court and converted into fine.”
ref: http://1st4immigration-visas.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/driving-offences-new-criminality-rules.html
Criminality Threashold for ILR
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/criminality_threashold_for_ilr
How To: Apply for ILR in the UK
“In summary, applying for ILR is subject to the following:
– You have to have lived and worked here continuously for 5 years
– You need to apply for ILR within 28 days of your visa expiring
– Any absences (i.e. holidays, traveling etc outside of the UK) should not exceed 3 months at a time, preferably not more than a month though…
– Your absences from the UK (i.e holidays, traveling etc) may not exceed 6 months (180 days) in total over the 5 year period <NOTE: This fact has been confirmed with the Home Office…>”
http://cleverbirdbanter.com/2011/02/09/how-to-apply-for-ilr-in-the-uk/
Citizenship
Citizenship
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship
Jus soli: right of the soil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_soli
Jus sanguinis: right of blood
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_sanguinis
Cuban Citizenship
http://www.helplinelaw.com/law/cuba/constitution/constitution03.php
Marriage and citizenship: Get hitched or hike, Jul 9th 2016
“As Britain and the European Union prepare to divorce, many of their citizens contemplate tying the knot”
http://www.economist.com/news/international/21701723-britain-and-european-union-prepare-divorce-many-their-citizens-contemplate
Walk right in: When it comes to passports, it pays to be German, Mar 16th 2016
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2016/03/walk-right
In praise of a second (or third) passport, Jan 7th 2012
“Multiple identities are natural. Citizenship laws should catch up”
http://www.economist.com/node/21542413