For many non-British nationals residing in the UK with a valid visa, leave under Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 provides an important safeguard. Section 3C automatically extends a person's visa while a decision on their application to extend their leave, appeal, or administrative review of any refusal decision is pending. This prevents such a person from becoming an overstayer in the UK. Even though this sounds like a straightforward protection, in reality, there can be a legal grey area
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
The EU Settlement Scheme's continuous residence test is being made significantly more generous for pre-settled status holders by introducing a new absence rule to sit alongside the existing limits.
From 16 July 2025, Annex 1 of Appendix EU is amended under the provisions of the Statement of Changes HC 836, laid on 24 June 2025, redefining the "continuous qualifying period" for the pre-settled status holders so that they have an additional route to complete the required five years' continuous
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
If you are awaiting a decision from the UKVI on a UK visa application, you would like to track the progress of your application, as it can be crucial to planning ahead, especially where you are facing travel deadline pressure for a decision. Hence, whether you are applying from overseas for entry clearance or leave to enter the UK, or you have applied from within the UK to extend your existing visa or to switch to another UK visa category, it is important to know how to track your visa applicati
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
Working in the UK can be a dream-come-true life event for many foreign nationals. To work in the UK, you will usually need a work visa or work permit. Working in the UK through most work visas, such as a UK skilled worker visa, often requires a formal job offer. But there are other routes that allow individuals to work in the UK without having prior employment. Each of these visas has its own requirements and application procedures. So, it is important to explore each of them in detail and then
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
Those who wish to come to the UK (fresh visa) or remain in the UK (visa extension), ILR, BRP, or Naturalisation will need to pay an application fee as part of the process. The Fee is published on the Home Office website - Fee from 01 July 2025
How much the applicants will need to pay depends on the type of visa, where they are applying from, and whether they are required to pay additional costs (such as the IHSC (immigration healthcare surcharge), BRP (biometric residence permits), and any VA
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
Exceptional circumstances applications are usually UK family visa applications under the partner and parent routes. When you fail to meet the financial or other requirements under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, you may still be able to obtain leave to enter or leave to remain based on exceptional circumstances. However, exceptional circumstances do not exempt you from all rules.
Where an applicant makes an exceptional circumstances application under the GEN 3.2 of Appendix FM as a spo
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
From the introduction of Appendix FM in July 2012, the requirement for suitability was also introduced. The Suitability requirement works hand in hand with the General Grounds for Refusal provided under part 9 of the immigration rules.
The suitability requirement applies at the stages of Entry Clearance application that are the applications made from outside the UK or application for leave to remain and Indefinite Leave to Remain, the applications made form inside the UK.
Appendix FM, wh
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) UK and British citizenship have some common features. For example, both give you the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely without any immigration control, access to the NHS (National Health Service), and public funds. However, there are quite a few differences between the two as well. For example, where you cannot lose your British citizenship once you obtain it (unless you renounce it yourself), you can lose your ILR status if you remain outside
...By visaandmigration.com - 1 month ago
An overseas domestic worker visa allows foreign workers to come to the UK with their overseas employer, who is coming to the UK as a visitor or diplomat posted to the UK. On this visa, overseas domestic workers can work in the private home of their employer or a diplomat in the UK. If your employer is coming to the UK as a visitor, you must travel with them, their wife, husband, or children. You can stay in their home for up to 6 months only. However, if your employer is a foreign diplomat, you
...By visaandmigration.com - 2 months ago
Visa refusals can be a nightmare, especially if it matters a lot to you. Usually, visa refusal happens for valid reasons such as missing documents, incorrectly filled out application, inability to prove your eligibility, etc. You must ensure you have covered all aspects of your visa application, such as meeting eligibility requirements, submitting correct documents, paying the visa fee (unless you applied and received a fee waiver), proving your identity, and replying if the UKVI requires more
...By visaandmigration.com - 2 months ago
