Sunday, 30 January 2011
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Working in the UK
This section describes the immigration categories available to foreign nationals who want to work in the UK. Each category has different requirements, so you should read the eligibility requirements for your chosen category before you apply.
If you are a UK employer and you want to employ migrant workers, go to the Employers and education providers section.
In 2008, our points-based system for immigration replaced most of our previous work-based categories. For more information about this change, see the Comparisons page.
If you want to come to the UK for a short time as a businessperson, sportsperson, entertainer or special visitor, the Business and special visitors section explains how you can apply.
For highly skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs and recent graduates from UK universities
You do not need a job offer when you apply to enter or stay in the UK in these categories, but you will need to pass a points-based assessment.
For skilled workers
If you have been offered a skilled job in the UK and your prospective employer is willing to sponsor you, you can apply to come or stay here to do that job.
For temporary workers
If an employer in the UK is willing to sponsor you, or if you are a national of a country that participates in the youth mobility scheme, you may be eligible for temporary entry permitting various types of work here.
Other categories
You can also apply to work in the UK as a domestic worker; as the sole representative of an overseas firm; or as a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.
For workers from the European Economic Area and Switzerland
Most European nationals are free to come to and work in the UK - but if you are a national of a country that has recently joined the European Union, you may need to register with us or apply for our permission before you begin work.
For workers and businesspersons from Turkey
Turkish citizens can benefit from a European agreement with Turkey if they want to establish themselves in business in the UK, or if they are already working here legally.
For Commonwealth citizens with UK ancestry
If you are a Commonwealth citizen and at least one of your grandparents was born in the UK, you can apply to come here to work.
This section describes the immigration categories available to foreign nationals who want to work in the UK. Each category has different requirements, so you should read the eligibility requirements for your chosen category before you apply.
If you are a UK employer and you want to employ migrant workers, go to the Employers and education providers section.
In 2008, our points-based system for immigration replaced most of our previous work-based categories. For more information about this change, see the Comparisons page.
If you want to come to the UK for a short time as a businessperson, sportsperson, entertainer or special visitor, the Business and special visitors section explains how you can apply.
For highly skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs and recent graduates from UK universities
You do not need a job offer when you apply to enter or stay in the UK in these categories, but you will need to pass a points-based assessment.
For skilled workers
If you have been offered a skilled job in the UK and your prospective employer is willing to sponsor you, you can apply to come or stay here to do that job.
For temporary workers
If an employer in the UK is willing to sponsor you, or if you are a national of a country that participates in the youth mobility scheme, you may be eligible for temporary entry permitting various types of work here.
Other categories
You can also apply to work in the UK as a domestic worker; as the sole representative of an overseas firm; or as a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.
For workers from the European Economic Area and Switzerland
Most European nationals are free to come to and work in the UK - but if you are a national of a country that has recently joined the European Union, you may need to register with us or apply for our permission before you begin work.
For workers and businesspersons from Turkey
Turkish citizens can benefit from a European agreement with Turkey if they want to establish themselves in business in the UK, or if they are already working here legally.
For Commonwealth citizens with UK ancestry
If you are a Commonwealth citizen and at least one of your grandparents was born in the UK, you can apply to come here to work.
Asylum
This section explains:
■who may be given asylum in the UK;
■how we process applications for asylum;
■what an asylum applicant can expect while we consider their application; and
■what happens after our decision has been made.
The UK has a proud tradition of providing a place of safety for genuine refugees. However, we are determined to refuse protection to those who do not need it, and will take steps to remove those who are found to have made false claims.
Asylum is protection given by a country to someone who is fleeing persecution in their own country. It is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. To be recognised as a refugee, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you have a well-founded fear of persecution.
The UK also adheres to the European Convention on Human Rights, which prevents us sending someone to a country where there is a real risk that they will be exposed to torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
If you do not qualify for asylum but we think there are humanitarian or other reasons why we should allow you to stay in the UK, we may give you temporary permission to stay here.
In 2007, 19 of every 100 people who applied for asylum were recognised as refugees and given asylum. Another 9 of every 100 who applied for asylum did not qualify for refugee status but were given permission to stay for humanitarian or other reasons. (When these figures were published, 17 of every 100 applications had not yet resulted in a final decision.)
For more information about the number of asylum applications we receive and their outcomes, read the Home Office's Immigration and asylum statistics.
See Claiming asylum to find out how to make an application.
We now aim to conclude all new asylum applications within 6 months. This means that within 6 months:
■a successful applicant will start integration into life in the UK; or
■an unsuccessful applicant will return home, either voluntarily or by enforced removal.
You can find more information about this in the Asylum process section.
For the full technical details of the policy and process that our asylum staff follow, see Policy and law.
If you are an organisation that works with asylum applicants (including those who have already been given or refused asylum), you can find out about our projects and other work in the Working with migrants from outside Europe section.
■who may be given asylum in the UK;
■how we process applications for asylum;
■what an asylum applicant can expect while we consider their application; and
■what happens after our decision has been made.
The UK has a proud tradition of providing a place of safety for genuine refugees. However, we are determined to refuse protection to those who do not need it, and will take steps to remove those who are found to have made false claims.
Asylum is protection given by a country to someone who is fleeing persecution in their own country. It is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. To be recognised as a refugee, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you have a well-founded fear of persecution.
The UK also adheres to the European Convention on Human Rights, which prevents us sending someone to a country where there is a real risk that they will be exposed to torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
If you do not qualify for asylum but we think there are humanitarian or other reasons why we should allow you to stay in the UK, we may give you temporary permission to stay here.
In 2007, 19 of every 100 people who applied for asylum were recognised as refugees and given asylum. Another 9 of every 100 who applied for asylum did not qualify for refugee status but were given permission to stay for humanitarian or other reasons. (When these figures were published, 17 of every 100 applications had not yet resulted in a final decision.)
For more information about the number of asylum applications we receive and their outcomes, read the Home Office's Immigration and asylum statistics.
See Claiming asylum to find out how to make an application.
We now aim to conclude all new asylum applications within 6 months. This means that within 6 months:
■a successful applicant will start integration into life in the UK; or
■an unsuccessful applicant will return home, either voluntarily or by enforced removal.
You can find more information about this in the Asylum process section.
For the full technical details of the policy and process that our asylum staff follow, see Policy and law.
If you are an organisation that works with asylum applicants (including those who have already been given or refused asylum), you can find out about our projects and other work in the Working with migrants from outside Europe section.
After you have lived legally in the UK for a certain length of time (usually between two and five years), you may be able to apply for permission to settle here. This is known as 'indefinite leave to remain'..
Your right to apply for settlement will depend on your current immigration category. You should read the section for your category (in Working in the UK, Partners and family members or Asylum) to find out whether and when you can apply for settlement.
Most applicants will need to show that they have a knowledge of language and life in the UK.
The How to apply for settlement section lists the categories of migrant who can apply, and explains which application form to use. You must be in the UK when you apply using one of these application forms. The only migrants who can apply for settled status from outside the UK are certain partners and family members of British citizens and settled persons.
Please do not send us your application more than 28 days before you become eligible to apply. If you do, we may refuse your application with no refund of the application fee (where a fee is charged). However, you must make your application before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.
If you are already in the UK but you have not been here long enough to apply for settlement, you can apply to extend your temporary permission to stay.
Returning to the UK if you have been living abroad
If you were given permission to settle here but you then decided to live abroad for some time, you may be able to return to the UK as a settled person. The Returning residents page contains more information
Your right to apply for settlement will depend on your current immigration category. You should read the section for your category (in Working in the UK, Partners and family members or Asylum) to find out whether and when you can apply for settlement.
Most applicants will need to show that they have a knowledge of language and life in the UK.
The How to apply for settlement section lists the categories of migrant who can apply, and explains which application form to use. You must be in the UK when you apply using one of these application forms. The only migrants who can apply for settled status from outside the UK are certain partners and family members of British citizens and settled persons.
Please do not send us your application more than 28 days before you become eligible to apply. If you do, we may refuse your application with no refund of the application fee (where a fee is charged). However, you must make your application before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.
If you are already in the UK but you have not been here long enough to apply for settlement, you can apply to extend your temporary permission to stay.
Returning to the UK if you have been living abroad
If you were given permission to settle here but you then decided to live abroad for some time, you may be able to return to the UK as a settled person. The Returning residents page contains more information
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Sponsor management system, online sponsor application and points-based calculator unavailable on Sunday 12 December
09 December 2010
On Sunday 12 December we will temporarily suspend access to the sponsor management system, online sponsor application and the points-based calculator between 08:00 and 10:30 while we undertake essential maintenance.We apologise for any inconvenience while this work is completed
Extended student visitor visa for migrants studying English language courses
13 December 2010
From 10 January 2011, English language students wishing to attend exclusively English language courses will be able to apply for a student visitor visa allowing them to stay for up to 11 months. The extended student visitor visa will only be available to applicants outside the UK.Students wishing to study other courses in the UK for longer than 6 months will still need to apply under Tier 4 of the points-based system.
If you are a 'non-visa-national' who does not normally need a visa to study for up to 6 months, you must apply for the extended visa if you wish to take a longer English language course.
The extended student visitor visa's other requirements, entitlements and restrictions are the same as those for the current student visitor route. The student visitor route does not allow students to work, take a work placement, bring dependants, extend their stay or switch into other courses at the end of their stay. Our Visa services section contains more information about the student visitor route.
The fee for an extended student visitor visa will be the same as for a student visitor visa.
We will carry out a review of the extended student visitor visa within the next 12 months, to ensure that it is operating as intended.
This change does not affect the ongoing consultation on the main student route to the UK (Tier 4 of the points-based system), which has set out proposals to tackle abuse and make the system more selective and robust.
A written ministerial statement about the change is available under 'Related documents' on the right side of this page.
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