UK Visas & Immigration Questions

Can I travel to the UK before the date on my visa application?

They will usually make your visa valid from the date you put on the application, so you can't travel before this date unless they have put an earlier date on your visa, such as the date it was issued. It is not valid for entry before that date.

Can I use the Returning Resident visa if I have have been away from the UK for over two years?

No, you cannot use the returning resident visa if your ILR is expired (after two years residence outside the UK it becomes invalid). We have not seen anyone successfully apply this way. You will need to start the process over again, meeting the financial requirements and will not qualify for ILR again for five years. If you are planning to leave the UK for longer than two years, it is strongly recommended that you should aquire citizenship before you leave.

How can I stay and become a permanent resident as an overseas student in the UK?

If you are in the UK on a Tier 4 student visa, then you currently have no way to stay permanently in the UK because you cannot count time on a student visa towards permanent residency. If you wish to be able to stay after your degree, you will need to find a company to sponsor you for a Tier 2 work visa. If you have a degree from a UK university and are still in the UK on a valid Tier 4 visa it is easier to qualify for a Tier 2 than if you are not in the UK and don't have a UK degree. If you...

Is a child born in Britain to American parents automatically a British Citizen?

Of course, the answer to that isn't straightforward, it depends on residence. Presuming that child was born in the UK after 1983, they are a citizen if:
  • One parent is a British citizen, or,
  • One parent has become a British citizen or settled in the UK since the birth and the child is under 18 when applying, or,
  • The child was born in the UK and lived in the UK until they are 10 or older
For more details and applications see Gov.uk, Register as a British...

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