Main Immigration And Visas In United Kingdom
You may need a visa to move to the UK to study, work, visit, or join your family. These immigration and visas processes in the United Kingdom will defer for each individual. These depend on where you are coming from, why you want to come to the UK, your length of stay and your personal circumstances.
With many options available, your best bet would to visit the self-help dashboard provided by the UK government, which will allow you to determine immediately which visa you will be potentially eligible for. This is a quick and easy solution that will save you both time and money down the road.
Relocating during COVID-19 period? Vaccine Passport is another thing you shouldn’t ignore. Check here for more information.
How Do I Apply For Immigration Or A Visa To United Kingdom?
Step 1: Determine your immigration or visa pathway
Use the self-help dashboard provided by the UK government to guide you at this stage.
Step 2: Prepare your application
You can apply and pay for most visas online with gov.uk. Each application is individual, and if you have dependants, each person will need to apply separately. As a general guide, you should begin your application 3 months before your visit for travel and employment visas, and 6 months before your visit for student visas. Most applications require healthcare screenings for tuberculosis, which you will have to factor into your cost and time considerations.
Step 3: Prove your identity
Of course, as part of your process you’ll need to prove your identity and provide accompanying documents to confirm your eligibility. There are generally two pathways at this stage, booking an appointment at a visa application centre in your home country, or to use the UK Immigration: ID Check smartphone application. The application will allow you to scan your identity documents and submit a digital photo of your face, potentially reducing the time needed in your application process.
Step 4: Wait for your result!
After you submit your application, you’ll soon get a letter or an email with the result of your application. It will explain what you need to do next if you’re successful, or the reason for your rejection if you’re not.
Do I Need A Consultant?
With most immigration and visa applications in the United Kingdom available online, an immigration consultant is not a must if you feel ready to handle the process by yourself. However, some with unique circumstances may prefer to defer to the experience of a professional, or you may simply be too busy to project manage this. Whatever your reasons may be, an immigration consultant is often a great resource for you. Here are some of our favourites:
First Migration
First Migration’s immigration services are tailored to your needs. This means that you can choose the price and services suited for you on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Sable
Sable does it all with a full suite of immigration and visa services to the UK. Sable’s consultants will deal with the Home Office on your behalf and guide you along every step of the way. If you’ve decided to make the UK your home, Sable can also pave the way for your citizenship.
Thomas Chase
Thomas Chase takes the complexity out of immigration. This means delivering the services it promises, by setting clear expectations at the very beginning. Furthermore, Thomas provides a range of services to meet all needs, from telephone consultations, document checking and visa chasing services.
If you want to get your Permanent Residence (PR) in the UK, you may want to know pros and cons as well.
There are many immigration consultants available, and we recommend choosing an agent with a track record, list of client references and experience dealing with your circumstances. Are you moving to United Kingdom soon, and need help getting started? 
Otherwise, discover more of our favourite immigration consultants here, or read our one-stop guide to moving to the United Kingdom here!
