Category: Visas

How do I obtain British Citizenship?

British citizenship is not an easy thing to obtain. We understand that you may feel a little daunted by the challenge, after all, it will take a lot of commitment to obtain your right-to-remain. This is where Gowing Law Solicitors can come in to help you understand your rights and how you could be eligible to stay in the UK. They will guide you through the UK home office requirements and make sure you understand how you could be eligible for a visa. Keep in mind there are many different types of visas for you to choose from, so ask questions to your lawyer about which would be the best fit for you to obtain British citizenship.

Speak to Gowing Law’s immigration specialists today to get started on obtaining your UK visa. You can call us on 0161 8080 060 or visit our immigration page below:

British Citizenship Button

What is British Citizenship all about?

If you are interested in living in the UK permanently, you will need to receive British Citizenship from the home office. This means that you will need to pay certain fees in order to receive a visa. As you can see from our video, there are many different types of visas that you can choose from. Make sure to read up on them in order to understand which would best you and your situation. For instance, if you are planning on studying in the UK, you may want to go after a student visa. Some examples of some visas may include:

  • Work visas
  • Business visas
  • Spouse visas
  • Asylum
  • Transit Visas

Choosing the type of visa you intend to apply for is important. However, it’s also important to consider British citizenship as a whole. By becoming a British citizen, you are going to be able to live and work within the UK without having to worry about immigration controls. If you want to receive your British citizenship, you are going to have to go through a process called “Naturalisation”. You can start this process once you have received your indefinite leave to remain. Your solicitor can guide you through this process and make sure you get the support needed to get you through this lengthy process. We understand that it can be expensive to achieve British citizenship. That’s why Gowing Law’s helpful team of immigration specialists will be here to support you throughout the entire process.

British Citizenship for people born in the UK

Naturalization & British Citizenship: How do I know I can obtain it?

If you are ready to apply for British Citizenship, it’s important to remember that the complexity of the process will depend on your own personal circumstances. However, the current pandemic as well as Brexit may also have an effect on your citizenship. For instance, it may end up causing delays due to social-distancing and safety measures now being put in place. With that said, your lawyer will be there to provide you personalized advice so you know exactly what to expect. So don’t worry!

There are many different ways that you could eligible to become a British citizen. One of the ways we can help you achieve your citizen status is through naturalisation. You must have lived in the UK for around 5 years (as well as have indefinite leave to remain) or have had permanent resident status for at least 12 months before you made your application.

Here are the criteria that you will need to fulfil during the naturalization process:

British Citizenship Eligibility

What other ways are there to achieve British Citizenship?

It’s important to remember that there other ways that you could achieve British citizenship, outside of naturalization process listed above. Instead, you could achieve a settled status if your partner/spouse has lived in the UK for more than 3 years. However, to do this you will need to have indefinite leave to remain, a settled status within the EU scheme or have a permanent residence document. This is only one of the ways that you could become a resident of the UK. Take a look at our infographic below to get a better idea of how you could achieve British citizenship:

British Citizenship Infographic

There may be other ways that you could be eligible for British Citizenship. Keep in mind that if you want your children to apply to be citizens, they must be registered. If the registration is successful then your children will be able to enter the UK without having to deal with any immigration controls. Your solicitor can give you further advice on this if you encounter any difficulties. Feel free to ask them questions about the process.

Biometric Information

Will I need to pay for British citizenship?

Unfortunately, if you do want to apply for British citizenship, you will need to pay fees. We understand that this can be stressful and may even make you feel overwhelmed. If your application is refused, you will get your fees returned to you. For a general estimate for how much you may pay, it could cost you around £1,330 to undergo the naturalization process. However, this may be subject to your own personal situation and where you are currently situated. It may also depend on why you want to settle in the UK.

This is why we would highly recommend that you speak to an immigration solicitor if you are interested in living in the UK. They can guide you through this lengthy process and ensure that you get the best advice possible. That way you can understand how you can get started and what obstacles you may need to face in the process.

Obtain British Citizenship today with the help of Gowing Law Solicitors!

British Citizenship Button

Our immigration specialists are here to make sure that the settlement process is as simple as possible. That way you can become a British citizen without encountering too many obstacles. Our lawyers can provide you with free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to work with our solicitors, we can offer our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top and will never need to pay any hidden fees.

Contact our law firm today by calling us on 0161 8080 060, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claims checker. One of our specialists will then be available to answer all of your questions.

Read more about legal claims

Blog Button

If you are interested in learning more about immigration and British citizenship, why not click on our blog? We update it regularly with new content about UK legal claims, our law firms latest news and our seasonal events. We also write about our latest competitions and giveaways. So, make sure to keep visiting our blog to learn more! You can also suggest blog topics to us by writing in to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. Make sure to also follow our social media. We just got a brand new LinkedIn, so would be grateful if you could follow us!

We look forward to hearing from you soon to help you with your claim.

Gowing Law Twitterfacebook link for Gowing Law

How do I qualify for a UK student visa?

Obtaining a UK student visa is not as easy as it may first appear. We understand that the current UK lockdown may be making things difficult for you to apply for a visa in general, but Gowing Law’s expert immigration solicitors are here to help you! It’s important to understand what type of visa would best suit your needs, as well as a general time frame around how long it will take to be eligible for a visa. There are many different tiers of student visas, that’s why it’s essential that you get some legal help to pick out the best visa for you.

Gowing Law’s team can help you understand what sort of UK student visa you need. All you need to do is get in contact with us to get started! Call us today on 0800 041 8350 or use the button below to visit our immigration webpage:

UK Student Visa Button

What sort of visas could I be eligible for?

Before we jump into more information about your eligibility for a UK student visa, one of the things we want to bring up are the different types of visas in general. Whilst your thoughts may be on coming over solely for academic study, there may be others types of visas that could get you temporary access to the UK. Of course, if you want to stay for a longer period of time then you will have to find out more information about the indefinite leave to remain, aka. a settlement status. However, if you only need to be in the UK for a certain amount of time, you may want to consider one of the following Visa types:

Different types of Visas

As you can see, there are many different types of visas that you can choose from in order to remain in the UK. Each of these visa categories have subsets that will change how long you could stay in the UK for. Additional conditions for your visa may depend on:

  • Why you’re interested in living in/coming to the UK
  • The country you were born in
  • Your skill-set
  • How long you want to stay in the UK for

Make sure to speak to your solicitor before you decide specifically on the type of visa you will apply for. They can give you advice based on your situation. That way you can make the right choice for you, and any family that could be involved in process.

Timescale of UK study visa

Applying for a UK student visa: The Tier System

If you are going to apply for a UK student visa, it’s important to understand that there are different types of student visas that could be eligible for. The type of visa you select will depend on the length of time you want to spend in the UK and your own qualifications. It’s very likely that you will also need a conditional offer from a course sponsor (i.e. a university, college or specialist course provider). The tier system is based on point-scoring categorisation. The level you receive depends on your age, fluency of language and your skill set. It may also include why you are visiting the UK. For a UK student visa, it is very likely that you will fall under Tier 4.

If you feel a little unsure about which tier would best suit you, speak to your solicitor for more information about each of them. They can help you sort our your eligibility and what additional qualifications you may need to have a successful application.

language skills and UK study visas

Tier Four: UK Student Visa

If you are interested in studying in the UK at a university or college level, there are a few categories that you must tick in order to move forward. These are:

  • Have a Tier 4 sponsor give you a conditional offer for a course in the UK
  • Be over the age of 16
  • Be able to read, write and speak English at a specific level (Or take a test to prove your ability)
  • Have the right amount of money to pay for your course and to support yourself whilst you are in the UK

There are additional options available to you if you need extra support whilst you are studying in the UK. If you are worried that you won’t fulfil all of the necessary criteria, talk to your solicitor about how you can change this. It may just be that you need some advice. This may include the best ways to improve your language skills or how you can get financial support for your time during the UK. Just remember that if you do not fulfil all of the criteria, it is likely that it may take longer for you to secure your visa.

Short-term study visas

Tier 4: Student Visas for Children

If you have children that are under the age of 18, you may be considering whether or not your family could qualify for study outside of a university. Instead, you may want them to attend a school in the UK. This is possible but your children will need to apply for a different type of study visa. They must also:

  • Be accepted into a school or scholarly establishment that has a Tier 4 sponsor license
  • Be between 4-17 years old

As parents, you must prove that you have enough funds to support your children whilst they are in the UK. Keep in mind that if you are intending to have your children looked after by a UK carer, you will need to pay around £560 per month for caring costs. If you intend to be with your child in the UK, and they are under the age of 12, then you will need to prove that you will be able to fund around £1535 a month for every month you intend to stay in the UK.

If you have any concerns about how you can help your children obtain a UK student visa, your solicitor will be there to give you personalized advice. That way you can figure out what is best for you and your family.

Speak to Gowing Law Solicitors today about a UK student visa!

UK Student Visa Button

If you are ready to get started with the visa process, our immigration specialists will be here to help. Our solicitors can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with our solicitors on your case, we can support you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means there will be no hidden fees. Instead, you will always come out on top.

Contact our solicitors today to get started! Call us on 0161 8080 060, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or use our claims checker. One of our friendly team members will then be in contact to answer any additional questions you may have. We are here to provide as much support as you need!

Learn more about UK student visas

Blog Button

If you’re ready to learn more about immigration applications, why not click on our blog? We can help you understand the basics of different legal claims before you even get in contact with us! We talk about personal injury claims, tax claims, financial mis-selling and will-writing. Our blog also details our latest updates about our company and any holiday content. This includes information about our latest competitions and giveaways. If you want to see a certain topic covered in our blog, let us know! You can send in your suggestions to info@gowinglaw.co.uk.

Below you can also find the links to our social media. Make sure to follow it to see our latest video content, blogs and giveaways.

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog!

Gowing Law Twitterfacebook link for Gowing Law