Visa Services

The Foreign Office has announced that the British Embassy in Bucharest, Romania will now accept visa applications online. The new procedure will save applicants from the having to queue outside the Embassy and the online procedure will allow the applicant to choose an interview time.

An immigration judge has rebuked an entry clearance officer for speculating about the intentions of an applicant and refusing her entry.

The applicant is from Ukraine and made an entry clearance application in order to study English in the UK. She decided to do so having met a British man in Ukraine and their relationship flourished. In refusing the applicant entry clearance, the entry clearance officer noted that the applicant already has qualifications; he questioned why the applicant was not applying for settlement on the basis of the relationship; and commented on the age difference between the applicant and her sponsor. The entry clearance officer refused the application on the basis that he did not believe the applicant was intending to follow the course of proposed study and he did not believe the applicant intended to leave the UK on the completion of her studies.

The European Union (EU) has proposed an amendment of the list of countries whose nationals need a visa to enter EU countries under the Schengen Agreement.

Bolivia would be added to the list, as would 'British Citizens who are not nationals of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland for the purposes of Community Law: British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Overseas Citizens, British Subjects and British Protected Persons'.

The Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) 2006 Regulations became law on 4 July 2006.

The Regulations allow British embassies and consulates worldwide, to require entry clearance applicants and those who have been granted refugee status by another country, to supply physical data to the entry clearance or immigration officer. The data required is fingerprints and a photograph of the applicant's face.

The EU and the United States of America are in dispute about visa arrangements between the two regions.

The EU allows citizens of the United States of America to travel to all 25 Member States on a 'visa waiver scheme'. However the US requires nationals of 10 EU Member States to obtain a full visa before travel. The 10 countries are Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia. All but Greece belongs to the EU newest members who joined in 2004. Only one of the new members, Slovenia, is included on the visa waiver scheme.

The European Commission (EC) has agreed in Brussels on 2nd June 2006 to the introduction of biometric information in the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is part of the Schengen agreement; which is an agreement between EU Member States (with the exception of the UK and Ireland), whereby non-EU visa-nationals are given a visa for all Member States when they are given a visa for any one Member State.

The Common Consular Instructions (CCI) form part of the Schengen agreement and gives directions to signed-up Member States on immigration control. As part of the CCI, the Commission has now agreed that Schengen issued visas will contain biometric information such as applicants fingerprints. Member States will be obliged to collect the biometric information.

This firm is widely experienced in respect of preparing and submitting successful HSMP applications.

As a result of the recent changes to permit free training, which mean that non-EEA doctors must now apply under a different immigration category in order to be permitted to work in the UK, we are undertaking HSMP applications on behalf of many doctors who are affected.

UK Visas announced on 10 April 2006 that the British Embassies in the UAE now accept on-line visa applications for all categories of UK visas.

It is intended that the queuing and waiting times will be reduced with dedicated appointment times being given for on-line applicants to visit the visa offices.

After submitting the application, applicants will be kept informed on the progress of their application by email, be told what supporting documents will be required and the cost of their application.

For all UK visa enquiries please contact one of our solicitors.

On 1 March 2006 the Home Office announced that Malawi nationals will now be required to obtain visas (Entry Clearance) to visit the United Kingdom and will also require a direct airside transit visa to transit through the United Kingdom.

By means of the same Statement of Changes in the Immigration Rules the Home Office has removed the restriction on Croatian nationals requiring visas to travel to the United Kingdom. Therefore a Croatian national who wishes to come to the United Kingdom as a tourist or in transit will be able to do so without acquiring a visa from abroad. They will however be required to obtain Entry Clearance if they seek entry to the United Kingdom in any other capacity.

On 23 January 2006, the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC395 was amended to provide for specific rules for children visitors to the United Kingdom. Under the new rules a child is considered to be a person under 18 years of age who can demonstrate that suitable arrangements have been made for his or her travel to the United Kingdom and that reception and care in the United Kingdom will be provided.

What are the requirements?

In order to enter the United Kingdom in this capacity he or she will need to demonstrate the following:

1. That he or she is under the age of 18.