How to Migrate to the UK

Thames London

There are 7 popular ways to migrate to UK
After a certain amount of time, migrants may apply for an ILR
For most visas, the applicant must be proficient in English
There are 5 categories for the UK work visa

A number of people from across the world migrate to UK every year. The country balances the charm and history of the old world with the technological advancements of the new world. It was the home of Shakespeare and the Beatles and it could be yours too. Read on to find out how.

Contrary to popular belief, the United Kingdom is not synonymous with Britain. The UK comprises of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is not to be confused with the Republic of Ireland which is a separate sovereign state.

In the financial year 2017-18, 2,710,000 visas were granted to people who wanted to migrate to UK. This includes tourists, students, people transiting through the country and people who choose to migrate to UK for work. Chinese and Indian tourists accounted for 46% of all visitor visas.

Country	Visitor Visas Granted
China	520,000
India	440,000
Russia	132,000
Saudi Arabia	102,000
Turkey	97,000

Why Migrate to UK?

Between 2010 and 2016, approximately 495,000 people migrated to the UK each year. There are many reasons people choose to migrate to UK. The labor market and economy are two of the most important factors driving international migration.

The UK is home to some of the top institutes of higher education. Many people, who move here to study, find jobs and stay back. The fact that English is the main language spoken here also makes the UK look more inviting to immigrants.

How to Migrate to UK?

There are many different types of visas available for people who want to migrate to UK. One of the key aspects of migrating to the UK is deciding which visa is ideal for you. This depends on what you want to do in the UK and how long you plan on staying in the country.

Tier 2 Work Permit

The Tier 1 general skilled visa program was shut in 2011 and can be used only to extend a visa and in a few other situations. Tier 2 work permits can be applied for by people who want to migrate to UK for work. It is usually granted for a period of 3 years and may be extended later. There are 4 categories this visa is granted in:

Skilled workers
Intra-company transfers
Sports Person
Minister of Religion

To be eligible for this visa, it is important to have a job offer from a legitimate UK employer and for the employer to be able to prove that a British citizen cannot fill the position offered to you. The applicant must be suitably qualified for the position and should have one of the following:

Qualification equivalent of a UK degree
Diploma qualification that is relevant to the position
If the diploma is not relevant to the position, the applicant must have at least 1 year’s full-time relevant experience
3 year’s work experience which proves that the applicant has the skills required for the job.

To migrate to UK with this visa, the applicant must also score a minimum of 70 points on the Tier 2 points test. This test assesses the applicant on the basis of proficiency in English, qualification, available funds, prospective earnings and certification of sponsorship.

Category	Criteria	Points
Language	Proven proficiency in English by passing approved English language tests	10
Qualification	Equivalent of GCE A level	5
	Bachelor's or Master's Degree	10
	Doctoral Degree (PhD)	15
Available Funds	Applicant has sufficient funds to support himself	10
Prospective Earnings	UK £20,000 to £23,999 per annum	10
	UK £24,000 to £27,999 per annum	15
	UK £28,000 to £31,999 per annum	20
	Above UK £32,000 per annum	25
Certificate of Sponsorship	Position offered is on the Shortage Occupation List.	50
	Job offer passes the Resident Labour Market Test	30
	The applicant is switching from a post-study work category.	30
	The applicant is applying for an intra-company transfer	25

Tier 4 Student Visa

International students who have been granted admission to an educational institution in the UK can apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa to migrate to UK. The eligibility criteria for this visa include:

Admission to a full-time educational course i.e. at least 15 hours of classroom studies per day
Unless the applicant is a government-sponsored student, he or she must study minimum B2 level English of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
The applicant must be able to support himself financially, pay for the course and accommodation
The applicant should not be in a position where he might have to rely on public funds
The applicant must intend on returning to his home country after completing the course

This visa is usually initially granted for a period of 1 year. Students applying for courses below the degree level may work for up to 10 hours per week.

Tier 5 UK Work Visas

There are 5 categories under this visa:

Charity Worker Category – People coming to the UK for temporary voluntary work for which they will not be paid can apply in this category.
Creative and Sporting Worker Category– Professional sportsmen, creative artists and entertainers can apply in this category.
Religious Worker Category – This category is for people who want to undertake religious work in the UK while on break from their normal work.
Government Exchange Category – People who are part of specially approved government worker-exchange schemes can apply for a visa in this category.
International Agreement Category – This category is for people coming to the UK temporarily to provide a service covered by international law.

UK Fiancé / Fiancée Visa

A person engaged to a citizen or a permanent resident of the UK may apply for this visa to migrate to UK. It is not necessary for the couple to have been living together to be eligible for this visa. The eligibility criteria that must be met are as follows:

The couple must plan to get married within 6 months
The couple must have met each other
The couple must plan on living together permanently
The applicant must be able to support himself or herself or should be supported by the spouse so that they do not have to rely on public funds
Accommodation arrangements must have been made

This visa is usually granted for 6 months. The applicant is not permitted to work in the UK on this visa.

UK Marriage Visa

A person who is married to or is in a civil partnership with a UK citizen or permanent resident can apply for a marriage visa. Dependent children can also be included in this visa application. This visa is usually granted for 33 months after which it may be extended up to 60 months. Before the visa expires, the person must then apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Eligibility criteria:

The couple must be legally married or in a civil partnership
They must have met each other
They must intend on living together
The couple must be able to support themselves without relying on public funds
Accommodation arrangements must have been made

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa

Entrepreneurs who want to migrate to UK to set up a company can apply for this visa. To be eligible they must:

Have at least £200,000 available for the business
Have enough funds to support themselves
Work full-time in the business
Create employment for at least 2 EEA citizens
Have a controlling interest in the company and take a share of its liabilities
Pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

This visa is usually granted for a period of 2 years and may be extended for another 3 years as long as the eligibility criteria have been met. The applicant’s partner and dependent children can also be included in this visa application.

Tier 1 (Investor) Visa

This visa is available to high net worth individuals who want to migrate to UK. They must be willing to make a passive investment. To be eligible for this visa the investor must:

Have at least £1million available
Be willing to invest at least £750,000 in a private company or unit trust
Not be employed in any capacity
Spend at least 50% of their time in the UK
Invest the remaining £250,000 in any way in the UK
Pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

This visa is typically granted for 3 years and may be extended for another 2 years.

Permanent Residency

In UK, this is known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This is awarded to people who have proved their commitment to the UK while living here on a temporary visa. An ILR permits a person to live in the UK for as long as they wish and after a certain amount of time, apply for citizenship.

The requirements and processing time for the IRL depend on the visa the applicant already holds. They must have sufficient knowledge about life in the UK and should be proficient in English. Applicants who want to migrate to UK below the age of 18 years and above the age of 65 years are exempt from this.

An ILR may be revoked if the person spends more than 2 years outside the UK. After living in the UK for 5 years with an ILR, the applicant can apply for UK citizenship.