Cost of Living in the UK

Cost of Living in UK varies from the part of UK, you would be residing in.

Cost of living is much higher in and around London and gradually reduces as you travel North of UK and is quite less in Ireland, and some areas of Scotland.

A single bedroom accommodation, in and around London can cost you anything between £700 to £900. £300 to £500 for a shared accommodation, where you stay in a house with other people like you.)

Elsewhere a decent 1-2 bedroom accommodation in Midlands and Northern UK can range from £450 to £750 p.m. Shared accommodation can start from £50 p.w. and can go upto £150 p.w.

Typical Monthly Cost break-up:

Accommodation : £700 - £900 p.m. (for an independant living, with family. Shared accommodation for families are also available. This usually includes boarding, electric, water, kitechen utilities (oven, cooking range, gas supply) and bathroom (washing machine), where cleaning is offered once a week only.)

Council Tax : £70 - £120 p.m.

Electricity : £60-£100 p.m. (usualy higher during the winter months, from October to March) . some of the famous electric suppliers in UK are : e-On, Scotttish Power, British Gas, npower, Southern Electric.

Communication : Telephone / cell / broadband / landlines: £30-£70 p.m. (BT, O2, Orange, Virgin, T mobile, Vodafone & 3 are some famous communication providers in UK.)

Water : £50 - £70 p.m. ( Anglian water etc.)

Food : £200 - 300 p.m. (for a family of 2 adults and a child), can be less by upto 50%, if staying alone in an accommodation.)

Travel : £50 - £120 p.m. ( Taxis in UK can be quite expensive, they can cost £1 a mile to £3 a mile)
Check out National Express &
The Train Line for your bus & train travels in UK.
London Underground / Tube.

Leisure : £20 - £your limit. p.m. (Sky, connections for cable etc.) A movie ticket can range abywhere between £4.6 to £10 per show. While theatres/ live stage shows are a rage in the UK ( esp. London.), costing anyweher between £10 to £100 each.

Different Tiers Explained

How does one qualify for Tier 1? (HSMP earlier)

Tier 1 (Highly Skilled Workers) has four categories:

To qualify to apply under the points-based system under the Highly Skilled Tier 1 (General) scheme, you must score the following points:

• At least 75 points for your attributes (age, qualifications, previous earned income and experience in the UK)
• 10 points for English Language
• 10 points for available maintenance (funds)

Qualifications
Applicants will be awarded points for their highest qualification as follows:

• PhD = 50 points
• Master's degree = 35 points
• Bachelor's degree = 30 points

Previous earnings
(Non-sterling currencies are converted to sterling - the overall figure takes account of regional differences between earnings)

• £40,000 + =45 points
• £35,000-£39,999 = 40 points
• £32,000-£34,999 = 35 points
• £29,000-£31,999 = 30 points
• £26,000-£28,999 = 25 points
• £23,000-£25,999 = 20 points
• £20,000-£22,999 = 15 points
• £18,000-£19,999 = 10 points
• £16,000-£17,999 = 5 points

Age
Candidates will be awarded points depending on their age as below. No points are awarded in this category for applicants aged 32 or older.

• Under 28 = 20 points
• 28 or 29 = 10 points
• 30 or 31 = 5 points

Previous earnings or qualifications in the UK

In addition to the points outlined below, applicants may be eligible for a further 5 points where they can show proof of earnings or of qualifications gained whilst in the United Kingdom.

Some Rules and Restrictions on the Tier 1 (General) permit holder:

• You have no work restrictions imposed on your stay in the UK.
• You do not have recourse to public funds.
• After three years you can apply for an extension which will be granted if the UK Home Office is satisfied that you meet the requirements for the Tier 1 (General) extension application.
• You are allowed to apply to bring your dependants to the UK on this programme.
• You cannot work as a Doctor in training – i.e. take a training post within the NHS

What happens at the end of the initial three year period:

A Tier 1 (General) permit holder will be able to apply for an extension at the end of his/her initial three year period as a Tier 1 (General) permit holder.

You will be required to claim at least 75 points for your attributes, 10 points under the English Language requirement, and 10 points under the maintenance requirement (as above) in order to qualify for the extension.

How does one qualify for Tier 2? (Work Permit earlier)
Tier 2 (Skilled Workers) has four categories:

• General - for persons coming to the UK with a job offer that cannot be filled by a resident worker, as well as for applicants coming to the UK to fill a shortage occupation.
• Intra Company Transfers - for employees of multi-national companies who are being transferred to a skilled job in a UK branch of the organisation.
• Sportsperson - for elite sportspersons and coaches whose employment will make a significant contribution to sport at the highest level.
• Ministers of religion - for persons coming to fill a vacancy as a Minister of Religion, Missionary or member of a religious order.

An applicant wanting to come to work in the UK under this tier will need to have obtained a Certificate of Sponsorship and show that he/she has at least 70 points to qualify under the criteria for this scheme – see tables below.

The points will include points related to the Certificate of Sponsorship, which will be issued to them by the prospective UK employer to fill a qualifying job. Two control tests are included as well, namely;

• A maintenance requirement, which is £800 for initial out-of-country applications, including 2/3 of this amount for each dependent they intend to bring with them. (pass mark is 10 points)
• English language ability. (Min 10 points). If an applicant is applying for permission to enter UK under Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer) or extending their stay under this category, English language requirement is not required, if their extension does not take the length of stay to more than 3 years.

Qualifications

• A PhD qualification = 15 points
• A Master’s Degree = 10 points
• A Bachelor’s Degree = 10 points
• An NVQ level 3 qualification = 5 points

Prospective Earnings

• In Excess of £24,000+ = 20 Points
• £22,000 - £23,999 =15 points
• £20,000 - £21.999 = 10 points
• £17,000 - £19,999 = 5 points

Non-shortage positions are inherently worth 30 points, shortage positions will automatically receive 50 points. Candidates applying for an Intra Company Transfer (ICT) will also receive 50 points.

Having obtained this Certificate of Sponsorship, applicants will then apply for entry clearance from the British High commission or Consulate in their home countries.

Some Rules and Restrictions on a Holder of a Tier 2 permit:

• You must have no recourse to public funds.
• You may not own more than 10% of the sponsor's shares, if the sponsor is a limited company.
• You are not allowed to take up any additional employment except working for the sponsor in the employment that the certificate of sponsorship specify. You are also allowed to take up supplementary employment and voluntary work. However, strict rules apply in this regard.
• You can apply for dependants to join you in the UK. Your dependants will be able to work without restriction in the UK.
• You are allowed to change employment within the organisation or with a new organisation, but this will call for a new application under Tier 2.

Does this visa lead to indefinite leave to remain?
Yes, at the end of successful completion of a five-year period on a Tier 2 permit, you will qualify to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Visa FAQs: http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/FAQ.aspx

Permanent Residency or UK Citizenship

Indefinite leave to remain or ILR is the expression confirming the fact that there is no limit to the leave period you can stay in the UK. This is also often referred to as permanent residence. This status is granted to a person on the basis that they are settled in the UK.

If a holder of indefinite leave to remain spends a continuous period of two years or more outside of the UK, at any time, it will then be deemed that the person is no longer settled in the UK and the status of indefinite leave to remain could be withdrawn from them.

Indefinite leave to remain can be achieved in a number of ways. We list only some of these circumstances, as there are various ways by which this status can be obtained:

• On the basis of successfully completing the five-year ancestry visa.
• On the basis of successfully completing the two-year marriage visa to a UK citizen or four year period of marriage to a EU-national.
• On the basis of successfully completing a five year work permit.

After obtaining indefinite leave to remain you can qualify to apply for British citizenship. To qualify you normally need to have lived in the UK for six years. However the spouse of a British citizen may qualify for citizenship after three years. If successful in this application a person will have the same rights as a person born as a British citizen.

UK Work Visa, Study Visa

Working in UK - Visa requirements

What you will need to work in the UK
Each year more than 50,000 people from destinations like Australia, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand, India make the decision to spend some time living and working in the UK. Spending time in a totally different environment is an awesome way to experience new things, gain work experience, embrace new cultures and broaden your horizons.

How Do I Get There?
If you are one of the lucky few who already have a European Union passport this article is not for you. Travellers with EU passports can work not only in the UK but anywhere in the European Union. If you don’t have an EU passport keep reading.

A large selection of Immigration Visas, Residency and work permits are on offer in the UK to enable to make your dream of living and working in the UK a reality. Some of these options can even eventually lead to permanent residency, British Citizenship and a UK Passport.

Types of Visas: (PBS : Point Based System)
The Points Based System or PBS focuses the structure of UK immigration services into a five-tier immigration model. The tier visa system is designed to cover all non-EEA nationals immigrating to the UK except those entering through a family based visa application.

Tier 1
Categories: General (HSMP) , Entrepreneurs, Investors, Post-Study Work.

Tier 2 (replaces the previous system of Work Permits as part of the new UK visa structure)

Tier 4 Applies to Students, wishing to study in UK universities and other educational institutes.

Tier 5 is designed to allow temporary workers and 18-30 year olds in the Youth Mobility Scheme to undertake short-term, temp work to satisfy essentially non-financial objectives.


Tier 4 Student Visas:

From March 2009 adults wishing to study in the UK must apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa.

The tier 4 Student Visa replaces the current UK Study Visa and allows an adult student to study in the UK with a licensed sponsor on the Tier 4 register of sponsors and embark upon a course of study.

See the approved list of Tier 4 registered sponsors.

Benefits
The Tier 4 Student Visa service offers overseas students the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications from reputable and government approved universities and colleges in the UK.

Study Abroad at a UK educational institution and you will be embarking on a life-long journey, where the skills and experience you learn in the UK are recognised the world over in industries such as commerce, science, technology and government.

The tier 4 Student Visa does not constitute a route to settlement or indefinite leave to remain, however, a visa for student immigration may allow you to switch to another UK immigration service without leaving the country, upon successful completion of your course.

If your course of study lasts less than six months, you may be able to enter the country under a UK visit visa, often referred to as a travel visa or tourist visa.

However, the benefit of studying in the UK under a visa for students is that you will also be permitted to undertake limited employment and extend your visa if your course of study lasts longer than 4 years.

Duration
Tier 4 student visas are granted for the period of your course.

If you are studying at degree level or above, you can stay for the full duration of your course, up to four years.

If your course is longer than four years, you can apply for a UK Visa Extension to finish your course.

If you are studying below degree, your Student Visa will allow you to stay for up to three years.

One route for staying in the UK beyond a course of study, is through switching to a Tier 2 Work Permit. You will require a specific offer of employment from a British company.

Eligibility

The new student route under the points based system introduces five key changes to the current system. Adult students applying to study abroad in the UK must:

• Have a proven track record in studying before coming to the UK.
• Have recognised qualifications equivalent to National Qualification Framework (NQF) in the UK education system.
• Produce evidence of sufficient funds to pass a maintenance test.
• Produce documents used to obtain an offer from the university or college sponsoring, such as qualification certificates.

To be able to travel to the United Kingdom as a general student after the end of March 2009, adult students must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points.

Visa letter from education provider = 30 points.

Maintenance fees to cover course fees and living expenses = 10 points.

What is a visa letter?

It is an offer letter from your education provider who is your immigration sponsor, including information about you, your sponsor, the course, and your finances.

What is a licensed sponsor?

The licensed sponsor is the university or college you have chosen to enrol with.

Global Visas have extensive partnerships with many schools, colleges and universities on the tier 4 register of sponsors. Find the tier 4 licensed sponsor list here.

Can I work?

Unlike a UK visit visa, or travel visa application, applicants for study permits may take part-time or holiday work but must not engage in the following:

• Work for more than 20 hours a week during term time (except in vacation periods), unless it is a work placement and part of a study program and the educational institution agrees.
• Conduct business, be self-employed, or provide services as a professional sports person or entertainer.
• Work full-time in a permanent job.

Depending on what you have studied, if you want to stay on in the United Kingdom once you have successfully got your qualification, you may be eligible to switch to the Tier 1 - Post-Study Work visa.

Spouse and Dependent Immigration
Spouse immigration is only permitted for married partners and unlike a Fiance visa or UK De Facto visa, often known as an unmarried partner visa, your common-law or conjugal partner is not allowed to join you.

Married partners will be granted leave to remain for a period equal to that granted to the student. During this time, they must be able to support themselves either independently or with the help of the applicant.

Scholarships and Funding:

Studying in the UK might cost less than you think, especially when you think of the real value a UK qualification provides. Visit our Education UK website to search for scholarships and find information on fees for all types of courses and how much studying in the UK is likely to cost.

UK Dependant Visa

If you are working in UK and want to get your spouse to the UK, you can apply for a dependant visa, given you satisfy the criterian laid out by the UK Home office.

It is best to apply for the dependant's visa when applying for the work visa in your home country, as you only need proof of marriage. Also, reducing the risk of refusal when applying separately.

Here is a comprehensive list of Documents you would need for a sucessful application, when applying separately. ( when the sponsor is in UK.)

A) Sponsor's Documents: ( Holder of Work authorisation / Work Permit or PBS)

1) 3-6 months Bank statements

2) 3-6 months pay slips

3) Address proof: Electric Bill or Council Tax notice. ( Mobile bills and any other proof is not accepted as proof of residence.)

4) Rental Agreement (showing sufficient accomodation available for the dependant(s).) Please see the over crowding policy laid out by the home office.

5) Rent receipts / Derict Debits showing rent payments.

5) Sponsor's passport copy ( Visa page and stamping page)

6) Sponsor's Work permit

7) NI number letter

8) Employer's letter for employement proof

B) Dependant's Documents:

14) Passport photo copy (all pages)

15) Proof of address ( ration card, Electric bill / Telephone bill)

16) Marriage proof ( usually Marriage certificate)

17) Birth Certificate (in case dependant is a minor)

Dependant's are, usually issued visa for the same period as the Sponsor's work visa. Dependant's are free to work or take up a job in the UK ( as per the governing policies of Home office.)

Reasons for UK Visa Refusal

Some of very common visa refusal reasons:

Visitors not confident on the duration of stay, place of stay and sufficient funds to support the stay. Visitors / Migrants using false/forged documents or have lied during their interviews can be banned from entry to the UK for upto 10 years.

Another common reason for refusal was "you wish to go to the UK for a holiday. You have never previously undertaken any foreign travel before and I can see little reason for this trip".

There is a case of a person whose request was rejected by an officer because they had "little or no idea what you plan to see or do". This was, because the person had answered the question on a form asking why they were going to the UK, with the words "annual leave vacation".

To ensure your visa is not rejected, ensure you provide all the documents in original , where possible (with each photo copy of the documents listed here.) Avoid scanned and faxed copies.

Note: Visa refusal rate is quite high in Southern part of India, especially for people applying from Hyderabad ( due to rise in forged / fake documents). It is as high as 30% for Dependant visas and 50% for visitor visas. Although the VFS claim the same to be less than 10% overall.

Once rejected you, need to re-apply paying the full visa fees again. Some applicant's do get a chance to appeal the decision with additional information or proofs, within 28 days of receiving the refusal. If the visa is refused, it best to re-apply, to avoid any additional agony and time.

Appeals are lodged with Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, in P.O Box 7866, Loughborough LE 11 2XZ, this usually takes 2-3 months and can go even longer.) or through the British High Commission application centre.

Actual Visa refusal Note: (taken from a rejected dependant visa in May '08)

"You have not given reasonable evidence that suitable accommodation has been provided for you by your sponsor. So, I am not satisfied that this meets the reuirements of the Housing Act 1985 and that there will be enough room for you and any dependant.

You have not provided enough evidence to show your sponsor owns or rents property in which you plan to live, or that mortgage or rent payments are being made. Without this, I am not satisfied that the accommodation is secure, or that you can live in the accommodation without using public funds.

You have not provided any payslips or satisfactory evidence of regualr expenditure demonstrating that your sponsor is able to support you. I am not satisfied that you or your sponsor will be able to support you in the UK without working or using public funds."

Appeals

Once Visa has been refused. Your next action:

Prevention is better than cure, and most definitely so in the case of visa applications. It is essential that every visa application is planned and checked thoroughly by a person with the necessary expertise and experience in the field of immigration, as a seemingly irrelevant or incorrect detail or omission on a visa application can lead to a visa being turned down.

Visa applicants should therefore take the utmost care to ensure they are making use of reputable immigration firms or consultants, in order to prevent the frustration of a visa being turned down, not to mention the time and expense involved in re-applying or filing an appeal.

However, getting it right first time round is the best, all is not lost if your initial application is refused. Although there are risks and costs involved, in most cases an appeal or review of the decision is possible, and in many cases a successful result can be obtained.

If you recently had your Visa application denied or turned down, it is possible to lodge an appeal if you have been;

• refused entry clearance;
• refused entry to the United Kingdom;
• refused an extension of stay;
• been deprived of UK citizenship;
• received a notice of deportation or;
• received a notice of removal.
  

According to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, there are a number of rights and grounds upon which appeals can be brought. Some of these grounds, which are set out in s. 84 of the Act, are as follows;

• the decision was not in accordance with immigration rules;
• the decision is unlawful according to the Race Relations Act 1976;
• the decision is unlawful under the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) and therefore not in accordance with your rights under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR);
• the decision breaches your rights as an EEA national or the family member of an EEA national under the Community Treaties;
• the decision-maker incorrectly exercised discretion under the Immigration Rules;
• or your removal from the UK would breach the UK’s obligation under the Geneva Convention on refugees or be unlawful under s. 6 of the HRA as being incompatible with your Convention Rights.

First things, first

Once you have been refused leave to enter or remain in the UK, the decision-maker (whether an entry clearance officer, immigration officer or the Secretary of State) will give you a written Notice.

This will include a statement of the reasons for the decision. If you are to be removed from the UK, the Notice will also state the country to which you are to be removed and it must also be accompanied or include the following:

• a statement advising you of your rights to appeal and the Statutory Provision upon which this right is based;
• the time limit for bringing your appeal;
• the address to which the appeal needs to be sent;
• a fax number for service by fax;
• whether there is an exception or limitation to your right of appeal;
• and whether further information is required under s.120.

You will also need to decide whether you wish your appeal to be decided at an oral or written hearing. Once your appeal forms are completed, you can send it either to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) or sometimes if you are outside the UK, to the British High Commission or Embassy in your country of application. The AIT is an independent tribunal and therefore it is not affiliated with the Home Office in any way.

If you are within the UK, your appeal should be filed with the AIT within 5 working days of receiving the Notice of Decision if you are in detention and within 10 working days if you are not. If, however, you are outside of the UK, your appeal must be received by the AIT or British High Commission or Embassy within 28 days (including holidays and non-business days) from when you received the Notice of Decision. Due to these time constraints it is strongly suggested that you contact one of our Visa Advisors as soon as you possibly can, as they are experienced in dealing with these deadlines.

Your Notice of Appeal is lodged. What next?

Once you have filed your appeal forms and supporting documents, the Entry Clearance Office which decided your case will review its original decision. If the review maintains the original decision, for non-settlement cases, the Entry Clearance Office (if you are outside of the UK) should take up to 8 weeks (11 weeks if lodged with AIT directly) to prepare the necessary documentation for your appeal.

If, however, your case is a settlement case it should take up to 16 weeks (19 weeks if lodged with AIT directly) and if it is for a visit visa, then it should take 12 weeks (15 weeks if lodged directly with AIT) to prepare the necessary documentation.

Will I need to go to the court?

If, following discussions with us, you have opted for an oral hearing, you will receive a copy of the Appeal bundle of the Entry Clearance Office or AIT documentation in advance of the hearing date. Breytenbachs will prepare all the necessary documentation for your hearing during this time, even if you are not within the UK at the time. We will attend the hearing on your behalf. Therefore if you are outside of the UK your appeal will still go ahead.

If you are within the UK, you will need to attend the hearing as main witness. If you have a sponsor, your sponsor can also attend the hearing as a witness in addition to you or in your absence. If you are attending the hearing, you should allow for the whole day, as appeals are not heard in a specific order on the day.

What happens after the appeal that has come and gone?
If you have attended an oral hearing, sometimes the Immigration Judge will give his decision at the end of the hearing but usually decisions are reserved and take 2 – 3 weeks to be received in writing. All appeal decisions are given in writing and are effective from date of written determination or promulgation. Where there has been no oral hearing the Judges’ determination will also be received in writing.

A word of Caution: Be wary of getting into the tarp of fake UK passports, IDs, Driving Licenses, as they have very high security feature and can be easily detected. UK Passports have a new security chip in it having all the details of the holder.

UK Visitor Visa

VISITOR VISA TO THE UK

Individuals can travel to the UK for the specific purpose of visiting friends and family who live in the UK .

UK family members can sponsor the applicant by providing an invitation letter to confirm the relationship, purpose of the visit, and also the support they will be providing in terms of financial assistance and/or accommodation.

Applicants in this category must prove to the UK Immigration Authorities that they can financially maintain and accommodate themselves in the UK with or without assistance from family member(s) living in the UK but without resource to public funding or employment.

The first and foremost thing that you need to keep in mind when applying for a visa for UK, is that you should have an initention to return to your home country. Have a well thought out travel plan. Date of Travel, duration of stay and reasons for travelling.

Here is a comprehensive list of Documents you would need for a sucessful application:

A) Sponsor's Documents:

1) 6 months Bank statements
2) 6 months pay slips
3) Address proof : Utility Bill e.g. Telephone bill or Electric Bill or Council tax notice)
4) Rental Agreement
5) Owner's no objection letter
6) Sponsor's High commission certified letter (e.g. Indian High commission in UK)
7) Applicants's passport copy ( Visa page and stamping page)
8) Sponsor's work permit copy
9) Employer's letter for employement proof
10) Letter from Sponsor requesting British High commission for granting visa to visitors.

Recommended but not mandatory Docs:

11) P60 form
12) NI number letter

Reason for visiting UK:

Could be many, meeting with friends, family visit. I have provided an example of a visit where one of your family members may be expecting to deliver soon:

13) NHS maternity letter or prescription exemption card
14) Proof of relations / friendship

B) Visitor's Documents:

15) Passport photo copy (all pages)
16) Proof of address ( ration card, PAN card)

Applicant's Financial Documents:

17) Bank statements (all bank accounts that you may hold, higher the account balance, higher the chances of your application being successful.)
18) Any Insurance Premium receipts and Insurance Policy
19) Stocks & Shares in hand proof ( statement from your broker or depository)
20) If Social Org member (proof of the same)
21) PAN card xerox
22) Credit Card statement
23) PPF (Public Provident Fund) statements

Reasons for returning to home country:

You may have assets, unmarried children, relatives, who are in your home country for whom you may need to return.

24) Children's proofs (passports)
25) Any other investment or asset proof (land / property)

Visit visa should be applied from the nearest place of your residence (proof would be asked for the same when you apply for the visa, as you cannot apply for visa other than the your designated visa centre.)

E.g. if you stay in Pune, you can not apply from Chennai or Delhi for UK visa.

Document Samples:

Format of Sponsorship & Letter to the British High Commission



Visa Application Forms

Applying from India
Visa Application Fee

A visitor visa usually takes no more than a week. The application is to be made in person, so as to provide biometric. Childern below 5 years are not needed to apply in person and can be represented by parents or gaurdian, whom they would be travelling with.

This visa entitles holders to visit the UK for up to a maximum of six (6) months, allowing them to experience the life and culture in the UK . They may also be allowed multiple entries during the six (6) month period

Once you get a visa:

Once you receive the visa, ensure you have ( if it's a short term visit visa), your travel insurance (may cost anything between Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 7,000 for a 3 month insurance of $50,000), return tickets in place.

On arrival, in UK, you will, first need to get clearnce from the immigration desk at the airport. You may be few basic questions to prove your a genuine 'visitor' and have all the necessary information that you have based your travel on. (e.g. Place of stay, known people in UK, period of stay etc.)

Tip: If your visa is of more than 6 months, you will be asked to get a medical clearnce as well before the immigration clearnce is given. Usually just a latest chest X-ray is all that you need to carry along with you and must be handy once you reach the immigration desk at the airport.

This avoids unnecessary delay in getting clearance after that long haul flight.