At the starting point, we should bear in mind that naturalisation is not an entitlement. The British Nationality Act of 1981 governs the law relating to the naturalisation. If you meet the fundamental conditions, only then the Home Secretary may use their discretion to grant you naturalisation. They may also take into account how far you fail to meet some standards.
The application for naturalisation as a British citizen is known as Form AN. In order to complete the application, you will have to provide information including your biographical details, documentation of your residency, and details about your employment. You must present proof of your current immigration status if you are a citizen of the EEA, Switzerland, or if you are a UK citizen’s child, spouse, or civil partner.
Before moving forward with your application, please be aware that some countries’ citizenship regulations do not allow them to become citizens of another nation i.e. in such case, the applicant needs to renounce his/her citizenship once the application is successful. Therefore, it is advised that before making any application for naturalisation, please seek the assistance of an immigration solicitor or advisor.
Naturalization is not a right; citizenship may only be granted if you can show that you meet specific legal conditions and the Home Secretary deems it appropriate to grant the application. Depending on whether you are applying on the basis of a marriage or civil partnership with a British citizen, there are different prerequisites for naturalisation as a British citizen.
Before applying, you must comply with the following legal requirements:
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Depending on the type of citizenship application you are making, a different application form is required. Most applications for British citizenship can be made online. You should first determine the type of citizenship application you would be making before filling out the online form. If the type of citizenship application you would be making can be made online, you would be able to make the payment of the application fee online and then you would be directed to a new site to upload supporting documents and book a biometric appointment.
Some application forms are still accessible for paper completion and postal submission. In such cases, you will need complete a payment slip in addition to the application form to make the payment. For naturalisation, the Form AN is the appropriate forum.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the sections of the Form AN:
IdentifIcation details and personal information
This section of Form AN will require the applicant to provide personal records and identification proofs, this includes:
Most unsuccessful applications come from those who failed to meet the residency criteria to be present in the UK for the qualifying period but submitted an application nonetheless.
This part of the Form AN will require the applicant to provide:
This section of the UK citizenship application form will require the applicant to provide information on criminal offences committed by them (if any), or if he/she is currently involved in any criminal proceedings or investigations.
Things that may cause immigration officials to suspect you are untrustworthy include (but are not limited to):
This section is for the people who are working for the Crown or have partners who are working for the same.
This space is for any additional information that includes the referees. A professional of any nationality, such as a doctor or a minister of religion, must be one of the referees. Although a lawyer may act as a referee, they cannot act as a referee if he or she is representing the applicant in respect of his or her application. The second referee must be a British national, as well as older than 25. The referees must not be related to the applicant or to the other referee and must not have any imprisonable criminal conviction in the last 10 years.
The applicant will have to enrol his/her biometric details.
There will be a declaration section at the end of the form.
Here are the following documents that you may be required to upload in support of your application:
South Africans are well known for their entrepreneurial spirit and many South Africans are keen to set up or move their businesses overseas. Many see the UK as a great destination with excellent opportunities to grow. Business is not the only attraction, the UK is also a great place to study with some of the best ranking educational institutions.
This guide will provide answers to all your questions about UK visa applications for South Africans planning to move to the UK.
If you’re from South Africa, this guide may be your new best friend! From visa options, to processing times and visa fees, learn about all the UK’s visa application requirements.
This guide will help you choose the correct UK visa for your circumstances and lets you know how to get started on your immigration journey to the UK.
1) Some Visas that allow you visit the UK
2)Some Short Term Visas that let you work in the UK
3) Some Long-term work Visas
4) Business visas (for entrepreneurs)
5) Student
The Home Office has confirmed that effective from 9AM on 11 April 2022, the Sole Representative visa route will be closed to new applicants.
Self Sponsorship is a good alternative to consider if you’re considering business opportunities within the UK. A UK Sponsor is not required and this can lead to permanent residency and British citizenship for yourself and your family.
Businesses based overseas can benefit from the Sole Representative Visa to establish a presence in Britain and test the market, without the overheads associated with setting up a branch office and hiring local staff.
As the fifth-largest economy in the world, the UK offers vast opportunities for innovative organisations ready to expand. For example, the British High Commissioner to India recently stated the UK and India tech industries were a “marriage made in heaven ”. One way to take advantage of the prospects available in Britain is to send a sole representative to ‘dip their toe in the water’, before making a full commitment.
The brochure covers the following details:
As a UK business, a sponsor licence (formerly a tier 2 sponsor licence UK) is a legal requirement if you want to bring skilled workers into this country. But failing to submit all the necessary evidence for your application automatically raises a red flag with the Home Office. If officials start to doubt your ability to comply with the complex rules and regulations governing bringing in skilled workers from abroad then they will refuse your application. And you can wave goodbye to your application fee. We have compiled our Sponsor Licence UK Guide to prevent that from happening. At A Y & J Solicitors, our experts know why sponsorship licence applications fail AND why they pass. We’ve collated the essential details of this system neatly into this guide. Download it, read it and then recruit the skilled migrant workers you need to build the business of your dreams.
At A Y & J Solicitors in London, we understand how difficult the sponsor licence application process can be for an employer, especially when you’ve got a business to run. Our FREE Sponsor Licence UK Guide will walk you through the maze of paperwork and help get you the outcome you need. We’ve supported countless companies in various fields to obtain licences and know how to navigate the roadblocks on that journey. If you have not properly prepared for the Home Office inspectors who audit your premises or have submitted incorrect supporting documents, the very best you can hope for is a lengthy delay in gaining your licence. At worst you face refusal, with an agonising wait before you can reapply. Our guide will help you spot these issues long before they become a problem.
Pumima Kaushal, Amisoft Technologies Ltd
We are specialists in immigration law and have supported more than 4,000 business owners and professionals around the globe to successfully navigate the UK system. We work quickly, always responding to any queries within 24 working hours. And we work closely with the Home Office to pre-empt issues before they jeopardise sponsorship applications, extensions or breach compliance. We manage all United Kingdom immigration matters including visa applications under the new points-based immigration system, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Spouse Visas, nationality and more. We also handle complex cases of appeal, administrative reviews, judicial reviews and the many immigration challenges involving European Union law and human rights.
A Y & J Solicitors has more than 1,200 positive client reviews across Google and Trustpilot and is listed in The Legal top 500 best UK law firms, so you can rest assured your immigration challenges are in safe hands when you take these three simple steps:
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Formerly known as Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa, the Global Talent visa offers two categories, Global Talent Exceptional Talent or Global Talent Exceptional Promise for those interested to apply under this category. To be considered for entry under this visa, applicants are required to obtain an endorsement from one of six endorsing bodies recognised by the UK Visas and Immigration.
The great benefits of having this visa are that you can work freely for any employer, be self-employed or administer your own business. The Global Talent visa category carries the latest fast-track scheme for researchers, and world-leading scientists to come and work in the UK.
The new immigration changes brought by the UK government expands on the need of talented skilled workers, hence the process in applying for a Global Talent visa is much simpler. This brochure on Global Talent visa provides you the steps needed to make a Global Talent visa application. An overview of the contents –