How to Get a British Visa From the US
Obtaining a British visa from the U.S. is more than challenging; it's grueling. But for those with grit and the right reasons to go to the U.K., it is possible, whether you are a prospective student, worker or permanent resident. Just be prepared to have enough money, stamina and perhaps a good immigration attorney on hand.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 1,000 to 2,000 GBP
- Immigration lawyer
- Papers (income, references, etc.)
- U.S. passport
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1
Apply for a visa independently if you aren't looking for work sponsorship and aren't moving there as a student. Visit the website listed below, and fill in the appropriate information regarding your educational background, citizenship, financial status and other criteria.England is moving from the Highly Skilled Migrant Program to a new points-based phase, which actually kicked in February 2008.
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2
Practice patience. Obtaining a visa from the U.K.--or the U.S. for that matter--has never been a quick process. But now with the transition to the points-based system, applicants must be especially patient and not lose faith in the process. Also, if you are going in as a student or a worker, you can't do this alone. You need to find a sponsor in the U.K.
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3
Prepare to face questionable odds. Sometimes, no more than half a batch of visa applications are approved at one time. The U.K. government cites 165 of about 300 applications meeting approval once, under current parameters.Therefore, do not expect that just because your great-grandmother Norman still makes bangers and mash means you're getting in. (But of course, don't give up on a first attempt.)
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4
Know when to hire an attorney. If your application is in danger of not being approved and you have a strong need to be in the U.K., don't wait until the rejection has hit the mailbox.Attorneys in both the U.S. and the U.K. can help you at least assess your chances, but at best push the application through successfully.
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Face the future. Visas come in a variety of types. Student visas obviously expire after you've graduated. Work visas must be renewed every 5 years.Unless you've married a Brit, chances are you'll need to renew your visa in time or make it permanent. This is a long, arduous process that requires equal doses stamina, patience and dogged determination. But you can face your future now on your own terms: ideally as a citizen of two nations.
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Tips & Warnings
An individual has to get into the U.K. under an immediate lawful benefit, which must then be renewed before that person can apply for indefinite leave to return.
Call for help when you need it. Worldbridge, which contracts with the U.K. Border Patrol, charges either $3 per minute or a $12 flat fee, depending on which number you call and from where. It is more expensive to call from outside the U.S., of course, and more expensive to speak with a live operator. That said, a $3 per minute investment is worth your time if you are serious about obtaining a U.K. visa. The numbers are (900) 656-5000 from inside and outside the U.S. and, from inside the U.S. only, (212) 796-5773.
Make sure you save enough money to not only get into the country but also to apply for entry and show the soundness of your finances from the get-go.
The points-based system that took effect in late February, 2008, classifies a Tier 1 (general migrant) very similarly to a Highly Skilled Migrant under the old system. The basic difference is that now applicants must make only one application rather than two, according to the government website for obtaining U.K. visas.
If your visa is denied, you are entitled to an administrative review.
Don't get cocky with those who are in a position to decide your fate. Jokes, inappropriate talk or salacious comments will send you back to the U.S. or worse.
Don't expect the process to happen overnight.
Visa applications are pricey, especially if you are going in under the points-based system alone (student visas and family-oriented visas, among others, are significantly cheaper). A points-based Tier 1 (basic) application on Worldbridge is $1,260 as of September 2007.
Obtaining a visa is a complex web of legalese and finesse. You'd do well to read the U.K. government's website from start to finish if you want to be clear on the practice. Again, England and other U.K. countries are in a transitional phase.
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- Photo Credit Laurie Wiegler
