The UK offers various types of visas, click on immigration services to go though the different type of visas.

You can apply for a UK visa online through the official UK government website. You’ll need to fill out the appropriate application form, pay the visa fee, and provide required documentation.

Commonly required documents include:

• - A valid passport.
• - Proof of English language proficiency.
• - Evidence of finances (bank statements, payslips).
• - Tuberculosis test results (if applicable).
• - Any additional documents depending on the type of visa.

Processing times vary depending on the type of visa and the country from which you are applying. Generally, it can take anywhere from 3 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 months to 11 months for more complex cases.

You also have the possibility to pay for priority service or super priority service in some cases to speed up the process.

Check the specific processing times on the UK government website for the most accurate information at Visa processing times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK and Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK.

Yes, you may have the right to appeal a visa refusal, depending on the circumstances. You will typically receive a notice in your refusal letter explaining your right to appeal, the deadlines and the process involved.

You can apply to extend your visa online if you are eligible. You will need to provide supporting documents and possibly attend an appointment for biometric information.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows individuals to live and work in the UK without any time restrictions. It is typically available to those who have lived in the UK for a certain period on a qualifying visa.

Whether you can work while your visa application is being processed depends on the type of visa you are applying for.

If you are applying for an extension you will generally have the rights to work as long as your application was submitted prior your visa expiry date.

The legal framework is Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 extends a person’s leave in order to preserve their lawful status and entitlements until they get a decision on their new application from the Home Office. This is often referred to as ‘section 3C leave’.

A person will have section 3C leave when all of the following statements apply:

• - They submitted an application to the Home Office to extend their leave before their previous leave expired.
• - Their leave to remain has expired.
• - They are waiting for an initial decision.

If the immigration application is refused, section 3C leave continues whilst the person has a pending appeal or administrative review.  However, section 3C leave only continues whilst a person is waiting for an appeal decision if they lodged their appeal ‘in-time’ within the given deadline. If the courts accept an ‘out of time’ appeal, section 3C leave will ‘resurrect’ from the date the appeal was lodged. Whilst a person has section 3C leave, they will be lawfully present and any entitlements attached to their previous leave, such as permission to work or access to public funds, will continue to apply. 

Check the conditions of your current visa or consult an immigration advisor.

It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified immigration solicitor or advisor. You can find accredited professionals through the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Our firm is accredited by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), contact us her (link to the contact form).