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05/12/2024

“Proving your immigration status is about to get easier” - Make your UK visa digital now

How to get access to your eVisa
Go to gov.uk/eVisa and create a UKVI account.

If you have a BRP card that expires on 31 December 2024, you should create your account to access your eVisa now. Your current immigration status won’t be affected.

“This is just about making things more secure as an eVisa can’t be lost or stolen,” says Faith. “So, no more worries about keeping track of your physical documents.”

Got paper documents? They’re still valid and you can continue to use them as evidence of your immigration status as you do today, but you should still make a free “No Time Limit” (NTL) application.

You might be asked to provide a photograph and fingerprints as part of the process, but you’ll be given full instructions on what to do online. Once you’ve completed your application, you’ll then receive a UKVI account to access your eVisa.

If you’re a parent or guardian of a child who uses a physical immigration document, you should take action on their behalf too.

Information on eVisas and why you need one.

17/11/2024

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-buy-a-home/how-to-buy

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01/11/2024

25/10/2024

Another successful outcome. Dependant on a work visa. Total time from biometrics to receipt of visa was 5 working days

24/10/2024

Please note that the TLScontact visa application centre in Johannesburg will close on November 19th, 2024. Visa application processing for the UK will transfer to VFS Global. For information about the new VFS Global visa application centre, please visit the VFS Global website.



We have noted that you have received a decision on your UK visa application but haven’t yet collected your travel document from our centre. Please note that if you do not collect your travel document by November 19th it will be securely transferred to the new VFS Global visa application centre and you will need to collect it from there.

11/10/2024

For anyone doing their own visa application. Please note that TLS. Will soon stop handing UK visas. And the procedure will unfortunately be done by VFS. ( basically home affairs for South Africans ).

01/10/2024

Another successful visa (Tourist ). Biometrics 19 September issued 1 October

13/09/2024

British visa scheme: What are the changes from 2025?

All visitors to the UK apart from British and Irish citizens will need permission to enter the country before coming here by next spring under an expanded travel visa scheme, the home secretary has announced.

Rules requiring people visiting the UK without a visa to pay £10 will be expanded to include travellers from most countries from November 2024, Yvette Cooper said on Tuesday.

The previous government introduced the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system last year for people entering or in transit through the UK without legal residence rights or a visa.

ETAs, which cost £10, are currently required for nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

What is the ETA system?
The ETA scheme was brought in to make travellers get digital permission to travel to the UK, thus controlling who comes into the country and for what reasons.

The UK Government said: “ETAs are being introduced as part of our transformation and digitisation of the UK border. They will enable a more efficient customer experience and cement the UK as a world leader in border security.”

The ETA scheme at present is for visitors who do not need a visa for short stays to the UK, or who do not already have UK immigration status before travelling. At present nationals from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan need to apply for them. Other nationalities cannot and do not need to apply yet but that is changing very soon.

Which nationalities will require a visa to enter the UK? And will this affect European nationalities?
Eventually all but British and Irish nationals will require a visa.

From November it will apply to all other nationals, except Europeans, and be required for entry from January 8, 2025.

The programme will then be extended to European nationals in March 2025 and be a travel requirement for them from April 2, 2025.

How much do ETAs cost?
An ETA costs £10, permits multiple journeys and is valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.​​

How do people apply for an ETA?
The easiest way to apply for an ETA is through the UK ETA app. Individuals can also search for Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation to come to the UK on gov.uk if they do not have access to a smartphone.

Those applying pay a fee and must provide details of their passport, where they are travelling to and why. A decision is then given, normally within three days of applying. Those who are granted an ETA must then travel using the passport they applied with.

What happens if someone is refused an ETA?
If someone is refused an ETA, the person will need to apply for a visa here to seek permission come to the UK. People will be denied entry if they try to enter without one.

19/08/2024

What are the five changes?
Social care workers are no longer allowed to bring dependants (that is, partners and children) on their visa.
The baseline minimum salary to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa has increased from £26,200 to £38,700, while the ‘going rate’ minimum salary specific to each job has also gone up significantly.
A list of jobs for which it is possible to sponsor someone for a Skilled Worker visa at a reduced minimum salary has been made shorter and renamed the Immigration Salary List.
The minimum income normally required to sponsor someone for a spouse/partner visa has risen from £18,600 to to £29,000.
A review of the Graduate visa, a two-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities, to check for possible abuse of the system.

07/08/2024

This link will give you an idea of the cheaper places to live in the UK

https://incorpuk.com/blog/uk-cheapest-cities-to-live-in/ #:~:text=Nottingham,other%20parts%20of%20the%20UK.

Great Britain, which is made up of England, Wales, and Scotland, as well as the northern part of the island of Ireland, is collectively referred to as the United Kingdom. Affordability is the biggest deterrent to relocation. It’s no secret that costs in the UK have been rising gradually

28/07/2024

The controversial rollout of digital visas for non-EU migrants has been delayed, but without any change to the “cliff edge” year-end deadline. This leaves more than 4 million UK residents facing a race against time to avoid effectively becoming undocumented migrants. Having said people would be able to apply to access the new “eVisas” from June, the Home Office is now advising that applications will open “later in 2024”.

Biometric residence permits are given to all foreign nationals with permission to live in the UK for at least six months as proof of their immigration status and residency rights, but are being replaced with eVisas under the Home Office digitisation programme. More than 4 million non-EU migrants will need an eVisa by 31 December 2024. After that date, their BRPs will no longer be accepted as a proof of immigration status and residency rights.

18/07/2024

5 things all passport holders must know

1. The 6-month validity rule
One of the most important aspects of your passport is its expiry date. Many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. This rule exists to prevent travellers from being stranded in a foreign country if their passport expires while they’re abroad.

In countries like China, Russia, and Indonesia, this six-month validity rule is strictly enforced.

Always check the specific entry requirements of your destination well in advance of your travel dates to avoid any last-minute issues.

2. Keep a blank page (or two) open
When traveling internationally, it’s not just the expiry date that matters; the number of blank pages in your passport is also crucial.

Some countries require a certain number of blank pages for entry. This is to ensure that there is enough space for entry and exit stamps, as well as visas. Travellers visiting South Africa are required to have at least two blank pages in their passport – one for the visa and one for an entry stamp.

Without the necessary blank pages, you may be denied entry or boarding. Always check the entry requirements of your destination and make sure you have enough blank pages before you travel.

3. Keeping your passport protected
Your passport is your most valuable travel document, and losing it can lead to significant problems. If your passport is lost or stolen, you could be stranded without the ability to travel, face delays in replacing it, and potentially become a victim of identity theft.

To prevent this, always keep your passport in a secure place. Use hotel safes, hidden travel pouches, or other secure methods to store it when not in use. Make copies of your passport and keep them separate from the original. In case of loss or theft, report it immediately to the local authorities and your nearest embassy or consulate.

4. Damage can invalidate your passport
A damaged passport can be a significant issue when traveling. Passports with damage such as water stains, torn pages, or separated cover may be deemed invalid by immigration officials. The reason is that a damaged passport may compromise the security features embedded in the document, making it easier to tamper with or forge. Always handle your passport with care, keep it in a protective cover, and avoid exposing it to elements that could cause damage. If your passport does become damaged, it’s essential to apply for a replacement before your next trip to ensure you won’t face any issues at border crossings.

5. Insurance for a lost passport
Yes, insurance for a lost or stolen passport does exist. Travel insurance policies often include coverage for the costs associated with replacing a lost or stolen passport. This can include the cost of a new passport, travel expenses to the nearest embassy or consulate, and additional accommodation if you are delayed. Some policies also cover the cost of expedited passport replacement services.

When purchasing travel insurance, check the policy details to ensure that passport loss or theft is covered, and understand the claims process should you need to use it.

10/07/2024

Ireland Discontinues Visa-Free Travel for South African and Botswana Citizens. South African and Botswanan passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to the Republic of Ireland from tomorrow (July 10), Irish Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee has announced.

Yesterday’s announcement by the government of Ireland — during the peak European summer — has come as a shock to those with planned trips to the Emerald Isle, throwing travellers’ arrangements into disarray.

A transit visa is now mandatory if passing through Ireland on your way to another country.

A single-entry visa will cost R1,200; multiple-entry visas are R2,000.

People in possession of a valid Irish Residence Permit card do not need a visa.

08/07/2024

Exchange a non-GB driving licence
You can continue to drive in the UK without exchanging your licence for 12 months after becoming resident.
After 12 months you must exchange your licence to keep driving. You can exchange it up to 5 years after becoming resident, if it has not expired.

You can no longer drive in the UK with an old South African book of life-style licence or letter of entitlement to one, and you cannot exchange these for a UK licence. You must have a new credit-card style licence or a letter of entitlement to one.

Swap a credit-card style licence for a Great Britain issued licence
Order form D1 from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Send the form, £43 fee and any documents you need (including your driving licence) to the address on the form.
Your licence will usually arrive within 3 weeks. It might take longer if you’ve told DVLA about a medical condition and your details need to be checked.

01/06/2024

The UKVI has announced that it will be doing away with biometric residence permits at the end of 2024 and replacing them with eVisas. Read on to see how this affects you and the steps that you will need to take.

What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. You will need to create a UKVI account to be able to access your eVisa.

Updating your physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.

In the future you’ll be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK – you will not need to carry a physical document, except for your current passport, which must be registered to your UKVI account. Until the end of 2024 you will need to continue to carry your physical document when you travel, if you have one.

The benefits of eVisas include:

they are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, unlike a physical document
you will not need to wait for, or collect, a physical document after your application is decided – you might still need to provide biometric information in person, and we will tell you if you need to do this
it will be quicker and easier to prove your status at the UK border, and share your status with third parties like employers and landlords

26/05/2024

https://www.gov.uk/buy-a-vehicle

Buy a vehicle - how to check you’re not buying a stolen vehicle. Registering, taxing and insuring your vehicle.

20/05/2024

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/getting-benefits-if-youve-recently-moved-to-the-UK/ #:~:text=You'll%20usually%20need%20to,you're%20habitually%20resident%20now.

Check how to show you’re habitually resident, pass the ‘past presence test’ or pass the ‘3-month living in test’.

15/05/2024

We hope this link helps you in finding work in the UK

Learn more about the job market, including vacancies and permits.