Immigration & Visas questions
26 direct answers, each with the short version first and a link to the full guide. For the whole topic, see Immigration & Visas.
How long does ILR take?
Two different clocks. Most work and family routes need five years of continuous qualifying residence before you can apply — and once you do, a standard decision currently takes around six months. Paying for the Priority (£500) or Super Priority (£1,000) service cuts that to five working days or one.
What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa?
£41,700 a year, or the going rate for your occupation code if that is higher — whichever is greater. The general threshold rose to that level on 22 July 2025. New entrants are assessed against a lower floor of £33,400, and health and care roles have their own separate thresholds.
How much do I need to earn to sponsor my partner's visa?
£29,000 gross a year — the sponsor’s income, not the couple’s combined income. The threshold rose from £18,600 on 11 April 2024 and has not moved since: the further rises to £34,500 and £38,700 were shelved. Savings of £88,500 held for six months can replace the income entirely.
How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge?
£1,035 a year for adults and £776 a year for children and students, paid upfront for the whole length of the visa. A five-year Skilled Worker visa therefore costs £5,175 in surcharge alone, and every dependant pays in full. Health and Care Worker and Global Talent visa holders are exempt.
Can I appeal if my UK visa is refused?
Only for some refusals. Family and human rights refusals usually carry a full appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Points-based refusals — Skilled Worker, Student, Graduate — carry administrative review instead, a paper check for caseworking errors. Visitor visa refusals carry neither: reapplying is the only route.
How do I prove my immigration status without a BRP?
With an eVisa share code. BRPs stopped being valid evidence of status on 31 December 2024. Create a UKVI account at gov.uk/evisa, then generate a nine-character share code — valid for 90 days — which employers, landlords and banks check online. Keep the old card as a backup.
Can I switch from the Graduate Route to a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes, and it is one of the most common UK immigration moves. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation paying at least £41,700 or the going rate, and you must apply from inside the UK before your Graduate leave expires. The Graduate Route cannot be extended.
How long after ILR can I apply for British citizenship?
Twelve months in most cases. You normally need to have held ILR or settled status for at least a year, on top of five years’ continuous lawful residence. Spouses of British citizens are exempt from that 12-month wait and can qualify after three years’ residence instead.
How long can I stay in the UK on a visitor visa?
Up to six months per visit. A visa may be valid for multiple entries over two or ten years, but no single stay can exceed six months, and the immigration officer decides the leave granted on arrival. Visitor visas cannot normally be extended or switched in-country.
Can I work on a student visa?
Yes — most Student visa holders can work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Your visa conditions set the exact limit, and breaching it can lead to curtailment. After your course, the Graduate Route gives two years of unrestricted work, or three for doctoral graduates.
How do I prove my relationship is genuine for a spouse visa?
With varied, dated evidence spanning the whole relationship: photographs over time, call and message records, joint finances or shared property, travel showing visits to each other, and statements from people who know you. Thin or last-minute evidence is one of the commonest reasons these applications fail.
Is the super priority visa service worth it?
It buys speed, not success. Super Priority costs around £1,000 for a decision the same or next working day; Priority around £500 for five working days. Neither improves your chances, both fees are non-refundable if the visa is refused, and neither is available for naturalisation.
Can I switch visa without leaving the UK?
Often yes — many routes allow in-country switching provided you apply before your current leave expires. Visitor and short-term student visas are excluded, so those applications must be made from abroad. Applying in time triggers section 3C leave, which protects your status while you wait.
What is administrative review of a visa decision?
An internal Home Office check for caseworking errors — not a fresh look at the merits of your application. It costs £80 in-country and is free from overseas, with strict deadlines of 14 days in the UK and 28 days abroad. Success rates are low, around 10–15%.
What score do I need to pass the Life in the UK test?
18 out of 24 — 75%. You have 45 minutes, every question comes from the official handbook, and the booking fee is £50. There is no limit on retakes but you pay each time, and a pass certificate never expires, so it covers both ILR and citizenship.
How long does naturalisation take?
Around six months from biometric enrolment, and there is no priority service — you cannot pay for a faster decision. You apply online on form AN, give biometrics at a UKVI service centre, and attend a citizenship ceremony once approved. Gather your evidence before you start.
What English test do I need for a UK visa?
Usually an approved Secure English Language Test at B1 CEFR for work, family and settlement routes, and B2 for degree-level study. A degree taught in English, or citizenship of a majority English-speaking country, can be used instead. SELT results are valid for two years.
Can I bring my family to the UK as dependants?
Usually yes — a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner of two years or more, and children under 18 can join most main visa holders. Each must apply separately and cannot travel on your permission, and you must meet the financial requirement for your route.
Can I get indefinite leave to remain after 10 years in the UK?
Yes, if all ten years were continuous and lawful, you were not outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period, and you meet the Life in the UK and B1 English requirements. The fee is £3,226 per person, and it is not refunded if the application fails.
What is the difference between the 5-year and 10-year partner route?
The 5-year route applies when you meet every Appendix FM requirement, including the £29,000 minimum income and the English requirement. The 10-year route is for people granted leave on human rights grounds without meeting them all — doubling the wait for settlement and the fees along the way.
Can I still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme?
Yes, if you have reasonable grounds for missing the 30 June 2021 deadline — and simply not knowing about the scheme is generally accepted. You must show you were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020. Apply as soon as possible, with whatever evidence of residence you have.
Can asylum seekers work in the UK?
Generally no. While a claim is being considered you are not usually permitted to work, though you may receive asylum support — accommodation and a small cash allowance. You can only claim asylum from inside the UK, and you should claim as soon as possible after arrival.
What help can I get if I have no recourse to public funds?
Three main routes: a Change of Conditions application to lift the NRPF condition if you are destitute; Section 17 Children Act support from your council if you have children; and NHS care, which is not a public fund. Never claim benefits you are barred from.
How long does a sponsor licence take?
About eight weeks as standard, or ten working days with the £750 priority service. A pre-licence compliance visit can add months. Fees are £611 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,682 for medium and large ones, and the ongoing duties are identical whatever the size of the employer.
What happens if my visa is curtailed?
Your leave is shortened to a new, earlier expiry date and you normally have around 60 days to find a new sponsor, switch category or leave the UK. There is generally no right of appeal against curtailment, though administrative review may be available where a caseworking error was made.
How long does an Upper Tribunal asylum appeal take?
Typically nine to fifteen months from the First-tier refusal to a decision: six to twelve weeks at the permission stage, four to nine months to a hearing, and four to eight weeks for the written decision. Permission must be sought within 14 days in-country.