Visa & UK Immigration

Permission to stay under the Graduate route will enable international students to work or look for work after their studies for 2 years, or 3 years for PhD students. The work can be in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship.

Yes, Only certain family members can apply to come to the UK as your dependants. These are:

• Your husband or wife (also called your ‘spouse’).

• Your partner (including same-sex partner) if you have been living together for at least two years before you apply to come to the UK.

• Your children if they are under 18.

There are several ways you can get a UK family visa:

As the spouse or partner of a UK resident.
As a parent of a UK resident.
As a child of a UK resident.
As a sick, disabled or elderly relative who requires long-term care from a UK resident.
Based on personal life.
As a widowed partner of a former UK resident.
As an estranged spouse or partner.

The process for applying for a spouse visa extension is similar to the out-of-country process for applying for a spousal entry permit.

Applications are made online, and you then need to attend a center and scan your passport to enroll your biometrics.

Once you submit your online application, you will be able to upload copies of your supporting documents on the Home Office partner website and you will be able to book an appointment to attend a service center to enroll your biometrics.

No, If you leave the Common Travel Area, which includes the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, while your application is pending, your application will be treated as withdrawn. This will cause difficulties as you will not be able to re-enter the UK. You may need to submit a new application from outside the UK for entry clearance.

Just as in the case of your spouse’s visa entry clearance application, you must meet a financial requirement.

You must show that you or your partner have an annual income of at least £18,600 plus additional funds if you have non-British children. You can rely on your own or your spouse’s income to meet financial needs, or you can combine your earnings.

The Home Office will recognize a marriage or civil partnership that took place abroad where:

• The type of marriage or civil partnership is recognized in the country where it took place.
• The marriage or civil partnership was properly conducted to meet the requirements of the laws of the country in which it took place.
• There is nothing in the law of a person’s country of residence at the time of marriage or civil partnership that prevents the marriage or civil partnership from being recognised.
• Any previous marriage or civil partnership of the couple has been permanently dissolved

There are some additional requirements about age and relationship and prohibited degrees of previous divorce, but broadly if the country where you got married recognizes you as married, so will the UK.