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UK visa routes compared: Skilled Worker with a sponsor, Global Talent without one, family visas, fee waivers and the path to a British passport.
78 articles tagged United Kingdom
Shabana Mahmood announced care workers may reach ILR in 5 years on £25,000+ pay; other Skilled Worker visa holders face 10 years. Here's what's confirmed.
Who will see their path to permanent residence in the UK shortened or extended, which groups are unaffected, and what to check now: income, visa conditions, English level.
The UK may raise the wait for settlement (ILR) from 5 to 10 years, with 3 years for high earners and 30 years for overstayers. Here's the proposal.
On 2 Nov 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled Earned Settlement, doubling the ILR wait from 5 to 10 years. Can skilled workers challenge it?
The Home Office may deactivate Level 1 users who haven't logged into SMS in 12 months. Learn about the 19,000 affected sponsors, why it matters, and how to avoid being locked out.
Why the Home Office removes applications from the Super Priority Service, how long standard extension processing can take, and what to do if there's no answer.
Since 2021 the UK has used a points-based immigration system. The Skilled Worker route needs a licensed sponsor and a qualifying salary, while Global Talent requires an endorsement from a designated body instead of an employer.
Most long-term routes lead to indefinite leave to remain and then British citizenship, and the Immigration Rules and fee waiver provisions change several times a year.
Most visa applicants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives access to the NHS. Immigration status is now proven by an eVisa in a UKVI online account instead of a biometric residence permit card. The time needed to reach indefinite leave to remain depends on the route, and the government has announced a review aimed at lengthening the standard qualifying period. Ukrainians can apply for UK visas on general terms, while Homes for Ukraine and the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme let people already in the UK extend their stay.