How To Move To the UK From South Africa

How to move to the UK from South Africa is searched by intending South African immigrants. The United Kingdom continues to be a popular relocation destination for South Africans. It’s critical to choose the right visa for your situation if you want to give your application the best chance of success. Continue reading to learn more on how to move to the UK from South Africa.

3 Easy Steps To Move To The UK From South Africa

Whatever your motivation for relocating from South Africa to the United Kingdom, it may be an exciting but stressful experience. Check out the steps below to make your relocation to the UK go more smoothly.

1. Ensure you have a valid South African passport
2. Make a budget for your expenses
3. Find out which UK visas you qualify for

1. Ensure you have a valid South African passport

Also, if you don’t have one, fill out an application! The UK government will not give you a visa if your passport is not valid, and you will be unable to travel. It is critical to ensure that your passport is up to date and that you give enough time for your passport to arrive, which will most likely take a few months.

2. Make a budget for your expenses

Every visa route has fees associated with it, including the cost of filing the application, translating your papers if necessary, paying the health premium, and, of course, travel expenditures. That’s even before you’ve relocated! Most UK visa options, such as the Skilled Worker visa or the UK Spouse visa, require you to demonstrate that you have sufficient resources and funds to sustain yourself. As a result, it’s a good idea to have your finances in order before applying to immigrate to the UK.

Should I budget my expenses before immigrating to the UK?

It’s also a good idea to look at the cost of living in the area you’re moving to, as it may vary greatly depending on where you live in the UK. It’s also critical to have a place to reside organized and with enough room before you relocate, as the Home Office will want proof.

3. Find out which visas you are eligible for

It’s critical that you closely examine the UK visa categories you could be eligible for before proceeding further in the process.

UK Visa Options For South Africans

The following are visa options available to South Africans who wish to immigrate to the UK.

1. UK Ancestry Visa
2. Skilled Worker Visa
3. UK Spousal Visa

UK Ancestry Visa

Because South Africa is also a member of the Commonwealth, you have the option of applying for an ancestry visa.

Requirement of UK Ancestry Visa

The following are the other general qualifying criteria:

1. You must be at least 17 years old.
2. Have at least one grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom, the Isles of Man, or Ireland? (if before 31 March 1922)
3. Capable of working
4. You can maintain yourself without the help of the government or public funding.
5. Your grandparent can be biological, but if the adoption was legalized, it also applies to those who were adopted. This is true if you, the applicant, were adopted by a parent whose own parent was born in the United Kingdom, or if your parent was adopted by a parent who was born in the United Kingdom.

Ancestry Visa Evidence

Unlike other visas, such as the Skilled Worker visa, you do not need a work offer in the UK to apply for the Ancestry visa. All you have to do is prove that you are “able to work” and that you intend to search for job once you get in the nation. You can work, be self-employed, or volunteer on this visa, but you must be able to sustain yourself if you are not generating an income.

How Long Can I Stay In The UK On An Ancestry Visa?

You will be permitted to stay in the UK for five years if your visa application is accepted. You and any dependants or family members you bring with you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain at the same time once this period has passed.

If you do not satisfy all of the requirements after five years, you can seek to extend your Ancestry visa for another five years and then apply for ILR again when you meet all of the conditions.

UK Skilled Worker Visa

Under the new points-based system, another more frequent visa path to apply for is the Skilled Worker visa. This visa allows you to work in the United Kingdom for up to five years.

To apply, you must earn a total of 70 points, with 50 of those points coming from a job offer at the appropriate skill level, from a recognized institution or corporation that may legally “sponsor” you, and at the required income level of £25,600. If the income provided is less than £20,480, you can still apply if you have the following qualifications:

• Been offered a job in a shortage occupation? (jobs with not enough British workers to do them)
• A PhD in a relevant subject is required.
• Other advanced credentials in your profession

Skilled Worker visa eligibility requirements

There are a slew of other specific qualifying criteria. Before applying, you should get immigration counsel to ensure that you are able to fulfill all of the requirements and that your application has the best chance of success. These can include the following:

1. Housing and maintenance requirements – having a place to live with enough room and no need to rely on government assistance while in the UK.
2. Personal savings to help you get by
3. There are no immigration or criminal offenses on your record.
4. The ability to communicate in English at a B1 level is required.
5.  Proof of your travel and immigration history over the past five years is required.

Cost of Applying For A UK Skilled Worker Visa

The cost of your application will vary depending on whether you are applying for up to or more than three years of leave. A Skilled Worker visa costs £610 for each application filed from outside the UK for up to three years. It costs £1220 for more than three years of leave. Switching from one visa to another is more expensive from within the UK, costing £704 and £1408, respectively.

How Long Can I Stay In the UK On A Skilled Worker Visa?

You can extend your visa or apply for settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years to stay in the UK without limitations.

UK Spouse Visa – Joining Your Partner in the UK

If you are the fiancé or married spouse of a British citizen or resident person and are not travelling to the UK for a specified employment function, you may be able to apply for a UK Spouse or Partner visa.

Spouse visas are notoriously difficult to get, since you must demonstrate to the Home Office that you have been living together for at least two years and are in a “genuine” relationship. If you haven’t married yet, you must prove that you plan to marry within six months of arriving in the UK.

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