Insights

Guidance

Register of licensed sponsors: students

Register of licensed sponsors: students

List of institutions licensed to sponsor migrant students under Tier 4.

Tier 4 register of sponsors
This document lists institutions licensed to sponsor migrant students under Tier 4. It includes information about the category of students they’re licensed to sponsor and their sponsorship rating.

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Visa sponsorship

Guidance

Register of licensed sponsors: workers

Register of licensed sponsors: workers

List of organisations licensed to sponsor workers under Tiers 2 and 5.

Tiers 2 and 5 register of sponsors
This document lists Tier 2 and 5 sponsors. It includes information about the category of workers they’re licensed to sponsor and their sponsorship rating.

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Visa sponsorship
Work and investor visas

Guidance

Somalia: country policy and information notes

Somalia: country policy and information notes

Guidance used by UK Visas and Immigration to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

Country policy and information note: majority clans and minority groups, Somalia, January 2019Country policy and information note: security and humanitarian situation in south and central Somalia, Somalia, September 2018Country information and guidance: women fearing gender-based violence, Somalia, April 2018Country information and guidance: fear of Al-Shabaab, Somalia, July 2017
Country policy and information notes (previously known as country information and guidance reports) are used by UK Visas and Immigration officials to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

The notes also give information on asylum seekers’ countries of origin.

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Refugee, asylum and human rights claims

Guidance

Zimbabwe: country policy and information notes

Zimbabwe: country policy and information notes

Guidance used by UK Visas and Immigration to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

Country policy and information note: medical and healthcare issues, Zimbabwe, April 2019Country policy and information note: opposition to the government, Zimbabwe, February 2019Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, Zimbabwe, January 2019Country policy and information note: women fearing gender-based harm or violence, Zimbabwe, October 2018
Country policy and information notes (previously known as country information and guidance reports) are used by UK Visas and Immigration officials to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

The notes also give information on asylum seekers’ countries of origin.

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Refugee, asylum and human rights claims

Guidance

Applying for a UK visa: approved English language tests

Applying for a UK visa: approved English language tests

List of tests and test centres approved by UK Visas and Immigration to show that applicants have the required level of English for their visa.

List of approved tests and providers: from July 2019Identification requirements for candidatesFrequently asked questions for candidates
If the visa you’re applying for asks you to prove your English language ability you should use the list of approved secure English language tests and test centres that meet the Home Office’s requirements.

The level of English language you are required to prove can change according to the visa you’re applying for. Check the guidance for your visa to find out the level required.

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Citizenship
Settlement
Family visas
Student visas
Visa application centres
Work and investor visas

List of the international application points and decision making centres centres run by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

Guidance

EU Settlement Scheme: application processing times

EU Settlement Scheme: application processing times

Current expected processing times for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

EU Settlement Scheme: current estimated processing times for applications
This page contains details of the current expected processing times for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Guidance on settled and pre-settled status for EU citizens and their families is available on GOV.UK.

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Rights of EU and EEA citizens
Brexit

Guidance

EU Settlement Scheme caseworker guidance

EU Settlement Scheme caseworker guidance

Guidance for caseworkers considering applications under the EU Settlement Scheme.

EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members EU Settlement Scheme: suitability requirementsEU Settlement Scheme: derivative right to reside (Chen and Ibrahim/Teixeira cases) EU Settlement Scheme: family member of a qualifying British citizen
This guidance tells caseworkers how to consider applications made under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Find out more about the EU Settlement Scheme and how to apply.

Previous versions of this guidance, including those used for the testing phases of the EU Settlement Scheme, can be found on the National Archives website.

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Rights of EU and EEA citizens
Brexit

Guidance

Employer sponsorship: restricted certificate allocations

Employer sponsorship: restricted certificate allocations

A list of restricted certificates allocated each month for employer sponsorship in Tier 2 (General).

Allocations of restricted certificates of sponsorship
This document lists the number of restricted certificates allocated to employer sponsors by month, for foreign workers in Tier 2 (General).

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Visa sponsorship

Visas and immigration Service and Support Centres

Contents

Appointments

Locations

Appointments

For some UK visa and settlement applications, you’ll need to make an appointment at a Service and Support Centre (SSC).

You’ll be told if you need to go to an SSC, and how to get an appointment, when you apply.

You might be eligible for assistance if you cannot travel or cannot afford to travel to the appointment. You’ll find out how to request assistance as part of your online application.

What happens at your appointment

A UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) staff member will:

take your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo)
check and scan your documents
make sure your application includes all the information needed
tell you what happens next

You’ll usually get your documents back at the end of your appointment. UKVI may keep your travel documents, such as your passport, until your application is processed.

How long it will take

Appointments usually take less tha..

Locations where you can go to get your biometric ID document scanned if you do not have an Android device with near field communication (NFC).

Guidance

Returns preparation

Returns preparation

Guidance on arranging removals for officers dealing with immigration enforcement matters within the UK.

Arranging removalData sharing in enforcement cases: standards of operational practiceFamily returns processFamily separationsReturns: case considerationReturns preparation: referral and case assessmentJudicial reviews and injunctionsSuspension of enforced removal windowVoluntary and assisted returns
Guidance for Immigration Enforcement officers on how to prepare and arrange for a single person or a family group to be removed from the UK.

It also contains information on decisions to separate family members as a consequence of detention or removal.

Guidance in this section has been reworked into a new format and plainer language. Not all of the enforcement guidance has been revised yet. If you cannot find the information you need in this section, please look in the ‘chapters’ sections of Enforcement instructions and guidance.

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