– Visitor – Business or Tourism.

For applicants to qualify for the UK visitor visa, they need to meet the following 3 requirements:

• i. Proof of ability to financially accommodate themselves in the UK
• ii. Proof of intent to honour the visa rules
• iii. Proof of need to return to SA at the end of their trip

– Transit – Short stop over.

This is the least complicated application, when compares to all the UK’s visas. Applicants need to evidence the following:

• i. Proof of travel arrangements
• ii. Proof of flight arrangements
• iii. Proof of visa compliance

– Birth Rights – UK born relatives.

This applies to South Africans claiming ancestry working rights (as opposed to British nationality through descent).

• i. Evidence of the 3 generations linking by birth.
• ii. Evidence that the applicant meets the visa conditions and sufficient intent to accommodate themselves.
• iii. Evidence that the applicant can suitably accommodate themselves without being a burden to UK public funds.

– Student– Full time studies.

This particular visa gets the most compromised (when it expires). Hence the British government have made it deliberately administratively challenging, as a means to scare off “trouble makers”. Needed is the following:

• i. Confirmation of acceptance of studies.
• ii. Confirmation of sufficient funds to finance studies, accommodation and maintenance.
• iii. Evidence that the visa conditions will be honored.

– Family Dependency– Immediate family members.

This caters for South Africans claiming dependency on either a family members British nationality, EU nationality or their permission to live in the UK. To qualify:

• i. Need to evidence a legally recognized family relationship.
• ii. Need to evidence that the conditions of the visa requirements (which vary to each type of dependency) will be met.
• iii. Need to evidence their ability to financially accommodate themselves in the UK.

– Highly Valued Migrants– Investors and Entrepreneurs.

A big shift in UK immigration legislation now welcomes investors and entrepreneurs over qualified high earners. To qualify:

• i. Applicants need to evidence access to the relevant investment capital.
• ii. Applicants need to meet the demonstrate their ability to meet the visa qualifying requirements.
• iii. Applicants need to evidence that they will comply with the immigration conditions.

– Skilled Migrants– UK Work Permit.

Getting a UK job offer (alone) is not enough to get the new work permit (Tier 2 General). South Africans have quite a few hurdles to jump through in this “updated” category. Need to qualify is the following:

• i. Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship issued from UKVI.
• ii. Evidence that the maintenance requirement will be met (proof of supporting funds).
• iii. Evidence that the job offer matches the minimum requirements set out by Standard Occupational Classification (we are not making this up – it actually exists).

– Temporary Work– Charity, Sports and Religious Workers.

This caters for South Africans that have received Tier 5 sponsorship from UK employers. To qualify therefore:

• i. Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship issued from UKVI.
• ii. Evidence that the applicant will honour the conditions (and will not try extend their stay at the end of the 12 month visa).
• iii. Need to evidence their ability to financially accommodate themselves whilst in the UK.