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In the past, I have spoken about students application, working in the UK, and so forth, but there are the fundamental principles of understanding the UK immigration law and unless you understand the reasons for preventing you from coming to the United Kingdom illegally, I am of the opinion that people will continue to put themselves in a situation whereby they are unable to live a normal life in the United Kingdom. As I said in one of my articles “Immigration problem is like a cancer – once it starts spreading it is difficult to cure.”
Let us look at a typical example of a person that arrived in the UK some 10 years ago. He was able to gain entry through deception, i.e. he informed that Immigration Officer that he was only coming here for two weeks to do some shopping or to transact business. Obviously, the Immigration Officer at the port of entry will ask various questions as to how much money he has, where is he going to stay in the UK and with whom and for how long. Once the questions are satisfied, he is given a leave to enter for 6 months. Yes! He is in the UK, - a happy man who promptly telephone his Country to inform his people of his good fortune to be allowed to enter United Kingdom. Hey, he will not tell his people that he has only be allowed in for 6 months – but for the simple fact that he is now in the UK, nothing else matter. He has escaped and now in the United Kingdom where everything is possible.
He goes to his friends and secure some doggy NI and papers to look for work and start earning some money, he cares not, what will or could happen, he now knows every single bus routes in London, he can direct you from Elephant and Castle to Manor House, he is able to tell you when Central Line will get to Mile End and how to change from Northern Line to Piccadilly and Circle Lines. He is conversant with Metropolitan and District Line – He is now a Londoner! – forgetting he informed the Immigration Officer that he was only here for two weeks, besides, he has forgot one important element of his journey – upon landing in the UK, he filled a LANDING CARD, detailing his name and other important information about where he intends to reside and his passport number, place, date and country of issue – all these information he volunteered truthfully – with a view to gaining entry to the United Kingdom, albeit, deceptively.
Our man is now so comfortable after doing cleaning and or security job for nearly 10 months, that is, he is now an illegal entrants, apart from the fact that he is working illegally coupled with the fact that he is using someone else’s identity, he wants to have his own car. Afterwards, cars a cheaper in the UK, he is able to purchase a second hand car for £600.00 with one year MOT. However, he has no driving licence and need to get a provisional driving licence, he must get this in him own original name so that he can open a bank account, he is fed up using someone’s bank account where his cleaning job money is paid into. He sends to his country for his birth certificate which is a forged copy. He now sends his driving licence application to the DVLA so he can obtain a provisional driving licence.
At 5.30 am 10 days later, our man was preparing to go to his cleaning job when someone knocks the house door. He is only renting a room and he knows the rest of the tenants who frequently have visitors. He goes downstairs to open the door and face to face he meets again with immigration officers from the Home Office!!!. Shockingly, he requests to know what the immigration officer’s mission was. He was told they were looking for a Mr. Smith, promptly he says, No Mr. Smith in this house and proceeds to shut the door. The Immigration officer then told him to hold on and requested to know his identity – well, readers, you know what happened next!!!! The Cancer has started and it is now difficult to cure!!!
What can you do in this situation?
In the first instance, there are many immigration lawyers who could and capable of assisting you, but they are not magicians, you must have a genuine reasons for wanting to remain in the United Kingdom otherwise you will be removed back to your country.
My advise is as follows:
1) As soon as you land in the UK, and you know it is your intention to stay longer than anticipated, contact a lawyer who will provide you advise on the possibility if there is any (You must know that the maximum period allow for a visitor is 6 months) It does not matter if you have a multiple visa in your passport, you must only stay in the UK for a maximum period of 6 months at a time. You must go back to your country and then re-enter) However, if your have exceptional circumstances, i.e. after entering the UK, you became terminally ill and there were no symptoms of such sickness before leaving your country then the Home Office might decide to vary your leave to remain, but you must submit an application to this effect.
2) If it is your aim to come to the United Kingdom with a view to stay longer than 6 months, you must enter in one of the following categories: Student, i.e. obtain the necessary entry clearance in your home country before entering the UK , you will then be able to work at least 20 hours per week during your studies and full time during your holiday period, but be aware, it is now becoming difficult to secure visa for studies that are commonly available in your own country, you should be considering a degree course which are now commonly or difficult to be admitted to in your country and you must show the difficulties of gaining such entry. Highly Skilled Migrant Status (HSMS), there are under 28 and over 28 status, in both instances you will need to score 65 points, again ask a lawyer for assistance.
GOOD LUCK
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