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THE IMMIGRATION LAW
Hello again,
I hope the service I am rendering to my community through these articles continues to assist my readers. I want to urge other professionals to get involved in crusade to empower our people.
Upon a readers request the article below is being republished.
1)Overstaying in the United Kingdom and the effect it could have on your future 2)Marriage in the United Kingdom either to a British Citizen or an EEA National
Finally, I spoke about the fact that should anyone be in the United Kingdom without any form of visa or leave to remain and such person intends to marry either British Citizen or EEA National, that person will, under the British Immigration Law, be advised to return to their country of origin where He/She could then get married to His/Her spouse and then apply to come to the United Kingdom or indeed any member state (there are 25 Member States of the EEC) to either come into the United Kingdom or to enter the member state as an EEA dependant.
This week, I intend to look at various visas issued from abroad. The first in line and which is the most common one is the Visiting Visa. Before looking at the Visiting Visa, what do we actually understand by the word Visa?
Visa is an authority for an individual to depart their country of origin for a destination to which the visa has been issued. In this instance United Kingdom, having said this, majority of people do, most often than not, misconstrue a visa to be an entry clearance. I have seen people actually selling off all their belongings before departing their country of origin to the United Kingdom, only to find out that on getting to the United Kingdom they are refused entry, detained and or so many questions are asked for their reasons for coming to the United Kingdom. Tears do flow, problems do occur, families disagree, and it becomes a serious debt on families who can hardly afford a three square meal in the first instance, but, who, for the mere fact that their son or daughter has been granted a visa to come to the United Kingdom would do anything to facilitate the journey of their son or daughter, who upon getting to the United Kingdom is now asked to return to their country of Origin without even knowing the Roads of the United Kingdom or have the opportunity to know what is called United Kingdom.
Understanding the meaning of Visa could help to change all these. In the first instance Visa does not give anyone the authority to enter the United Kingdom! I am sure most of you are shocked to hear this revelation. As stated above a Visa merely allows you to depart your country of Origin, and it is a confirmation that you have met the Immigration Rules concerning your proposed travelling to the United Kingdom.
The first warning therefore, is, never, I mean, Never, dispose off your personal assets upon the issue of a Visa. Once you arrive at the Ports of the United Kingdom, you will need to show that you still meet those conditions, as indeed, met, when you applied for your visa in your country of origin. This is why you are further interviewed by an Immigration Officer when you arrive at any Port in the United Kingdom, to ascertain that you are still able to show that you fulfil the requirement of Immigration Rules, as you have shown before your visa was issued. In most countries of West Africa – A drop point is now used for making a visa application and the granting of visas – The reason for this is to decongest the British Embassy and to assist the reduction of corruption by some enemies of civilisation. This process does not stop the fact that you still need to meet the requirement of Immigration Rule in concerning your proposed journey to the United Kingdom. Also, in some instances you are granted a MULTIPLE VISA as a visitor.
Majority of people do not actually understand the meaning of multiple visa which could be issued to last a year or two years and in some instances longer. Well, the purpose of multiple visa is to save time and money and to reduce congestions at the British Embassies in most countries, it enables you to apply only once and gives you the opportunity to enter Britain as often as you wish within the life span of the visa, But it is important that know that if you are a visitor, you are only permitted to visit United Kingdom for a maximum period of 6 months at a time. What I am saying here, is that although, your visa reads Multiple for 2 years, and it does not and should not be read as giving you a leave to remain in the United Kingdom for two years. It simply means you are allowed to visit the United Kingdom as often as you wish within the two years given and your stay must not be more than 6 months at a time. Also, the visa does not permit you to work, claim any form of State Benefits or indeed engage in any business, neither would it permit you to attend school or college or attempt to get married to either British Citizen or EEA National. At the end of the day, should you wish to do anything other than visiting, you will need to contact The Home Office where you could submit an application for their consideration of your intention.
If you require further advice on this article or indeed have any immigration problem you should contact Dr. David Akin-Samuels via the African Echo.
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