UK Immigration

The UK Immigration requirements and process of application is constantly changing and moving with the economic requirements of the country, with a possible Brexit we expect to see even more of these changes. 

They aim to simplify and to make the decision process more transparent.  For example the changes to the settlement group of visas including the spouse settlement visa which holds a very strict financial requirement with black and white requirements and very little discretion left to the caseworker.

With refusals, the Point Base system applications and, now even the ancestral visa applications, no longer have appeal rights but only allow you to submit an administrative review.  This result in much less time and cost to have a decision reviewed but limit your options to argue before the law if you feel you were treated unfairly.

Ten years ago South Africans were largely affected by the then changes to the Two Year Working Holiday Visa, changed to the Youth Mobility Scheme and SA not being part of this Scheme.  South African nationals also moved from being non-visa nationals to visa nations meaning South Africans are required to apply for visitors visas and transit visas for the UK before they travel.

There are however still many options available to South Africans wanting to visit or relocate to the UK.