Breaking news on Tier 1 general visas

The Home Office has announced that from April 1st 2009 it will be raising qualifying criteria for Tier 1 general visas. The new criteria sees the minimum qualification of a Masters Degree and minimum salary of £20,000 being imposed.

If you are looking to change to the Tier 1 general, we recommend that you apply now before the new rules come into play.

Smooth can assist with Tier 1 general visa applications, for more information please contact us today on 0845 644 1871 or email info@mysmoothgroup.com

Visitor visas update

Schengen visas

Smooth Migration is delighted to announce that the Swiss Embassy is now allowing it to lodge up to 15 Schengen visa applications per day for individuals living inside and outside of the M25. If you are planning to travel to Switzerland for a late skiing trip, contact Smooth for assistance with your visa application on 0845 644 1871 or email info@mysmoothgroup.com

South African Visitor visas

A new UK government policy will see South African tourists and business visitors requiring a visitor visa, prior to departing from South Africa when visiting the UK. The new policy has been introduced following concerns regarding security on this route which is alleged to be a route exploited by people smugglers, illegal immigrants and suspected terrorists. If you are planning a trip to the UK, or know of anybody else that may wish to visit the UK, please contact Smooth who can assist with visitor visas. Our South Africa colleagues can be contacted on 0027 83 267 7601 or email nicolene.rosendorff@mysmoothgroup.com

Don't lose your workforce to immigration red tape

UK immigration is constantly evolving and this is a complicated area now. At the end of 2008 we saw the most significant changes to the UK immigration system for over 40 years, and there is now a major need for everyone involved in the recruitment process of foreign workers to ensure that their systems and processes meet the new stringent rules.

Smooth Migration and its immigration advisor team are registered with the OISC. Our qualified and experienced immigration advisors can provide HR teams with full in-house training, assistance with sponsor registration and license application. In addition to this we conduct training days for recruiters involved in the process of recruiting abroad, providing them with a strong grounding on current immigration processes and systems.

For more information on our corporate immigration services, please contact the Smooth Migration team on: 0845 644 1871 or email info@mysmoothgroup.com

Tier 4 PBS Update

This month (March) The UK Border Agency will be implementing Tier 4 for foreign students. Tier 4 is part of the Points Based System and is for entry of students from outside the European Union.

Universities wishing to bring foreign students to the UK will be required now to obtain a sponsorship licence. Students applying under Tier 4 will be required to obtain a certificate of sponsorship from their university and look after maintenance.

Smooth can assist with Tier 4 visa applications, for more information please contact us today on 0845 644 1871 or email info@mysmoothgroup.com

Smooth Group Limited
1 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays, London, SE16 2XU
Tel: 0845 644 1871 Email: info@mysmoothgroup.com
www.mysmoothgroup.com
OISC Registered No: F200300158

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