Do I need a visa to come to the United Kingdom?
Whether you need a visa to come to the United Kingdom will depend on the purpose for which you wish to come to the United Kingdom, and what nationality you currently hold.

For advice on this matter please send an e-mail to jawaid@luqmanithompson.com giving details of your previous immigration history, your current nationality, and the purpose of your visit to the United Kingdom.

I want to come and work in the United Kingdom, do I need permission?
If you wish to come to the United Kingdom as a working holiday maker, then you will need to apply for entry clearance from your local British Embassy, before travelling to the United Kingdom. If however, it is your intention to work full time for a company in the Unied Kingdom, then the company or organisation wishing to employ you will need to make an application to the Department for Education & Employment. Once a work permit has been issued to the company or organisation wishing to employ you, you will then be required to make an entry clearance application to enter the United Kingdom in this capacity.

Luqmani Thompson & Partners are able to offer assistance at all stages of such an application, from making the initial application to the Home Office by the employer to advising regarding the application for entry clearance by the employer. We are not, though, able to find work for persons wishing to come to the United Kingdom for that purpose.

I want to undertake studies in the United Kingdom, how do I go about it?
First of all you need to find a course that you wish to undertake. The course of study you choose to undertake must be in a pubically funded institution, or higher education facility, or an approved private educational establishment. Once you have been accepted on your chosen course of study, you will need to approach your local British Embassy to make an application to enter the United Kingdom as a student. Luqmani Thompson & Partners are able to assist with the application for entry clearance, but we are not able to assist with the location of a relevant course of study for you.

I am currently in the United Kingdom and wish to switch the immigration capacity in which I am currently remaining.
It is not always possible to switch status whilst in the United Kingdom, in addition in light of the delays at the Home Office it is often quicker to leave the United Kingdom and apply for entry clearance at a British Embassy and then return to the United Kingdom once entry clearance has been granted. For more information about this matter, please contact us.

If you are in the United Kingdom and wish to extend your currently leave then this application should be made from within the United Kingdom, and as long as you continue to meet the criteria this application can be dealt with speedily by the Immigration & Nationality Directorate. In some cases we can make an application to the Home Office using their 'fast track' process, and the application can be dealt with in as little as 72 hours.

I have been refused permission to stay in or enter the United Kingdom
Many decisions of the Home Office or an Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) attract a right of appeal to a Tribunal. Appeals must be made within very strict time limits and it is often the case that all relevant reasons for disagreeing with a decision must also be raised at an early stage. At Appeal hearings the Home office/ECO will be represented by a lawyer. Luqmani Thompson & Partners can assist with the preparation and preparation of Appeals and can represent you at a Tribunal if necessary. In many circumstances we are able to make representations which can result in a favourable review of a refused entry clearance application

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