Immigration to United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of four countries, which are Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain or Britain are commonly used to refer the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland aka UK. It is an island nation in the northwestern Europe. London, a globally influential centre of finance and culture, is the capital city of United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is a highly developed nation that exerts considerable international economic, political, scientific and cultural influence.  United Kingdom is very rich in European Culture. There are numerous historic monuments and museums. England is the birthplace of the famous music rock band ‘The Beatles’ and the great English playwright, ‘Mr. William Shakespeare’. England also has the Neolithic Stonehenge, Cambridge and Oxford Universities.  The United Kingdom  is a popular destination among teenagers for higher studies all around the world. United Kingdom also offers some benefits to the international students after they complete graduation. The degree a student gets from the universities of UK will be acknowledged internationally by educational institutions, universities, government bodies and employers.

The Following Factors Speak For An Immigration To The United Kingdom

• Very good Entrepreneurship
• Very good Cultural Influence
• Good Heritage
• High Economic Strength
• Good Quality of Life
• Very good for Education

Traveling information

Before traveling to United Kingdom, you need to know few things about the rules and regulation imposed by the Government. Like not everybody needs a visa to enter United Kingdom, it depends on your nationality. If you are a British citizen then there is no need to take any covid-19 test or fill a passenger locator form, even when you are fully vaccinated or not.

If you are a British Citizen:

You must take a passport or a Gibraltar identity card as an identity proof. If you are traveling from Ireland to Northern Ireland then you do not need any identity proof to enter this country. If you are willing to travel from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales then officers may ask you to show the below given identity proof:

• Passport.
• Your Gibraltar Identity Card.
• British Citizenship Certificate.
• Or a copy of passport or Gibraltar Identity Card.

If you are an Expat:

You do not need to fill the United Kingdom passenger locator form.
Do not take any Covid-19 test.
Do not get quarantine after arriving in the UK even if you are fully vaccinated or not.

Documents needed:

• Visa application form
• Two passport size photographs
• Valid passport
• Bank statement showing you have enough fund to cover the cost of living while in United Kingdom.
• Accommodation Proof.
• Travel itinerary.
• Biometric information etc.

Starting February’ 2024, Citizens of UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Jordan can enter the United Kingdom without a pre-entry visa. They will have to apply for the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization, which can either be applied from the UK GOV official website or from the ETA mobile application. Citizens of UAE can get detailed information and also get links to download the ETA app from: mofa.gov.ae

How to immigrate to the United Kingdom

To move to United Kingdom, you must apply for a visa. There are four main groups of visas are follows:

• Short term work visas
• Long term work visas
• Investor, business development and talent visas
• Other work visas

To find out about the types of Visas and Immigration requirement for the United Kingdom, please visit: gov.uk.

There have been some other major changes in the Immigration rules made by the UK Government which will be in force in the year 2024. The detailed changes and the effective date is listed on the website: Immigrationbarrister.co.uk

People

Native people of United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Overseas Territories are called British or Britons, as well as Brits. Calling them English people is incorrect and can cause offence, although some people like to call themselves English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish. The British are a diverse, multinational, multicultural and multilingual society, with strong regional accents, expressions and identities. The British government made the process easier of migration, cultural and linguistic exchange and intermarriage between the peoples of England, Scotland and Wales.

These people are reserved in speech, manners and dressing. They are popular for their politeness, discipline and their sense of humor. Words like thank you, sorry, please and excuse me are frequently used in their conversation. People here, value their and others time. They are very punctual and being late is considered rude by many people. At public places like supermarkets, stations, banks, you will see queues. They wait in line patiently and do not tolerate anybody jumping in the middle of the queue.

Job offers in the United Kingdom

To support yourself in a country like United Kingdom, it is must to have a job or atleast an offer letter in hand before moving here. Jobs in demand are Designers, Analysts, CNC Mechanist, Conveyancing Assistant, Hair stylists, etc. There are various recruitment sites available on the internet. Upload your resume, so that the recruiters can match your information with the best available jobs. It is challenging for an expat to get a job here, due to the pandemic situation but it is not impossible, so do not lose confidence and keep applying.

Do some research beforehand about the company you are willing to apply to get the idea of the work culture and its values. Once you find a job, you must prepare your application. After reaching the interview stage, find out what questions you will be asked and what to do and what not, in the interview. Interview lasts forty to sixty minutes and has two or three rounds before qualifying. Some simple steps to get a job, are mentioned below: 

• Update your LinkedIn profile.
• Submit a cover letter with the application.
• Maintain a strong network.
• Contact a recruitment company.
• Upload Your CV.
• Take follow ups.
• Maintain a good body posture while giving interviews.

For more information please visit: expatica.com

Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate in the whole Unites Kingdom has gone down till 3.8% for three months from December 2021 to February 2022. The jobless rate had been falling since 2013 until December 2019, the year pandemic has started. It was increased for some time but has now become same like pre corona virus pandemic levels. In the United Kingdom, England was the highest, where the unemployment rate was 4%, followed by Scotland 3.5%, Wales 3% and Northern Ireland 2.5%, lowest among all the four countries of United Kingdom. The Jobless rate was largely unchanged on the quarter at 75.5%, but still below Covid-19 pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the number of full time employees increased; however this was offset by a decrease in part time employees. The number of self employed workers is still below the pre pandemic levels, it has increased slightly in the recent three months.

For more information please visit: ons.gov.uk or statista.com

Economy of  The United Kingdom 

The United Kingdom economy is the highly social market oriented economy. It is the fifth largest national economy in the world measured by nominal GDP. The United Kingdom  has one of the most globalised economies including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s economy. United Kingdom trade with approximately twenty seven member states of the European Union, with 49% of the country’s exports and 52% of its imports. The service sector takes lead here, contributing 81% of GDP. The major source for this is the Financial Service Industry and the capital city of England, London is the second largest financial centre in the world. The economy is also boosted by North Sea Oil and gas, which is being imported since the year 2005. The currency plays a vital role in the growth and downfall of a country’s economy. The currency of United Kingdom is the world’s fourth largest reserve currency after the US Dollar, Euro and Japanese Yen. It is among ten most valued currencies in the world. Economy is mainly funded by Production Industries like electricity, gas and water, manufacturing, mining, quarrying and hydrocarbons, etc., by Agriculture, Constructions, and the Service Industry.

For more information please visit: en.wikipedia.org

Renting and buying of real estates for foreigners

Renting: 

Most of the immigrants who come to United Kingdom for a job or to study, consider renting a property to reside, a better option. The rules and process of renting a property for expats is a bit different from the rules and process for the local residents. Properties are available for rent, for a fee. You can find several homes according to your need on different real estate websites with prices. Or you can hire brokers also to help you find a comfortable and under budget accommodation. Renting is expensive in the big cities like London, the capital and in the outskirts of the big cities. But in rural areas big accommodations are inexpensive and cheap. You can use this option if you have a family with you and you need a large space. Here you can pay little and get a big area for use. In the major cities you will get one room apartment with high prices. So it is better to choose according to your budget, comfort and need. Here rental costs are paid, as per week not as per month, kindly note this. Right to rent documents you will need which will help you to rent a property: 

• A United Kingdom’s driver’s license.
• A letter from a United Kingdom University.
• A letter from the United Kingdom’s government or local authority.

Here are some documents which you have to submit one of these as a proof of an applicant’s ‘time limited ability’ to rent, especially if you lack indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom or another form of permanent settlement. 

• Biometric Information document (Biometric residence card).
• Passport 
• Residence card. 

Other things to keep in mind while renting a house: 

• Financial Documents, showing sufficient money in your bank account.
• Secure a guarantor, so that they will pay your rent, in case you not present at that moment.
• Pay the deposit prior moving in the rented house. It is approx five weeks rent, not more than this.

Buying:

Buying a property in the United Kingdom is possible for foreigners like any other country in the world, as there is no citizenship required for real estate sales. Purchasing a property is more expensive than renting a property in the United Kingdom. Apartments are displayed on various real estate website for purchasing and selling purpose. You can also hire a real estate agent to find an accommodation. Apartments are very expensive in the main city but in the rural areas you will be able to find big space with less money. If you are an owner of a house, then you have to pay tax. Property tax may vary throughout the United Kingdom. If you are willing to buy a property in Northern Ireland and England then you does not need to pay Stamp tax on any property with the purchasing price till £500,000 (the UK government can change this rule according to the situation). Those who purchase property in Scotland and Wales, will have to pay different taxes like the Land Buildings Transaction Tax and The Land Transaction Tax, respectively. Apartments are called flats here and its different types are available like studio apartments, one, two or three BHK Apartments. Same as this small and large houses are also available with one, two or three BHK. 

To buy a property some documents should be needed:

• Passport
• Driving license
• Proof of address (Bank statements, utility bill, etc.)
• Proof that you can afford the purchasing property, like pay stubs, a tax return and multiple documents from your employer.
• Fee receipts of aforementioned stamp tax, reservation fee and deposit fee.

For more information please visit: ukimmigration.co.uk

Climate

The average climate of United Kingdom is temperate or oceanic climate. The climate of Northern Ireland, Wales and Western parts of England and Scotland are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean as these countries are closest to it. The climate includes cool and wet winters while summers are wet and warm. Thunder storms, droughts, extreme heat or extreme cold are rarely seen in this country. As a whole nation, United Kingdom experiences the greatest daily and seasonal temperature variation. As the United Kingdom has variable climate changing weather, so it is hard to predict. But due to the temperate climate, temperature does not go much lower than -1˚C in winters and not much higher than 34˚C in the summers. The climate of coastal areas may slightly differ from the inland areas. Also the climate of the southern part is different from the northern part. It means the climate is not same all over all the country at the same time. It depends on the area and the month you want to visit United Kingdom.

For Example, London, the capital city of England, is a popular destination to visit. Here giving you a glimpse of the climate of England.

• Spring starts in the month of March and ends in the month of May.
• Autumn starts in September and ends in November, which is the best time to visit here.
• Summer starts in the month of June and ends in the month of August.
• Winter occupies the months from December to February.

For more information please visit: projectbritain.com or weather-and-climate.com

Languages

English is the official and most widely spoken language of United Kingdom. English is spoken in various dialects too. Also there are numerous regional languages spoken here. There are fourteen indigenous languages used all around the British Isles.

There are also many languages spoken by the people who arrived recently here, these languages are mainly from Europe and Asia. English is spoken by approximately 98% population of the Brits. Welsh is the official language of Wales and also spoken in the United Kingdom. Scots is also a language and is spoken in Scotland and parts of Ulster in the Northern Ireland.

Languages spoken by the immigrants are Polish, Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, French, Arabic, Chinese, Tamil, Spanish and Portuguese. London, the capital city of England, is culturally and linguistically diverse. Several languages are spoken here in each borough. English language, a gift brought by the Angelic German Tribe in the island of Britain at the first invasion, one thousand five hundred years ago. The Angles were one of the Germanic peoples who settled in Great Britain after Roman Period.

For more information please visit: en.wikipedia.org

Traffic

Driving in the United Kingdom is possible after passing the driving test. There are Highway Codes, which provides information, advice, guides and mandatory rules for road users, produced by the UK government. UK’s traffic drives on the left side of the road. The nature of the road might dictate that you should drive slowly than the speed limit may allow. The default speed limit is 30 mph on light roads and some light vehicles have speed limit to 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriage ways and motorways. The most traffic occurs on the streets of big cities like London, Edinburgh, Hull, Brighton, Bristol and Manchester. It is not very tough to drive on the streets of UK, if you have focus only on driving; however some roads are harder than the others and when cyclists, pedestrians and traffic appears, your concentration gets a bit distracted due to being on the road. The traffic mostly occurs when the commuters and students go for work or school and this is the time, between 07.00 to 10.00 in the morning and 04.00 to 07.00 in the evening.

For more information visit: en.wikipedia.org

Currency

The Pound Sterling (£/GBP) is the official currency of the Unites Kingdom and of many other islands in the English Channel like Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. In some contexts, this currency is known by British Pound, The Pound or Sterling. UK’s Pound paper currency is in six denominations, which are £1, £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100 and coins as pence or penny, in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. There are hundred pennies or pence to the pound. A common term for the pound sterling or pound is also called quid. The origin of this term is from the Italian word “scudo”, the name for a number coins used in Italy until the nineteenth century, which was introduced by the Italian immigrants.

Payment Transaction

Knowing the methods of payment, before moving to United Kingdom is essential as the funds can be transferred from payer to payee after purchasing something. Payers or buyers prefer paying through cash or online by credit or debit cards. There are five main methods of payment transactions in the United Kingdom is: 

• Cards
• Cash
• Digital Wallets
• Electronic Bank Transfer
• Buy now, Pay later.

     There are some popular online payment methods given below:

• PayPal
• Worldpay
• Stripe
• Shopify
• Opayo (Sage Pay)
• GoCardless

Google Pay is accepted in all the TFL services. Transport For London (TFL) manages London city’s buses, Underground, Dockland Light Railways, Overground and Trams. London’s River Services, Victoria Coach Station and the Congestion Charge Scheme also come under the TFL services.  

For more information visit: rapyd.net

Cost of living in The United Kingdom 

According to a survey the cost of living in the UK is more expensive than the 63% countries in the Western Europe and 76% countries in the World. The average monthly expense for a single person is approximately £2,330. And the monthly expense will rise if you want to move along with your family of four persons, which will be £3,930. Monthly rent will cost more in the main city than the rent in rural areas. Expense will also rise if you need bigger accommodation, than the smaller one. Food is cheap and if you are staying in a city where you can go by bicycle, walking till your university or office or live in a city with a good public transport system, then your cost of living will be much lower. Average living cost depends upon your lifestyle or your current situation, like whether you are working or a student. Cost of living varies from city to city and also if you are staying alone or with your family.

Here are some products mentioned below, so that you will get a clear idea of the cost of living: 

For more info visit: expatistan.com

Apartment Rent

To find a suitable accommodation is a big task for a foreigner in the United Kingdom. Common types of accommodations for international students or working people are: 

• University Dormitories
• Private Dormitories
• Apartments
• Rooms in Private Houses

Select according to your need and financial resources, as well as it will save your traveling time to the university or office. Cost of rent in the United Kingdom varies on a large scale from city to city. Also in the same city, range may vary. London is the most expensive city, so the cost of rent is also higher in this place. The cost is less when it comes to the outskirts and the suburban neighborhood. The amount is big in the main city and if you choose to stay outside the city centre, you will experience the difference in the accommodation prices.

Monthly rent for a fully furnished big apartment in the main city will charge you approx. £1,800 and same large apartment in the outskirts or rural area will cost approx. £1,600. Small apartment will cost approx £900 to approx. £1300 depending on the locality you choose to stay. In this case you should find roommates with whom you can share the apartment rent, until you can afford your own apartment in the future.

Taxes

Income is a tax you pay on your income. It depends on your income above your Personal Allowance and your income falls within each tax band. Tax you pay o things like money from your employment, profits you make if you are self employed. Grants and support payments you made due to corona virus, the covid-19 job retention scheme, the small business Grant Fund or the retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, company and personal pensions, Retirement annuities, rental income, job benefits, income from a trust, etc.

You do not have to pay taxes on the first £1,000, income from yourself employment, first £1,000, income from property you rent. Income from tax-exempt accounts, dividends, under your dividends allowance from company shares, some state benefits, and premium bond or national lottery wins, etc.

Income tax rate has three bands:

• Basic Rate
• Higher Rate
• Additional Rate

For more information please visit: gov.uk

Health Insurance  

The Brits automatically come under the free public health care through the National Health Service, including physician, hospital and mental health care. The NHS budget is funded through general taxation. Approx eleven percent population of UK has voluntary supplemental insurance to get more rapid access to elective care. Those who have ordinary residence in England are automatically entitled to NHS care, still largely free at the point of use, as are nonresidents with a European Health Insurance Card. Other people like, non European visitors or undocumented immigrants, only treatment in an emergency department and some certain infectious diseases is free. Private health insurance is a personal choice. Residents of United Kingdom get the free treatment under the NHS. In case, if you do not want to wait for the NHS treatment and your financial resources allows, you can take private medical insurance by paying the premiums on time through and agent or by yourself.

For more information visit: commonwealthfund.org or bupa.co.uk

Important addresses 

London Heathrow International Airport
Longford TW6,
England, United Kingdom
Ph: +44 844 335 1801
Website: https://www.heathrow.com/

Gatwick Airport
Horley,
Gatwick RH6 0NP,
England, United Kingdom
Ph: +44 344 892 0322
Website: https://www.gatwickairport.com/

Birmingham Airport
Birmingham B26 3QJ,
England, United Kingdom
Ph: +44 871 222 0072
Website: https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/

Glasgow Airport
Paisley PA3 2ST,
Scotland, United Kingdom
Ph: +44 344 481 5555
Website: https://www.glasgowairport.com/

London Underground Ltd.
(Dockland Light Railway Office)
55 Broadway London,
SW1H 0BD,
England, United Kingdom
Ph: +44 20 7222 5600

Tyne and Wear Metro Station
South Gosforth,
New Castle upon Tyne NE3 1YT,
United Kingdom
Ph: +44 191 203 3199
Website: http://www.nexus.org.uk/

Ilford Road Metro Station
Ilford Road,
Gosforth,
New Castle upon Tyne NE2 3NX,
United Kingdom

Embassy of Costa Rica
23 Woodstock St,
London W1C 2AS,
United Kingdom
Ph: +44 20 7629 3111
Website: https://www.costaricanembassy.co.uk/

Embassy of Bahrain
30 Belgrave Square,
London SW1X 8QB,
United Kingdom
Ph: +44 20 7201 9170
Website: https://www.mofa.gov.bh/

Embassy of Turkmenistan
131 Holland Park Ave,
London W11 4UT,
United Kingdom
Ph: +44 20 7610 5239
Website:https://uk.tmembassy.gov.tm/en

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
30 Great Peter St,
London SW1P 2BU,
United Kingdom
Ph: +44 20 7499 7661
Website: https://kemlu.go.id/london/id

Summary

English is the national language of the United Kingdom, which encourages many migrants to choose the UK. English is an international language and relatively easy to learn, and most of the immigrants already speak it, which is more convenient than learning a new language. Knowing English makes it easier to find work, to make new friends and therefore to integrate into society. Another reason is that the UK is seen as a safe, democratic and tolerant country. Its multicultural and open-minded nature aspect attracts many people. UK  has better education system. Cambridge and Oxford Universities are one of the best universities in the world situated in the United Kingdom. Teenagers from all around the world choose United Kingdom for higher studies, as it offers some benefits to the international students after completing their graduation. London, the capital city of England is a global influential and financial centre; where you can get jobs with high higher salaries. United Kingdom is home to numerous famous designer stores and is heaven for the shopaholic people.  In comparision with other European countries, Unites Kingdom is way more expensive but offers  a good quality life. It is worth living in this country because of its environment, lifestyle and architecture.