Personal Migration

What does ILR mean? Very simply, ILR means indefinite leave to remain in the UK. If you hold indefinite leave to remain it gives you the right to live in the UK permanently.  You may have heard indefinite leave to remain referred to as permanent residence in the UK. Both terms are used interchangeably, however […]

As you will likely be aware of, the UK is transitioning into a digital immigration system. We have covered earlier, in 2024, that all physical immigration documents are now being transferred to a digital system called an eVisa.  An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status in the UK. Where earlier you would […]

If you are working towards your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) UK immigration status, you may already know that time spent outside the UK—even for a holiday or a business trip—might affect your ILR eligibility. The qualifying period for ILR (often 5 years but sometimes 10, depending on your route) requires a certain amount of […]

For many long-term residents the choice between indefinite leave to remain (also known as ‘ILR’ or ‘settlement’) and British citizenship is crucial. At Seraphus, we understand the uncertainties of immigration statuses. This guide explains the differences, highlights the benefits and limitations of each, and offers practical information to help you make an informed decision about […]

Becoming a British citizen can open doors for your child, giving them access to a world of opportunities and the full rights that come with British citizenship. There are several pathways to becoming British, including by birth, descent, or naturalisation. However, if you are not born a British citizen, one of the ways to obtain […]

If you’re planning to visit the UK and you’re from a country that doesn’t require a visa for short stays, there’s an important update you should be aware of; the UK is introducing the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. This new requirement is part of the UK’s effort to improve its border security and will soon apply […]

Are you a parent in the UK on the 10-year route to settlement or indefinite leave to remain (ILR)? Find out if you can switch to the five-year route in this article. If you are in the UK as the parent of a child settled in the UK and are on the 10-year route to […]

Although there was a highly publicised increase in fees for immigration applications in October 2023 and to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees in February 2024, there have been other increases brought in gradually since that time in April and July 2024. Amongst these changes, it is largely underreported that there is scheduled to be […]

If you are looking to have your foreign partner join you in the UK, but worried that you may face barriers because you have never lived together, there is good news for you in recent changes to the Immigration Rules.  The Home Office recently updated the requirements of the Immigration Rules for unmarried partners of […]

If you are settled in the UK and you have a non-British partner or child, you might wonder what your financial circumstances must be to bring them to the UK or to renew their visa, particularly since the increase in the income thresholds has recently been discussed in the media.   The rules about this are […]

If you are currently on the 10-year route to settlement, did you know that it is possible to switch to the shorter five-year route to settlement? The 10-year route to settlement refers to a person being granted leave to remain (permission to stay in the UK) for a period of 2.5 years and then needing […]

Will time outside of the UK affect my settled status application? As we reach five years since the EU Settlement Scheme fully opened to the public, more and more pre-settled status holders are becoming eligible to apply for settled status. While this should be straightforward for most, eligibility can be affected by various factors. To […]

Have you recently discovered that the permanent residence card you were issued with a while back is not actually valid and it turns out you have been unlawfully in the UK for the last 2 years? If so, you are not alone. We have recently received many enquiries from individuals who thought they were able […]

Most people entering the UK for a finite time are officially classed as ‘visitors’ under immigration law. This means that they can generally only stay for up to 6 months at a time. This includes people from countries of the EU (excluding Ireland), the U.S.A. and other countries whose citizens don’t normally have to apply […]