The list of suitable professional referees seems to be a bit arbitrary and not very clear. I'm planning of asking a person who is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment. I'm not sure if this might be covered by 'banking official' or 'broker' as technically he i...

I am a South African citizen in the UK and am going to apply for British citizenship. According to the SA House website, I should apply for exemption before applying for British citizenship in order to retain my South African citizenship. This needs a letter from the UK border agency confirming that...

I went for my ILR appointment today and didn't get it. My FLR visa expires on 04/10/08 but because they lost my application for FLR back in 2006, they ended up only giving it to me in Dec 06 and backdated it to Oct 06 (Why October? Who knows? As I sent in the original application in June 06) They to...

Unfortunately, we're with an online bank so have no high street branch but I've got enough other independent evidence that we're financially okay so hopefully that'll be enough. Wish me luck.

I have an appointment to get ILR through my marriage at the Home Office on Wednesday. I got all my docs together but when I was putting them all together, I found out my husband had recently stopped paper bank statements on his account so I don't have them for the last two months. I know they don't ...

My South African cousin is thinking about coming to Britain on a working holiday visa.

I have heard the old Working Holiday Visa has or is to be removed and replaced with a 'Tier 5' visa which may not be available to South Africans.

Anyone know what is going on here?

I had to apply for a replacement passport in January last year and it took about three months. Unfortunately, you have to use the horribly expensive line to get an appointment. I don't think there is a way around it. Make sure you have a proper direct touch tone telephone - I had trouble and ended u...

I got a mortgage at just under 3 years on FLR. I didn't even try to go directly to the banks but rather through a broker who got me a good deal. I strongly suggest contacting one of the main mortgage broking companies. They should be able to give you some more info.

What I find particularly infuriating is that it's all just a political exercise anyway to try satisfy those screaming about ' immigrants on benefits' and has nothing to do with reality or even what's best for the country. All this will do is encourage fake passports and illegal immigration and penal...

Hi The Home Office lost my passport last year but after much wrangling granted me FLR anyway on a piece of paper called an Immigration Status Document. My new passport has apparently finally been issued and I'm planning on visiting South Africa in October. Does anyone know if having the visa separat...

The Home Office lost my application when I applied for FLR after I got married and I went round and round in circles with them. I suggest sending a written complaint to their complaints department. I also highly recommend contacting your MP and getting them involved as they pretty much did nothing u...

Thanks

Excuse the newbie, but what do ICU, RPU and DMC stand fo?

I know. I'm kicking myself now that I didn't go for the more expensive same day option. Grrrr

I'm a South African citizen, I originally came over to the UK on a working holiday visa but then married a British citizen. I applied for FLR(M) at the beginning of June. I phoned the Home Office at the beginning of August because I was worried that it was taking so long and was told that they had n...