Visas to the UK > News > Older News > Identity cards for foreign nationals to extend to further immigration categories

UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

Identity cards for foreign nationals to extend to further immigration categories

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

Migrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are expected to receive identity cards for foreign nationals. The cards replace the stickers or vignettes in passports.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, those applying for further leave to remain in the UK in the following categories will be required to provide their biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) as part of their application from 31 March 2009:

Immigration Category	Additional Information
Academic visitors granted leave for a period exceeding six months	The total stay in the United Kingdom is more than six months, up to a maximum period of 12 months.
Visitors for private medical treatment	Where the applicant is required to extend their stay in the United Kingdom so that they are able to complete private medical treatment.
Domestic workers in a private household	Applies to overseas domestic workers who have accompanied a person entitled to live in the United Kingdom and are applying to extend their permission to stay in the country based upon their employment as domestic workers.
United Kingdom ancestry	Covers people who are Commonwealth citizens, have a British grandparent and can demonstrate a link with the United Kingdom.
Retired persons of independent means, and their partners and children	This category is no longer open to new applicants, but where a person is already in the United Kingdom under this category they may extend their leave on the same basis. It applies to persons aged over 60 with substantial means to support themselves.
Sole representatives	These are overseas employees recruited by an overseas company to act as their sole representative in the United Kingdom.

In addition, those applying while in the UK for a transfer of existing conditions from a passport or other document will also be issued an identity card instead of a stamp or vignette, if their application is successful.

These categories are expected to join students and spouses or civil or unmarried partners, and their dependents who were granted further leave to remain and were the first to receive the card from 25 November 2008.

Foreign nationals seeking indefinite leave to remain and the settled population will not be affected by the changes.

If you are interested in UK Visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the UK.

RSS Feed

Registered to provide immigration advice - Registered Migration Consultants