I’ve had this in my drafts for quite a while now (six years!) to wait for the right moment to finally share my immigration story. At the time of writing, I’m currently waiting to hear on my decision for citizenship. I thought I would highlight what it really takes for those applying to live in the UK and to dispel any misconceptions.
I will preface by saying that every immigration journey is unique and the rules have changed from when I first started. So my journey might not be the same as yours, but I hope you can find some guidance. I am also not an immigration expert or a lawyer.
I started with a student visa to do my Master’s. At the time it was called a Tier 4 visa, and it was £452 for the visa and £598.50 for the immigration health surcharge. It was a fairly straightforward process, just needing to prove that you have been accepted onto a course and that you have the funds to be able to complete it.
To be able to use the NHS, every person on a visa will have to pay a surcharge. The cost usually depends on the length of time between visas. The health surcharge usually is always more than the cost of the visa itself. I highlight this because there is a big misconception over here that all immigrants get to use the NHS for free and never pay a cent. A lot of the time those on a visa end up paying more towards the NHS than citizens, even if they never end up using the services!
After applying, I needed to attend a biometrics appointment. Everyone who applies for a UK visa/citizenship application has to do biometrics as part of their application. It’s basically to prove you are the person applying. All that is required/the process has changed over the years of me applying, but it’s mainly them scanning your passport, taking your finger prints and taking a picture of you.
You have to go to a specific centre that does this sort of processing. It differs depending on where you are applying (both in the UK and in a different country) in how far you have to travel. For my first visa I went to Saint Paul, MN and in England I went to Croydon, Hemel Hempstead and Swindon. The past couple times they did something different where they asked me to look at a camera on the ceiling and say my full name and date of birth. I also remember previously signing something, but they haven’t asked for me to do that recently.
Sometimes people will book in document upload help during their biometrics, but this costs extra. I just upload my documents for my application ahead of the appointment so I don’t have to pay anything extra. After they get all that info, they then send it off to the Home Office for them to start the process of looking at your application.
Towards the end of my student visa, the pandemic was still going on. I was trying to find a job that would sponsor me, but was not having any luck due to the shortage of jobs (that continues on to this day!). I decided to speak with an immigration lawyer just to figure out what to do. He said, “Now I’m not telling a modern woman what to do, but you should just get married. You’re already over here and you’ve got enough funds for the visa.” So my husband and I quickly got married in December 2020 before my visa was due to expire in January 2021.
I then applied to change onto a Spousal visa. This visa route would allow me to apply for settlement after five continuous years of living in the UK on the route. Each spousal visa itself is only good for 2.5 years, so you have to renew halfway through if you want to try for settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain). To apply, I needed to submit my marriage certificate and proof that the relationship was genuine (photos, past plane tickets). I also submitted financial proof that my husband would be able to support me along with proof that we have been living together. At the time, one of us had to be making at least £18,000, but now (at time of writing) you need to prove you make at least £29,000. LOTS of documents to upload this first time around! The spousal visa was £1052 and the immigration health surcharge was £1560. Since the pandemic was still going on, it took almost six months until I received my approval.
Time passed and it was 2023 and time for me to renew my spousal visa. I still had to submit a lot of documents proving my husband could still financially support me, and proof that we lived together continuously during those 2.5 years. The renewal was just a few pounds less at £1048 and immigration health surcharge was the same at £1560. This time I barely had to wait for my approval after my biometrics appointment – just over a week!
Between the time of having my renewal to applying for settlement, the government decided to switch to e-visas. Before I had a physical permit called a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and the government decided to get rid of those. It was an annoying process to switch over and there were many bugs. For the longest time it said I was a dependent rather than spouse. It also introduced the concept of share codes to send to employers, airlines or landlords for them to view your visa status. Airlines are still struggling to get the process correct, which has been causing lots of frustration for immigrants trying to go to and from the UK.
Finally, this year it was time for me to apply for settlement. The route I applied for was Set(M). I was able to apply at least 28 days before I became eligible (the 5 year mark). There were a lot of documents to prove again that we had the finances and that we still lived together the last 2.5 years.
If you are applying for settlement or citizenship, you have to take the Life in the UK test. It’s a multiple choice test consisting of 24 questions and you need to get at least 75% correct. The test cost £50 and there are multiple testing locations. I took mine in Reading and honestly – the practice tests were harder than the test itself! It only took me 5 minutes to take my test on the day. I did a LOT of studying as I wanted to be as prepared as I could since I struggled with remembering certain history and government questions. There are questions in the test that I think British-born citizens wouldn’t be able to get correct!
With the settlement application, you do not need to pay an immigration health surcharge, but the cost for the application is higher. I paid £3226 for this application. After my biometrics appointment, it was not quite two months until I got the email with my approval! It was such a wonderful feeling that I ended up crying with happiness to my coworker.
As a spouse to a British citizen, you can apply for naturalisation to become a British citizen as soon as you find out you’ve been granted settlement. I applied a couple days after finding out and paid £1839 for my citizenship application. This includes the cost for the ceremony that happens when you get your certificate. I’ve been reading that the process has been going slower than ILR applications, so it might not be until next year until I find out/have my ceremony.
In total, this immigration journey has cost £11,385.50. That’s not including the cost of time spent on finding documents, going to biometrics appointments, and the thoughts of worry and fear of having to leave the country. As well as the cost of a future British passport!
I have to stress also that the applications are worded vaguely. I struggled as a native English speaker trying to figure out what they were looking for in a question, so I can’t imagine how stressful it is trying to apply when English isn’t your first language. It’s not as simple as just getting married and everything is okay to live here. It’s so much paperwork, bureaucracy, and having to listen to members of the public spewing hatred towards immigrants.
I am happy living here in the UK and I am thankful to be able to spend the rest of my life here. I will continue to speak out against ridiculous immigration reforms and help those who may want to immigrate to the UK.
xx Hannah
