Immigration Basics
What is 'immigration'?
Why do we have immigration control?
Who manages immigration in the UK?
What is a 'visa'?
A visa is an endorsement in a person's passport which is given to them abroad at a British diplomatic mission before they enter the United Kingdom. It gives them a right of entry into the United Kingdom for the purpose that the visa was issued.
What is a 'Overseas Diplomatic Mission'?
If somebody has a visa does it guarantee entry?
What is a 'migrant'?
A migrant would be a person who intends to come to the UK for a protracted period or perhaps to come and live here on a permanent basis. Normally, they would be leaving their own country to come and live in this country. There is a distinction though between an legal migrant and an illegal migrant. Obviously, if someone has a visa just for a short period of time, they cannot stay as a migrant in the country, because they would be required to return home before the period in which their visa expires.
What is an 'immigrant'?
What is a 'visa national'?
Does a visa national need to apply for a visa before entering the UK?
What is a 'non visa national'?
A non-visa national is a designated country by the United Kingdom that can come to the UK for a short period of time, normally for less than six months, without needing to go to a British Diplomatic Mission abroad. They would normally be granted leave to enter the United Kingdom at the port of arrival. That can be for example, an American National or a Canadian National or a Japanese National.
Why do they make a distinction between a visa national and a non visa national?
What is 'entry clearance'?
What is a 'foreign national'?
A foreign national under the immigration rules is anyone who is not a British citizen or not a European Union national. Foreign nationals are subject all to immigration control when they arrive in the UK.
What is 'settled status'?
