The UK government has announced a significant increase in UK immigration fees and the immigration health surcharge. These increases will place a heavy financial burden on UK visa applicants when it takes effect.

No specific dates were provided for when the increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge or visa application fees will take effect. However, Breytenbachs expect that it will be in October 2023.

Considering these drastic fee increases, Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants offers two recommendations:

Firstly, applicants who can and wish to apply for a UK visa should do so promptly.

Secondly, considering the increasing costs, applicants should be aware of the potential financial loss if their applications are unsuccessful. It is wise to instruct Breytenbachs to ensure a successful visa outcome.

Curious about your eligibility for British Citizenship? We’ve got you covered!

Breytenbachs is thrilled to announce that we now have a free British Citizenship Questionnaire to determine your eligibility for British Citizenship! Don't miss this opportunity to explore your options!

Uncover your eligibility for British Citizenship effortlessly.

Earlier this year, the UK Government announced a new bill, the British Nationality (Regularisation of Past Practice) Act 2023. This bill was enacted on 29 June 2023. This act inserts a new section, 50B, into the British Nationality Act 1981. Section 50B definitively and retrospectively confirms the British nationality status of all children born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000 to an EU citizen parent who was exercising free movement in the UK at the time of their child’s birth.

Now that the new legislation has been passed, children born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000 to an EEA/Swiss parent exercising Treaty rights (but did not hold indefinite leave to remain) should be able to apply for a British passport directly. This applies even if they have never applied for a passport or renewed an existing one.

As of July 2023, the Home Office has made some changes to the Immigration Rules, which included some changes to the requirements for a UK Student visa holder to switch to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK.

Prior to these changes taking effect, it was possible for a Student Visa holder to switch into the Skilled Worker visa category from within the UK at any stage of their visa’s validity (i.e., whether the course had been completed or otherwise).

The Home Office has now amended the rules relating to these circumstances. It is important for sponsoring organisations and UK Student visa holders to understand the new requirements to ensure a successful outcome.

The Global Talent Visa route is an exciting immigration route to the UK.

It aims to attract the brightest academics, specialists in research, humanities, arts and culture, digital technology, science, medicine and engineering to the UK. It is also available to exceptionally talented persons in fashion, architecture, film and television. The route offers many advantages to successful applicants.

Dependents of the Global Talent visa holder will have full access to the UK labour market. They have, thus, no work restrictions imposed on them. You do not need to have an offer of employment before coming to the UK. There is also an accelerated path to settlement for endorsed visa holders.

Another advantage includes the exemption from the standard absence rules from the UK for the visa holder and their dependents. The exemption means they will not be penalised when they apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and were absent due to work-related travels.

Breytenbachs kindly reminds you to exercise caution when seeking immigration advice, particularly from videos on YouTube provided by unregulated individuals. We've noticed that, despite potentially being shared with the best intentions, the information in these videos can sometimes be inaccurate or misleading. We suggest placing your trust in dependable and precise advice from your Breytenbachs consultant. Thanks to our OISC-regulated status, you can rest assured that your Breytenbachs consultant is committed to providing trustworthy advice. Our guidance is tailored to help you make well-informed immigration decisions and navigate the intricate UK immigration laws easily and confidently.

"The company is very knowledgeable and professional. The staff are amazing! Nothing is too much trouble. All my queries were handled immediately and efficiently. I would recommend Breytenbachs to anyone looking for immigration assistance and information. Very impressed!"

Charna Chapman

Now that you've got your UK visa sorted by Breytenbachs, it is time to focus on another important aspect of your new adventure – bringing your pet to the UK!  

Dream Move Relocation has provided our clients with a valuable guide on how to bring their pets to the UK. 

The Retirement Visa for South Africa offers excellent benefits for persons looking to retire in South Africa. The country is a popular destination for many retirees as it offers a high-quality lifestyle and an excellent climate.

There is no age restriction under this visa category. Anyone can thus qualify, provided that they can fulfil the financial requirement of the retirement visa.

To qualify for a retirement visa, the applicant has to show a monthly income to the amount of R37 000. This amount can consist of pension income and or interest from investments and or rental income.

Breytenbachs have good news for our South African clients abroad who might have unknowingly lost their SA citizenship.

After a court battle of five years, the Democratic Alliance achieved a court victory in the SA Supreme Court of Appeal. The court struck down a loss of citizenship law. South Africans who unknowingly lost their SA citizenship will now be able to regain their SA citizenship.

Until further notice, we recommend that clients still apply to retain their SA citizenship before applying for a second one. We understand that the DA will now apply for Constitutional Court confirmation of the ruling.

We will update clients as more information becomes available in this regard.