Passport About to Expire? What to do to TRANSFER a UK VISA to new Passport.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE UK IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS?

If you hold a valid UK Visa with LEAVE TO ENTER OR LEAVE TO REMAIN and your current PASSPORT is about to EXPIRE the UKBA can TRANSFER the RESIDENCE PERMIT to your new PASSPORT

You DO NOT HAVE TO TRANSFER THE RESIDENCE PERMIT INTO YOUR NEW PASSPORT. however if you decide not t do the transfer you HAVE to CARRY BOTH PASSPORTS TO CONFIRM YOUR STATUS.

The UKBA will not/cannot TRANSFER any RESIDENCE PERMITS at Passport Control when you arrive in the UK.

If the RESIDENCE PERMIT confirms that you permission to live in the UK (SETTLE) permanently you need to request a NO TIME LIMIT (NTL) stamp by submitting form NTL

New UK Bio Metric Resident Permits introduced for Tier 1 and Tier 5 of the Points Based System

The UKBA has announced that from 14 December 2010 any applicant applying for Further Leave to Remain in the UK under Tier 1 or Tier 5 will HAVE TO submit their biometrics with the application.

Successful applicants are meant to be issued a Bio Metric Residence Permit and this will serve as evidence as of the holder's permission to stay in the UK and conditions of the stay, it also will be able to verify the holder's identity, rights/permission to work and access to public services.

Postal applications as well as applications in person will be allowed. With the postal application the UKBA will send a letter once they have received the application and applicants will be able to submit their BIOMETRIC DATA at one of the 17 Post Offices or at one of the 11 Home Office Biometric Data Centers - these are by appointment only.

For more info and to check whether you possibly need a BioMetric Resident Permit click HERE