Immigration is the process of entering the UK to stay, either for a short time or permanently.

A UK visa is a sticker placed in a passport at a UK visa office (outside the UK). The visa gives you permission to enter the UK (known as entry clearance). A visa will state the reason for your visit to the UK and how long you can stay.

An Entry Clearance Officer works at a UK visa office (outside the UK): he/she decides decides if a visa applicant qualifies for a UK visa.

An Immigration Officer works at an airport or other entry point in the UK: he/she decides decides if an arriving passenger qualifies for entry into the UK.

Some of the types of visa are known informally as a tourist visa, a student visa, an au pair visa, and a working holiday visa.

A visa national is a person who needs to obtain entry clearance before travelling to the UK.

A non-visa national is a person who does not require a visa for most travel to the UK which is short-term (for 6 months or less).

If you are refused leave to enter, you are not given permission to come into the UK

Once you are in the UK you can apply for an extension of stay (to be able to remain longer in the UK) or for a variation of leave to enter (a change to your reason for being in the UK (for example from a working holidaymaker to a work permit holder). In general people who are admitted as visitors are not allowed to extend or change their stays.

A British embassy represents the UK in a foreign country (the ambassador is the most important person at the embassy).

A British consulate takes care of British people who are living abroad and supports British business.

A British High Commission represents the UK in a country which is part of the Commonwealth.

A UK diplomatic mission is a British embassy, High Commission or consulate. Many of these offer a visa service.

The Home Office is the government department which looks after the rights and laws of people living in England and Wales.
UK Visas and Immigration is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country, with a firm emphasis on national security and a culture of customer satisfaction for people who come here legally.

UKVI is part of the Home Office.

Check if you need a visa to UK
Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)