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Reason of Your BRPs expires on 31 December 2024 eventhough your Right to Stay should be longer

Home Office will replace the existing BRP with eVisas from 1st January 2025.

If the current expiry date of your newly issued Biometric residence permits (BRPs) cards is on 31 December 2024 and your right to stay is longer than 31 December 2024, you can check the length of your status using the following link.

https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

Home Office will announce details about the new system (eVisas) in early 2024.

You can check with your immigration adviser in 2024 about the details of the new system.

If you need to prove that you have the right to work in the UK, please use this link: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work
If you need to prove that you have the right to rent a house in the UK, please use this link: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent

Jacqueline Ma
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Tuberculosis Test Centre in South Africa – Durban

ShipMed Medical Services

Shipmed Medical Services
25 Glenwood Drive
Glenwood
Durban

Telephone:

  • +27 31 261 8291

Email:

Online appointments:

  • You can book your TB appointment online on the IOM website

The following should contact the clinic instead of using this online system:

  • applicants with previous registration (those who have done UK TB screening before)
  • applicants aged 10 years or under
  • applicants booking for family members; you can only book family members who are 11 years old or over

Operating hours:

  • Mondays to Fridays: 8am to 4:30pm

Closed on IOM and national holidays.

Test fees

11 years and above: R2,500

Below 11 years: R1,250

Certificate reissue (IOM only): R100

The cost of the test is in addition to the visa application fee. You are unable to pay at the clinic.

 

Payment details (IOM only)

You must pay your fee using the following banking details before you arrive at the clinic. The booking reference number given must be used on the payment slip.

  • Bank: FNB
  • Account name: International Organisation for Migration
  • Account number: 62165532724
  • Branch: Brooklyn
  • Branch code: 251345
  • Swift code: FIRNZAJJXXX

The fee is not refundable if you test positive for TB or decide not travel to the UK, or your visa is refused. For most applicants, this is where the testing process will end and your certificate will then be issued.

Step-by-step procedures (IOM only)

  • the medical examination will be processed on Tuesdays (chest x-ray) and on Wednesdays (physical exam)
  • all visa applicants must attend the clinic for the assessment with all the required documents
  • the initial examination will include a counselling session and signing a consent form
  • applicants aged 10 and under will go through a medical examination by the physician before a certificate is issued
  • applicants aged 11 and above will have a chest x-ray done; applicants will then be reviewed by the doctor with the chest x-ray result before a certificate is issued
  • additional sputum smears and cultures medical procedures may apply in case of abnormal chest x-ray findings and could take up to 8 weeks to get the final results
  • a TB clearance certificate will be issued to the applicant on the day of the examination if the examination result is considered free of active pulmonary TB disease
  • if you do not return within 7 days for sputum collection, you will not get a TB clearance certificate
  • you will be given further testing or told to contact your own health care provider if the examination results are abnormal but the abnormality is not related to TB disease
  • the TB clearance certificate expires 6 months from the chest x-ray date if you had a chest x-ray done, or 6 months from the physical examination date if you don’t need a chest x-ray
  • the TB clearance certificate is valid for 3 months if you have been in contact with a family member with active pulmonary TB
  • female applicants may be requested to undergo a pregnancy test, in case there is uncertainty as to whether they may be pregnant
  • pregnant applicants can decide not to get a chest x-ray examination and instead either give sputum for a TB test on 3 consecutive mornings or delay the TB screening until after giving birth

 

Jacqueline Ma
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UK Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Update

As we know, on the 22nd of July 2020, the UK announced the BNO Visa route for people ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.BNO Visa Updates

This post provides the most updated information currently available on the Hong Kong BNO Visa including when it will be available, price and the current political context.

Since the announcement, information has slowly been made available.

For convenience, here is a brief summary of the most important details:

  • The BNO Visa will try to avoid splitting up family units
  • There are 30 month and 5 year visa lengths available
  • The 30 month visa will cost £180 per person and the 5 year visa will cost £250 per person
  • The visa will be available from the 31st of January 2021
  • Dependants can apply (but must do so at the same time)
  • Applicants need to prove BNO status but a current valid BNO passport is not required
  • The Immigration Health Surcharge will apply (which means applicants will have access to NHS services)
  • Applicants will be able to seek employment and attend school if they are under 18

BNO Visa Updates

Since last week, the only further information from the Home Office has been a series of rebuttals to claims from the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA).

The OCMFA claims that conferring the right of abode to holders of the BNO passport is a breach of the Joint Declaration and considers the change in policy, ‘gross interference’.

The Home Office has responded by clarifying that BNO passport holders do not have the right of abode in the UK and confirmed its adherence to its obligations under the Joint Declaration.

With less than a week to go, the UK continues to maintain a fine balance between supporting Hong Kong citizens and responding to the National Security Law being imposed on Hong Kong.

The next update is likely to be when the actual visa becomes available, next week. Until then, here is a summary of the BNO Visa requirements. A more detailed factsheet is also available from the Home Office.

Jacqueline Ma
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Types of Property in UK

When looking for a place in the UK, you will find many different types of property. What are the differences?

Let’s see the differences between the different types of property in the UK:

1. Flat / Apartment:

These types of houses are most popular in urban areas such as London and Birmingham. This is because they save a lot of space and provide accommodation for many people in one building. This type of property is great for smaller families, single people, or couples.

Advantages: Usually near the centre of the city, near convenient transportation, factored
Disadvantages: The space is relatively small, there is usually no garden, no garage, sometimes one or two parking spaces are provided, or you can apply for a resident parking permit from the Council if you are on a public road.

2. Converted Flats conversion unit:

Period Conversion Flats
It is usually an older large house. In the past, a whole family would live here. Later, it was rebuilt into different units, ranging from two units to multiple units. Because it was originally built for the whole family, the sound insulation effect is not as good as the new-style apartment.

Advantages: usually located in the centre of the city
Disadvantages: the indoor space is relatively small, the sound insulation is relatively poor, and the degree of privacy is low

3. Detached House:


The detached house, as the name, is the whole building for a single family, the whole building is not connected with other buildings. Therefore, this type of house has higher privacy, usually with a front garden, and a rear garden with a garage and private road. It usually starts from 3 bedrooms.
Advantages: high privacy, large space
Disadvantages: relatively expensive

4. Semi-Detach house:

Compared with semi-detached houses and detached houses, the biggest difference is that the entire building is divided into two halves in the middle, with one family on each side. The privacy is not as good as that of a detached house, and the price is cheaper than that of a detached house.
Advantages: Compared with townhouses, privacy is higher, and the price is lower detach houses
Disadvantages: only one wall away from the neighbouring house

5. Terraced Houses:

The Terraced House Through Time | by Trevor Yorke
Terraced House, as the name suggests, is a whole row of houses connected. This type of house is very popular in the UK, especially in densely populated cities. This type of row house can save a lot of space, usually with a back garden, and usually, there is no garden in front of the house or only a small space.
Advantages: Relatively low price
Disadvantages: There is another household on the left and right sides, the privacy is relatively low, there is no room for expansion, no garage, and usually can only be parked outside the house

6. End of Terraced House:

From the name, it can be estimated that the first and last two households of a row of row houses are similar to semi-detached houses, only one side is connected to another household, usually 2 to 3 bedrooms.
Advantages: the price is lower than the semi-detached house, but the privacy is higher than the townhouse
Disadvantages: no garage, usually only parked outside the house

7. Townhouse :


The townhouse usually has three floors or more. Compared with Terraced House, space is a bit larger. There will be parking spaces in part of the ground floor and a back garden.
Advantages: The indoor area is larger than the Terraced House, and the price is lower than that of a semi-detached house
Disadvantages: Because there are three or more layers, it often goes up and down

8. Cottage:

Cottages often appear in rural areas. On farms and villages. The hut is a small house, usually quite old-fashioned. This type of house can have one or two floors, and the second floor is usually smaller than the ground. The walls of this type of house are very thick and strong, which can withstand the cold in winter. Besides, this type of house can often be used as a holiday/summer residence for families who wish to spend their time in a more rural, more natural area (away from busy cities).
Advantages: stay away from the hustle and bustle and kiss nature
Disadvantages: remote location

9. Bungalows:

This type of house is very unique. This is a single-story house, which is also separated from other houses. Due to the lack of the second or third floor, it is a short-looking house. However, bungalows sometimes have one or two rooms on the “roof”. The origin of the word “bungalow” comes from the word “baṅglā”. This is because the bungalows were originally built for Europeans who settled in Bangladesh in the 17th century.
Nowadays, many retirees choose to move to Bungalows because there is only a single floor, which makes it convenient for the elderly to not have to go up and down the stairs. However, the price of Bungalows will not be cheaper, because the land area occupied by Bungalows is calculated based on the same three-bedroom house. , It is bigger than a detached house.
Advantages: It occupies a large area and is convenient for the elderly to live in
Disadvantages: more expensive

10. Mansions:


Luxury homes are the largest of all housing categories in the UK and the most expensive of all houses. A typical mansion consists of multiple large rooms, multiple floors, and a huge garden consisting of several acres of land. In addition to the large garden, there will be a swimming pool.

Advantages: full of style
Disadvantages: the most expensive

In addition to the above 10 types, there are also student dormitories for students, and Council Houses developed and leased by the government to low-income people. When looking for a house in the UK, you must first think about what type of house you are looking for to find your ideal home.

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How to buy Car Insurance

In the UK, cars are a necessity unless you live in Big City. When you buy a car in the UK, you need to ensure it before you can legally drive it on the road. Nowadays, buying car insurance is very convenient. The whole process is processed online and it will take effect immediately after payment or alternatively you can choose a date on when your insurance will start.

How to buy a car in the UK, please click here!
How to exchange a non-UK license plate for a UK license plate, please click here!

When buying Car insurance, there are a few things to consider:

  • Consider the Car Insurance covering
    • Third-party only: This only covers damage you’ve caused to other vehicles. Damage to your own car is not covered.
    • Third-party, fire, and theft: This is the same as above but you are also covered if your car is stolen, or damaged by fire.
    • Comprehensive: You’re covered for everything above and damage to your own car.
  • UK driving license or an international driver’s license
  • How much NCB do you have? (No Claim Bonus is a discount on your insurance premium if a vehicle owner has not made any claim during the term of the motor insurance policy. For each year you’ve not made a claim, your discount increases. Should you make a claim, you will lose all your NCB unless it’s protected.)
  • Personal use, such as leisure, daily work, or commercial use
  • Parking at night, such as a garage, parking lot, private road, roadside, etc.
  • How many named drivers (A named driver is someone who is insured to drive a vehicle in which another person does most of the driving. When driving that vehicle, the named driver will have the same level of cover as the main driver.)

Each of the above items will affect the premium of car insurance, such as use the UK driving license will have a lower car insurance premium; if you have NCB, the car insurance premium will also be lower, when you park at the parking lot/private road, will have cheaper car insurance premium than the roadside. In addition, the value of the car, the age of the driver, the number of years to receive the license plate also will affect the car insurance premium.

Before buying a car, it is recommended you check the cost of insuring it first so that you aren’t surprised by the cost.
The following websites can compare the premiums of different auto insurance companies
https://www.topcashback.co.uk/category/car-insurance/
https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/
https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/car-insurance/

 

The following are the 10 auto insurance companies with the highest market share in the UK in 2019.

Source: https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/largest-car-insurance-companies

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