London is one of the most multicultural countries in the world and is called home to many immigrants from all over the world. Additionally, it is valued as one of the best cities for businesses to be in, and the capital offers the best technology and financial opportunities to any individual. It is a fantastic place to work and live which is why it is ranked as one of the best cities in the world.
As London is a great place to live, many businesses attract some of the best talent all over the world. This leads to many people immigrating to the capital. Once you have immigrated to London, it is a city that you will soon fall in love with. The fashion, food, music, art and shops are something that the capital is not short of.
When you are moving to the UK, there are a few things that you must be aware of before you move and that is the legalities of being allowed to work in the country. Let’s take a look at some of those.
Getting A UK Visa
Getting a UK visa is not as easy as people think plus, there are multiple types of visas so you need to ensure that you are applying for the right one. However, if you are moving to London for work, you will need a Skilled Worker Visa. Here you will need to prove that you are hired by a UK employer and you must have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’. A ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ provides the UK government with all of the relevant information that they need about your job role in the UK. When you apply for this visa, you must also prove that you can read and write in English.
Point-Based Immigration System
The point-based system is relatively new to the UK and it was implemented when Brexit started back in 2020. The point system means that you have to have a certain amount of points before you apply for the Skilled Worker visa. To get these points, you need to have some of the following.
- Capable of speaking English (Mandatory) – 10 points
- Offered a job by approved sponsor (Mandatory) – 20 points
- Job at an appropriate skill level (Mandatory) – 20 points
- Salary of £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate for the profession – 10 points
- Salary of £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate for the profession – 10 points
- Job is in shortage by the Migration Advisory Committee – 20 points
- Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job – 10 points
- Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job – 20 points
If you have a total points of 70, you can then apply for a visa. To make sure you have everything that you require to move to the UK, get in touch with a London immigration lawyer in London to ensure you have all of the right documents and speed up the overall process.
Understanding The Application Process for a Visa
Step One
Gather all of the required documents to apply for your work visa. This includes your certificate of sponsorship, proof that you can speak English and financial proof of your job.
Step Two
Once you have your documentation, you will need to apply for a work Visa on the UK government website. Ensure that you fill in all of the required fields as honestly and accurately to help speed up the process.
Step Three
You will also need to have the money for applying for your visa which will be around £610 to £1,408 which is dependent on your specific case/circumstances.
Step Four
The next step would be to attend a Biometric Appointment which just gathers your fingerprints and has photo evidence of you.
Step Five
Once you have submitted all of the documents and had your Biometric Appointment, you can then sit and be patient while you are waiting for your application to be approved.
Temporary Housing
When you are moving to the UK, you will find a temporary home that is close to your work. Plus, it is just for the time being before you get your long-term home whilst you live in the UK. London is not short of a temporary home so you shouldn’t struggle to find one of these. There are many available on websites such as Spareroom and Airbnb and the price points can vary which also depends on the location you choose to live in.
What Is The Cost of Living in London
The cost of living in London is the most expensive in the UK so make sure you are going into a well-paid job. From accommodation to just general food, London is not cheap. Whether you are in the centre of the capital or on the outskirts of it. Let’s take a look at the average costs for the essential living costs of London.
- Renting a studio will cost you around £900 to £1500
- A one-bedroom apartment will cost roughly £2000 but some can be found cheaper
- The average cost of a home is roughly £365,999
- Cost of living for a family of four: £4,850
- Average cost of living per person £2,892
- Internet costs £30-40
- Gas and Electricity bills £121–180
- Water bills £30 – £40
- Transportation fees £156 – £407
- Average weekly food costs for a family of four are £725
- Average weekly food costs for one person £200-£300
As you can see, moving to London isn’t going to be cheap which is why you need to ensure you have a well-paid job before you move. Everything is expensive, from your grocery bills to your rent so your financial literacy skills must be up to date to ensure you budget efficiently.
Summary
Moving to any country is a life-changing experience where you need to prepare yourself before you move. When moving to London, there is a lot you need to do before you make the big move and, it is also advised that you go there with some savings because you will likely need this if you are not starting your job imminently.
