Navigating the UK Visa Maze: An interview with a visa consultant

The UK visa system is a labyrinth of ever-changing rules, increasing fees, and stricter requirements. For anyone hoping to move to the United Kingdom, it can feel like an impossible task to navigate.

written by: Sylvie- Continent Surfer

To shed some light on the subject, we interviewed Attila, a visa consultant who uses his decade of experience in project management to help clients successfully obtain their visas. A trip to New Zealand in 2018 gave him the final push he needed to change careers. After spending a full year there on a Working Holiday visa, he realised the importance of meticulous planning and administration for living abroad.

From Project Management to Visa Consulting

Attila explains that handling a visa application is, in many ways, similar to managing an EU project. He started by writing articles on topics related to living abroad, such as visa, education, and healthcare systems. This experience helped him realise that visa consulting was the perfect way to combine his skills with his newfound passion for helping people move to another country.

Tackling Challenges and Celebrating Success

One of Attila’s most memorable cases involved a client who was turned away at a UK airport due to a previous overstay. The challenge was to find a visa category that wouldn’t automatically exclude the client. Attila’s persistence paid off, and he successfully secured the visa, an experience that reinforced the importance of a personalised approach.

Attila primarily works on work and family visas. He feels a great sense of pride when a successful application allows someone to live with their partner in the UK, or when a young professional athlete can move there to advance their career. These success stories, he says, truly highlight the value of his work.

The Importance of Transparency and Dispelling Myths

One of the biggest misconceptions Attila encounters is from people who have overstayed their welcome in the UK and are looking for a quick fix that doesn’t involve leaving the country. In these cases, Attila is very clear about the consequences of illegal residency and explains that the only viable solution is almost always to voluntarily leave the country as soon as possible. These are the cases he cannot get involved in, as compliance is fundamental to his work.

When advising clients, Attila considers many factors, including marital status, education, language skills, and previous visa applications. Since the rules are so complex, it is crucial to select the most suitable, tailor-made visa type for each individual.

The Future of the UK Visa System

The UK government is committed to reducing immigration numbers, and its spring 2025 “white paper” proposes significant changes across the board, from family reunification and minimum income requirements to settlement periods. According to Attila, the biggest question is whether all these proposed changes will actually be implemented and, if so, when.

For workers, the most significant trend is a shift toward favouring highly educated applicants. For students, the possibility of bringing family members on a student visa has become much more restricted since 2024.

For anyone planning to move to the UK, Attila’s best advice is to be thorough and swift. Due to increasing fees and tightening regulations, it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest changes. In this complex environment, a professional visa consultant like Attila can ease the burden and help you achieve your goals with the least amount of stress.

Did you know?

…that despite its small size, the United Kingdom has the world’s fifth-largest economy and the largest e-commerce market in Europe? Its visa system is highly complex to reflect its global standing, with over 50 different visa types catering to a wide range of needs, from high-skilled workers to investors.

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Source(s):

Personal interview

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