Unlike a tier 1 visa or a tier 2 visa, both of which are intended as routes to settlement in Britain , the fifth tier does not afford any benefits of permanent residence in the UK . Applicants may not be self-employed or function as professional sportspeople, and like tier 3 visas, they cannot bring dependents into the country or switch to any other tiers of the system.
Fifth tier immigration does not provide a route to settlement nor the opportunity to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) often known as permanent residency. UK visas for immigration at this level will not constitute a first step to those wishing to apply for British naturalization as a UK citizen. With this in mind, spouse immigration and dependent immigration are not permitted. Whilst the marriage visa, fiance visa and De Facto visa or unmarried partner visa categories will function outside the new structure, they will not be relevant to applications of this kind. |