Turkey’s Removal from the Grey List and Its Economic Impacts
Turkey has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, signifying a renewed confirmation of Turkey’s reliability and stability within the international financial system. Experts emphasize that this removal will lead to an increase in investor inflows.
FATF General Assembly and Turkey’s Efforts
The FATF General Assembly, held between June 23-28, 2024, under Singapore’s presidency, announced that both Turkey and Jamaica were removed from the grey list. This decision is a result of Turkey’s efforts in combating money laundering and terrorism financing. Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek announced this achievement with the message “We succeeded.” Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated that the confidence of international investors in Turkey has strengthened.
Possible Effects on the Economy and Investor Expectations
The removal from the grey list will positively impact the economy. Investor interest in Turkey will increase, global trade relations will strengthen, and capital flow will accelerate. This will increase demand for Turkish lira assets, positively affecting the fight against inflation. Trade Minister Ömer Bolat highlighted that this development reinforces Turkey’s international credibility and economic stability.
Lex Legal’s Predictions and Effects on Visa Processes
As Lex Legal, we are closely following the impact of Turkey’s removal from the grey list on visa processes in the United Kingdom. We expect this development to yield positive outcomes, especially in tourism, work, and investment visa categories for the Turkish citizens. For detailed information and updates, please follow us.
- Published in Global Immigration
A Helpful Guide to the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa
The Overseas Domestic Worker Visa allows individuals to come to the UK and work in specific roles. Learn more about it in our guide.
- While not the most popular worker visa route, the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa enables people to work for their employers in the UK.
- Also known as the ‘Domestic Helper Visa’, it’s generally a route utilized by those working in domestic roles in private households.
In this guide, we’ll explain which roles qualify as domestic workers and how to apply for a visa.
Who Can Apply for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa?
As previously stated, working in a private household is the only requirement for eligibility for this visa.
Some of the jobs individuals applying for this visa are likely to have include:
- Cleaner
- Cook
- Nanny
- Gardener
- Housekeeper
- Chauffeur
Documents You Need to Submit with Your Application
To support your application, you’ll need to provide a range of documents.
These include:
- Your current passport
- Proof that you can support yourself, such as bank statements or a payslip
- A letter from your employer confirming your job title, length of employment, and permanent employee status
- A complete ‘Appendix Domestic Worker Statement’ signed by you and your employer
Additionally, you must provide one of the following documents regarding your employment:
- Proof of salary payment, such as payslips or bank statements
- Employment contract
- Confirmation of tax paid
- Confirmation of health insurance paid
- Work visa, residence permit, or equivalent passport endorsement for the country where you’re currently employed
- Visas or passport endorsements if you’ve traveled with your employer in the past
Requirements to Apply for the Domestic Worker Visa
In addition to working in a domestic role in a private household, you must also meet other requirements. These include:
- Being 19 years or older
- Living outside the UK
- Having worked for your employer for a year or more
- Planning to work full-time in the UK household where your employer will stay
- Planning to come to the UK with your employer, their spouse, or their children
- Planning to leave the UK after six months
- Being able to support yourself without needing public funds
- Earning at least the minimum wage from your employer
Your employer must also meet specific criteria:
- They must be a British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and doesn’t intend to stay in the UK for more than six months, or they must be a foreign citizen visiting the UK for less than six months.
Fees and Processing Time
- To obtain an Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, you’ll have to pay a fee of £637. You can apply up to three months before your intended travel date, but it takes three weeks to process the application.
- You can pay an additional fee for your application to be processed within just five working days.
- Please note that processing times may vary if the Home Office experiences a high volume of visa applications.
Can I Bring Dependents?
No, you cannot bring dependents on the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, as the visa duration is not long enough to make bringing dependents feasible.
- Published in Global Immigration
Spain Visa Types
Residency Visas for Acquisition of Real Estate (RIV) (Spain Golden Visa):
You can apply for RIV visa if you purchase a property for 500.000 € or more.
Advantages:
- The golden visa does not require you to be in Spain 183 days of one year, it only requires you to visit Spain once during each residency period.
- You will have a work permit.
Disadvantages:
- You cannot sell your house until you obtain the status of permanent resident.
- The golden visa will not automatically get you on route for Spanish citizenship.
Residence Visa for Capital Investors (RIC) (Spain Golden Visa):
A significant capital investment is understood as an initial investment at least 2 million Euros in Spanish government bonds issued or at least 1 million Euros in shares in Spanish companies or deposits into Spanish financial institutions (banks).
Advantages:
- The golden visa does not require you to be in Spain 183 days of one year, it only requires you to visit Spain once during each residency period.
- You will have a work permit.
Disadvantages:
- You cannot sell your house until you obtain the status of permanent resident.
- The golden visa will not automatically get you on route for Spanish citizenship.
Residency Visas for Entrepreneurs and Business Activities (REM):
This section covers all investors presenting a business plan, considered and recognised as being of general interest, to be developed in Spain with the intention of entering and staying in Spain for a period of one year for the sole or primary purpose of carrying out the preparatory work to develop an entrepreneurial activity.
The applicant must present a favourable report from the Commercial Office in the area of geographical demarcation where the investor presents the visa request, to confirm that the business plan presented is considered as a general interest.
Advantages:
- The golden visa does not require you to be in Spain 183 days of one year, it only requires you to visit Spain once during each residency period.
- You will have a work permit.
Disadvantages:
- The golden visa will not automatically get you on route for Spanish citizenship.
- Difficult to get the approval from the Consulate.
Residency Visa for Highly Skilled Professionals (TAC):
Application for this visa requires that the company carries out the processing of the Residence Permit, issued by the Large Enterprise and Strategic Economic Unit in Spain and granted by the General Directorate of Immigration, in advance. It must be in any of the following positions:
- Management or highly qualified staff of large businesses or corporate groups, or SMEs in strategic sectors,
- Management of highly qualified staff of business projects in the general interest
- Graduates, postgraduates from universities and prestigious business schools.
Students Visa:
The visa is granted to begin studying or to further education in an authorised institution in Spain, in a full-time programme, which leads to a degree or certificate; or participation in research or training activities; mobility programmes for secondary school or high school students; non-working practices in a public or private body or entity; and volunteer work within a programme that pursues objectives of general interest.
Advantage:
- After 3 years you can get a residence permit.
Disadvantages:
- It is not a Resident Permit.
- It does not allow to work.
Non-lucrative temporary residence visa:
The applicant must have sufficient financial resources for themselves and their family members during their period of residence in Spain, or, accredit a source of periodic income collection for themselves – and, if applicable, their family -, at the time of application for a visa or of the renewal of the authorisation. This means an average of 2,151.36 euros per month for the applicant and 537.84 euros per month for each member of the family.
Disadvantages:
- It requires you to be in Spain 183 days of the year.
Work employment visa:
Allows for a foreigner to enter Spain to live and carry out employed work, with previous Government Authorization.
- Published in Global Immigration
Good Character Requirement in Citizenship Applications
When applying to register as a British citizen, adults and children over the age of ten or over must meet the guidelines known as ‘the good character’ requirement. So, what does good character mean. There’s no definition from the home office it’s mainly the practical way of being good in terms of your character and not bad, due to this each case is individually accessed.
The main points to concentrate on when it comes to good character measure are as followed:
- Criminality;
- International crimes, terrorism and other non-conducive activity;
- Financial soundness;
- Notoriety;
- Immigration-related matters;
- Deception or dishonesty;
The: Home Office, Nationality: good character requirement, Version 1 published on 14 January 2019 provides instructions to caseworkers as to the application of the requirement.
There are many immigration-related issues that need to be considered when completing an application. If the applicant does not meet these guidelines the applicant may be refused.
If an applicant is refused this may be due to these circumstances in the ten years leading up to the application being made, the applicant:
- entered or attempted to enter into a sham marriage or civil partnership, or a marriage or civil partnership of convenience;
- abused the English language or Knowledge of Life in the UK test requirement;
- knowingly or recklessly made a false statement in an application;
- was involved in deception as a referee;
- did not comply with the conditions of their leave;
overstayed; - entered the UK illegally; or
- evaded immigration control.
When applying applicants should read these guidelines to ensure they will successfully complete the application form and provide relevant documentation to prove that they have met the requirements outlined.
Applicants have to be truthful as any deception may result in refusal it is therefore vital that the information submitted is accurate. If deception is used for which an application is not likely to be successful.
Making false statement can result in a refusal which mean an individual is liable to prosecution. This also applies where a false statement has been made by a referee. An application can be refused, if the decision-maker considers the individual has been truthful.
There are circumstances where an individual may have “mitigating circumstances” which will be reviewed by a caseworker. A good example would be if a person’s criminal conviction is for an offence which is not recognised in the UK, for example homosexuality or membership of a trade union.
Finally, consideration must be given by caseworkers to all aspects of your character when assessing the good character requirement. All factors must be taken into account weather they are positive or negative.
The ‘good character requirement’ guidance is as it says just a guide, this means that when possible, using the correct advice and direction you’ll be able to put forward arguments to rebut the presumption of refusal.
- Published in Global Immigration
Why a Golden Visa Could Be Right for You?
What makes a golden visa different?
When you look at wealthy English-speaking countries’ immigration requirements, you will notice they are quite strict. The Golden Visa programs remove most of these stringent requirements. For example:
- No reason to get married unless you want to
- No requirement to pay social security taxes
- No need to start a business
- No need to have a job or job offer
- Most countries also remove the need to speak the target country’s language too
- Published in Global Immigration