Straight answers to common questions

Ashford Immigration is an immigration and visa consultancy based in Dubai. We help applicants and their families understand which routes may fit their plans to work, study, join family, visit, run a business or settle abroad. We then help you plan the steps, prepare your documents and put together a clear, accurate application. Where a country requires a licensed practitioner to advise or represent you, we explain this and the options.

We do not make visa decisions, and we cannot influence the officials who do. We do not sell jobs, job offers or places on programmes. We will never ask you to give false or misleading information to any government. Where the law requires a licensed or registered practitioner to advise or represent you, we will tell you and explain your options.

No. Every visa, permit and residence decision is made by the government of the country concerned, based on its own rules and the evidence in front of it. A careful, well-prepared application can help you avoid common problems, but it cannot guarantee an outcome. Be cautious of anyone who promises approval, a fixed decision date or special access to officials.

The people we speak with hold passports from many different countries and live in many different places. They include professionals considering a move abroad, families planning to relocate together, students and their parents, business owners and investors, and people who need visitor visas. We also speak with HR teams, recruiters and education agents about supporting their staff or clients.

No. The information on this website is general guidance to help you understand your options. Immigration rules, fees and requirements change often, and the right route depends on your own circumstances. Speak with us for an assessment based on your situation, and check the current rules on the official government website before you apply.

Yes. Most governments let you apply directly, and their official websites explain the rules and forms. Some people choose to work with a consultancy because they want help choosing a route, organising documents from several countries or avoiding common mistakes. Whether or not you use us, the decision on your application rests with the government.

It can. A residence visa may be cancelled if you stay outside the country that issued it for longer than the permitted period, and some long-term visas follow different rules. If you plan to keep your current residence while you settle abroad, check the current rules with the authority that issued your visa before you leave.

Not always. Some routes, such as Canada’s Express Entry, Australia’s Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Germany’s Opportunity Card, assess your skills and experience without requiring a job offer at the start. Others, such as the UK Skilled Worker visa or Australia’s Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), depend on an approved employer sponsoring you. The right option depends on your occupation, qualifications and plans.

A work visa usually lets you live and work in a country for a set period, often tied to a particular employer or job. Permanent residence lets you stay long term, and in many countries it can later lead to citizenship. Some people apply for permanent residence directly from the country where they live, while others move on a work visa first and apply for residence later. Each country sets its own conditions for moving from one status to another.

In most cases, yes. Many skilled routes give credit for experience gained outside the destination country, as long as it is skilled, paid and well documented. You will usually need reference letters from your employers that describe your duties, hours, salary and dates of employment. Salary certificates, employment contracts and bank statements can help support what the letters say.

Often, yes. Many skilled routes to English-speaking countries require an approved test such as IELTS, PTE or TOEFL, and Canada also accepts CELPIP for some programmes. Some routes ask for your qualifications to be assessed, for example an Educational Credential Assessment for Canada’s Express Entry or a skills assessment by an assessing authority for Australia. The accepted tests, required scores and assessing bodies differ by country and programme, so confirm them for your route before you book anything.

Be very careful. Genuine employers do not usually charge you for a job offer, and in several countries it is unlawful for employers to ask workers to pay for sponsorship. Warning signs include requests for payment to secure a job, offers made without a proper interview, pressure to act quickly and messages from personal email accounts. Before you pay anything, check the employer through official sources, such as the destination government’s register of licensed sponsors where one exists. You are welcome to share the offer with us and we will tell you what to check.

No. We are not a recruitment agency, and we do not sell or arrange job offers. If you already have an offer, or are applying for jobs, we can explain how a work visa would work with that employer and what each side needs to provide. If someone promises you a job in return for a fee, treat it with caution.

Yes. We can help HR teams understand the options when an employee is moving abroad, for example through an intra-company transfer or a new sponsored role. We explain the steps, the documents usually needed from the company and the employee, and where the destination employer or a licensed practitioner must be involved. The sponsoring employer remains responsible for its own duties in the destination country.

No. Points thresholds, minimum salaries and occupation lists are set by each government and reviewed regularly, sometimes with little notice. A profile that qualifies today may not qualify later, and the reverse can also happen. We check the current requirements against your profile at the time of your assessment and flag rules that are under review.

Yes. We help students and parents understand the study visa process for the countries we cover, including what the visa authorities expect to see and when. We can help you plan the order of steps, from choosing a country and course to the visa application itself. The admission decision belongs to the institution, and the visa decision belongs to the government.

Earlier than most families expect. Application deadlines, English tests, financial documents and the visa all take time, and the busiest intake periods bring longer waits for appointments. Starting around a year before the course begins gives most families room to prepare, although some courses have earlier deadlines.

Most study visas ask you to show that you can pay your tuition fees and living costs for at least part of the course. If parents are paying, you will usually need their bank statements, a letter confirming their support and proof of the relationship, such as a birth certificate. Some countries require the money to have been held for a set period before you apply. The amounts and rules are set by each government and change from time to time.

Many study visas allow limited part-time work during term time, with more hours permitted during official holidays. The limits differ by country and can change, and some students, such as those on certain short courses, may not be allowed to work at all. Your study plans should not depend on earnings from part-time work.

Several countries offer post-study work options, such as the UK Graduate route and Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit, but eligibility depends on the course, the institution and the rules in force when you apply. These routes have been changed and tightened in recent years, and further changes have been announced. Treat them as a possibility to plan for, not a certainty.

It depends on the country and the course, and the rules have tightened. The UK now allows dependants mainly for students on doctoral or other research-based postgraduate courses and for some government-sponsored students, and Canada has narrowed which students’ spouses can get an open work permit. Other countries allow dependants if you can show additional funds. Check the dependant rules before you choose a course if you plan to travel with family.

Universities abroad regularly admit students from schools in many countries, including those following British, American, IB, Indian and other curricula. Each institution sets its own entry requirements and decides which qualifications it accepts. Visa authorities may also ask for certified copies, translations or attested documents, and we will tell you what applies to your route.

On many work and residence routes, yes. Your spouse or partner and dependent children can often apply as your dependants, either with you or after you. Each person usually needs their own application, identity documents and evidence of the relationship. Some routes limit who counts as a dependant or what they may do on arrival, so check this before you choose a route.

You will usually need marriage and birth certificates, and sometimes proof that you live together, such as a joint tenancy contract or shared bills. Certificates may need to be translated, and attested, apostilled or legalised where required, depending on the country that issued them and what the destination requires. Start early, because obtaining attested documents from your home country can take time.

Some countries allow this, but parent routes are often limited, costly or slow to process. Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program, for example, is currently paused and not accepting new sponsorship applications, although the Super Visa lets eligible parents and grandparents make long visits. Other countries have their own parent routes with strict financial and eligibility conditions. We can explain what is realistic for your family.

Often, yes, but many countries have conditions about where the sponsor lives. Canada, for example, allows a citizen living abroad to sponsor a spouse or partner only if they will live in Canada once the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident. Other countries expect the couple to intend to live there together, and most set financial and relationship evidence requirements. We look at your situation in detail before recommending a route.

On many routes, yes. The main applicant can often move first and the family can follow, while other routes work best when everyone applies together. Family members who apply later must meet the rules in force at that time, which may have changed. We can help you plan a sequence that fits your work and your children’s school year.

Some countries recognise unmarried or de facto partners, usually where you can show you have lived together in a genuine relationship for a set period. Others recognise only marriages or registered partnerships. The evidence needed is detailed and the rules differ widely, so we look at your circumstances before recommending a route.

Often, yes. Where a child is moving or travelling with only one parent, many visa authorities ask for written consent from the other parent, or a court order confirming who can make that decision. This matters especially after separation or divorce. We can explain what the destination usually expects and when you may need legal advice.

Usually not on its own. For the countries we cover, visa requirements depend mainly on your nationality, not your country of residence. Some nationalities can travel without a visa or with an electronic travel authorisation, such as the UK ETA, Canada’s eTA or the US ESTA, while others need a visitor visa. Check the official rules for your passport before you book travel.

Common reasons include unclear travel plans, weak evidence of funds and too little evidence that you will return to your country of residence after your visit. Officers also refuse applications where documents are inconsistent, incomplete or not genuine, or where past refusals or overstays are not declared. Most refusal letters give reasons, and these are the starting point for any new application.

Read the refusal letter carefully and keep a copy. Do not reapply straight away with the same documents, because an unchanged application is often refused for the same reasons. Depending on the country, you may be able to challenge the decision, or it may be better to apply again with stronger evidence. We can review the refusal with you and explain the realistic options.

Yes, if the application form asks, and most do. Refusals from any country, not only the one you are applying to, may need to be declared. Failing to declare a refusal can be treated as misrepresentation or deception, which can lead to a refusal and, in some countries, a ban on future applications.

Useful evidence includes your residence visa or permit and identity card, a letter from your employer confirming your role and approved leave, recent salary certificates and bank statements. If you own a business or property in the country where you live, or your family lives there, documents showing this can also help. A travel history showing previous trips where you returned on time is useful too.

As early as the rules allow. Appointment availability and processing times vary through the year, and summer and holiday periods are often busier. Some countries let you apply several months before you travel. Check the current guidance for your destination, and avoid paying for non-refundable travel before your visa is issued.

Most governments use visa application centres, run by providers they appoint, to collect fingerprints, photographs and documents, and you usually attend the visa application centre that serves your country of residence. US visa applicants usually attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate in the country where they live. Book appointments only through the links on the destination government’s official website.

Generally no. Visitor visas allow tourism, family visits and permitted business activities, such as attending meetings or conferences, but not working for an employer in that country. Some countries allow short courses of study on a visitor visa, within strict limits. If you plan to work or study, apply for the right visa from the start.

Business routes generally fall into three groups: routes for founders starting an innovative business, routes for experienced owners who will run a business abroad, and routes for investors who commit capital to approved investments. Examples include the UK Innovator Founder visa, the Netherlands start-up residence permit and the Investor Visa for Italy. Each has its own conditions, and many require an endorsement or approval before the visa application.

Some are, but many have closed or changed. Portugal no longer accepts property purchase for its residence permit for investment, Ireland has closed its Immigrant Investor Programme, and Canada’s Start-up Visa is paused to new applications. Before you commit money to any investment route, confirm on the official government website that it is open and that your investment would qualify.

You need a clear paper trail showing how you earned or received the money, often over several years. This may include salary certificates, bank statements, trade licences, audited company accounts, dividend records, property sale agreements or gift deeds. Every large transfer should be explained. Gaps and unexplained deposits are a common cause of delays and refusals.

In many cases, yes, but it depends on the route. Some founder and owner routes expect you to be actively involved in the new business and to spend most of your time in that country. Residence and citizenship rules may also count the days you spend there. Consider how your existing company, current residence visa and tax position will be affected, and take specialist tax advice where needed.

We review your business plan against what the relevant endorsing body or authority looks for, and we point out gaps or unclear points. The business, the plan and the figures remain yours, because you will need to explain and deliver them. Where a route requires input from an accountant, lawyer or licensed practitioner, we explain why and help you work with them.

On most business and investor routes, a spouse and dependent children can apply with you or join you later. What they may do on arrival, such as work or study, depends on the route and the country. Each family member usually needs their own documents, and adults often need police clearance certificates from each country where they have lived.

The E-2 Treaty Investor visa depends on your nationality, not your country of residence. You must be a national of a country that has a qualifying treaty with the United States. If your country is not on the list, the E-2 is not available to you, although other US routes may be. In the United States, advice and representation on immigration matters are restricted to attorneys. Where representation must be by a licensed practitioner, we will explain this and the options.

We focus on Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Italy. We can look at other destinations on request. If we cannot help properly with a particular country, we will tell you at the start.

Start with your goal, then look at the routes that fit your profile. Your occupation, qualifications, age, language ability, savings, family and nationality all affect which options are realistic. Cost of living, schooling for your children and the path to permanent residence matter too. In a consultation we compare the options that fit you side by side.

There is no single easiest country. A route that suits one person can be closed to another because of occupation, age, language, savings or nationality. The more useful question is which routes fit your profile today and how stable those routes are likely to be.

Some countries regulate who may give immigration advice or represent applicants, to protect people from poor or dishonest practice. In Canada this means CICC-licensed consultants or lawyers, in the UK advisers regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority or solicitors, in Australia registered migration agents, in New Zealand advisers licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority, and in the United States attorneys. New Zealand’s rules also apply to advice given from outside New Zealand. Where representation must be by a licensed practitioner, we will explain this and the options.

Often you can, for example by creating a Canada Express Entry profile while also applying for jobs in Germany. Running several applications costs more time and money, and some documents, such as police clearance certificates and test results, are only valid for a limited period. We can help you decide whether a parallel approach makes sense for you.

For short visits, a Schengen visa issued by one member country generally allows travel across the Schengen area. For work, study or long-term residence, each country has its own national visas and permits, and approval in one country does not usually give you the right to live or work in another. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area and has its own visa system.

Switzerland is not in the European Union, although it is part of the Schengen area for short visits. Work permits for people from outside the EU and EFTA are limited by annual quotas and are usually reserved for highly qualified specialists whose employers show they could not recruit locally. Both cantonal and federal authorities are involved in the decision.

Each destination page on this website links to the relevant official government sources. Check the government website before you apply, because rules, fees and forms can change at short notice. Be careful with websites that look official but are run by private companies charging extra fees.

No. Consultations and most of the work can be done remotely, so you can work with us wherever you are applying from. We can also meet by video call if that suits you better. Some steps, such as giving biometrics at a visa application centre, still have to be done in person.

The eligibility assessment is a short set of questions about your goals, nationality, education, work experience, language ability and family. Our team reviews your answers and gives you an initial view of the routes that may be worth exploring. It is not a legal determination, and it does not decide whether you qualify, because only the relevant government can do that. It helps us decide what to look at in more detail with you.

We discuss your goals, your background and your timing, and look at the routes that may fit. We explain what each route involves, the main risks and the documents you would need. If we do not think a route is realistic for you, we will say so. You can then decide whether you want our help with the next steps.

Our fees depend on the service, the destination and how much work your case involves. Before any work starts, we explain in writing what we will do, what we will charge and when payment is due. Government fees, test fees, medical examinations, translations and visa application centre charges are separate from our fees.

Yes. Before any paid work begins, you receive a written agreement that sets out the services, the fees, what is not included and the terms for cancellation and refunds. Keep a copy, and ask us about anything that is unclear before you sign. Nothing in the agreement promises a visa outcome, because that decision rests with the government.

Refunds depend on the terms of the written agreement you sign before any work begins. Read it carefully and ask about anything that is unclear before you pay. Government fees are set by each authority and are usually non-refundable, even if an application is refused.

It helps to have your passport details, your current residence status, a current CV, your highest qualifications and any English test results. If you have had a visa refusal from any country, bring the refusal letter. You do not need every document at this stage, and we will tell you what matters for your route.

We confirm the route and agree the scope of our work in writing. We then give you a document list for your case, review what you provide and point out anything missing or inconsistent. Once your application is ready and submitted, we help you prepare for biometrics, interviews or requests for more information. The relevant authority then makes its decision.

Timelines vary by country, route and individual case, and they change through the year. Preparing documents, obtaining police clearance certificates, sitting tests and arranging attestations can take weeks or months before you are ready to apply. We will give you a realistic sequence of steps, but we cannot promise a decision date, because processing is controlled by each government. Some governments publish processing estimates on their official websites.

Many applications ask for police clearance certificates from each country where you have lived. You may also need your identity documents and residence visa or permit, salary certificates, employment letters and bank statements. Degree and personal certificates may need attestation or apostille where required, or legalisation, depending on the country that issued them and what the destination requires.

This depends on the country and the route. Many applications are submitted by the applicant through the official government portal, with our help preparing them. Where a country requires a licensed or registered practitioner to act for you, we will explain this and the options before any work begins. You remain responsible for making sure everything in your application is true and complete.

We collect only the information we need to advise you and prepare your application, and we use it for that purpose. We handle personal data in line with the data protection law that applies to us in the UAE, and our privacy policy explains what we collect, why, how long we keep it and your rights. We share your information with others, such as a licensed practitioner or a translator, only where your case needs it and with your agreement.

Yes. You can ask to see, correct or delete the personal data we hold about you, and we will respond in line with our privacy policy and the law. Some records may need to be kept for a period for legal reasons, and we will tell you if that applies. Information already submitted to a government is held by that government under its own rules.

Be cautious of anyone who guarantees a visa, claims special contacts inside a government, asks you to pay for a job offer or pressures you to pay quickly. Never let anyone put false information or documents in your application, even if they say it is normal practice. Pay government fees only through official channels, and check any adviser who says they are licensed on the regulator’s public register. If something feels wrong, stop and ask for a second opinion.

Tell us as soon as possible. A new job, a change in marital status, a new child or a move can affect your eligibility or your application. Some countries require you to report certain changes before a decision is made, and failing to do so can cause problems later.