UK – LONDON

Weekend travel information for 2 November 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 3 and 4 November, and the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal so you’ll be able to get wherever you need to go, but please check if any of the following affect you. Beyond the Deepening Shadow: The Tower Remembers From Sunday 4 until Sunday 11 November, large pedestrian numbers are expected at Tower of London each day between 17:00 and 22:00. Tower Hill station will be extremely busy during the event and will be closed on Sunday 4 November. Anyone attending the event should use the following stations, which are all around a 10 to 15 minute walk away: • Aldgate East via the District line and Hammersmith & City line • Aldgate via the Metropolitan line and Circle line • Monument via the District line and Circle line • London Bridge via the Jubilee line, Northern line and National Rail lines • Tower Gateway via DLR Central line …

Weekend travel information for 26 October 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 27 and 28 October, and the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal so you’ll be able to get wherever you need to go, but please check if any of the following affect you. London Underground Metropolitan line On Sunday 28 October, there will be no service between Aldgate and Wembley Park before 09:30 and after 20:30. This is due to track replacement work. For travel between Baker Street and Wembley Park, use the Jubilee line. For travel between Baker Street and Aldgate, use the Circle line or Hammersmith & City line. London Overground Network Rail is carrying out work that will affect the following services. Today, Thursday 25 October, there will be no service between: • Romford and Upminster after 20:00. Use local bus routes 165, 248 or 370 for travel between stations • Hackney Downs and Chingford after 22:30. Rail replacement bus…

Why Some British expatriates are struggling to get their passport renewals processed

Though the British government originally stated that the closure of regional passport processing centres around the world wouldn’t affect the processing of passport applications and renewals it seems that this is not the case. Passport renewals used to take around 4 weeks but with the move of processing back to Liverpool, England the recommended processing timescale was extended to 6 weeks. However reports are coming in from around the world with many expatriates being completely frustrated both by the lack of communication throughout the process and also the length of time that processing is taking. The online tracking system and call centres provided seem to not accurately reflect the status of applications being processed. Expatriates living in Hong Kong and Russia have reported that it’s now taking up to 3 months for them to get their passports renewed with apparently hundreds of expatriates affected in Hong Kong alone. This is forcing some expats to face issues with visa…

A New Brexit report set to benefit South Africans looking to work in the UK

It looks like the reduction of EU workers in the country after Brexit will account for more opportunities for non-EU workers. The nuts and bolts of Brexit are certainly a concern for many British residents, but a new government advisory could mean that South Africans are able to benefit from the UK’s messy divorce with the EU. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advises the UK Home Office on immigration issues. They recommend that free movement of citizens from the European Union should come to an end once Brexit is finalised. It’s vital to understand that EU citizens living in the UK pre-Brexit would already have been able to apply for temporary or Indefinite Leave to Remain under the EU settlement scheme. Much to their relief, they will not be subject to the possible ending of free movement. Free signup to our Expat Match ...just click ExpatMatch.com now !! Brexit: How these changes affect South African emigres But going forward, EU workers will be treated like no…

Weekend travel information for 5 October 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 6 and 7 October, and the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal so you’ll be able to get wherever you need to go, but please check if any of the following affect you. London Underground Central and Waterloo & City lines - On Friday 5 October, there is a strike planned. If it goes ahead, there will be no service on the Central and Waterloo & City lines all day. There will also be no Central line Night Tube services on Friday night. Normal services will resume on both lines by mid-morning on Saturday 6 October. Check before you travel and visit our Tube strike page for live information, in case the strike is called off. Piccadilly line - On Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October, there will be no service between Oakwood and Cockfosters. From 05:15 until 07:00 on Saturday, there will be no service between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters in both direc…

Weekend travel information for 28 September 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 29 and 30 September, and the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal so you’ll be able to get wherever you need to go, but please check if any of the following affect you. Piccadilly line strike There is currently no service on the Piccadilly line until 15:30 tomorrow, Friday 28 September, and then again from 22:00 until the morning of Saturday 29 September. There will also be no Piccadilly line Night Tube on Friday 28 September. We expect to resume a normal service on Saturday 29 September by: • 07:30 between Heathrow and Cockfosters • 08:30 between Acton Town and Uxbridge London Underground On Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September, there will be no service: Circle line On the entire line, due to line modernisation. If you are planning to travel through the city this weekend, you can still use the Central, Jubilee, Northern…

Moving to the UK: The Unmarried Partner Visa – all you need to know

Many people assume that there is a separate type of visa application for the unmarried partner. However, this is not the case. If one fulfils the criteria to be an ‘unmarried partner,’ one would apply in the same way as the spouse or dependent of the main UK visa applicant. One can thus be the unmarried partner of an Ancestral visa applicant, a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa applicant, the unmarried partner of a British citizen, Tier 4 Student visa applicant, etc. The conditions and requirements of the visa of the unmarried partner would thus basically be determined by the immigration status or type of visa the main applicant is applying for. The unmarried partner thus has the same status as the spouse or civil partner of the main visa applicant. How to qualify as an unmarried partner To qualify as an unmarried partner, an applicant will need to prove that he/she has been living together with the partner, in a relationship akin to marriage for two years or more. You will also ne…

What South African expats need to know about financial emigration and recession

With the South African economy currently in recession, lessening the effects of Rand volatility is a top priority for many people at the moment. Many expatriates have retirement funds and other assets in South Africa that they would like to withdraw and transfer offshore. This is known as the process of financial emigration. SAFFA.com had a look at the most common questions about this process below. What exactly is financial emigration? Financial emigration is the process of officially changing your status with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) from a permanent resident, or resident living temporarily abroad, to that of a non-resident of South Africa. This means that you have permanently left South Africa and relocated abroad. The process of financial emigration is daunting and admin-heavy. The average turnaround time to complete the entire process is three months. We recommend using an experienced, certified South African financial emigration specialist to complete the …

Weekend travel information for 10 August 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend,11 and 12 August, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, so you’ll be able to get wherever you need to go, but to ensure your journey goes smoothly please check if any of the following affect you.

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London Underground Bakerloo line On Sunday 12 August, there will be no service between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. This is due to Network Rail track work. Central line Trains will not stop at Bank station from 00:30 on Saturday 11 and all day Sunday 12 August. Enter and exit at Liverpool Street or St. Paul’s instead. This is due to platform engineering work. During Night Tube hours on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August (00:30 until 05:30), St. Paul’s stat…

Weekend travel information for 27 July 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 28 and 29 July, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, so you’ll be able to get wherever you need to go, but to ensure your journey goes smoothly please check if any of the following affect you. Prudential RideLondon The annual Prudential RideLondon weekend festival of cycling is taking place over the weekend. The routes will be closed to traffic. Road users are advised to avoid the affected areas wherever possible. Buses will be on diversion or stop short of their destinations. Tube and Rail will be the best way to get around during the weekend.

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On Saturday, the event route is in central London. Some roads will be closed from 05:00 until 19:30. On Sunday, the…