UK – LONDON

Weekend travel information for 20 April 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 21-22 April, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check if any of the following affect you. Strike action is taking place on the DLR from 04:00 on Friday 20 April, until 03:59 on Tuesday 24 April. The strike has been called over a dispute with KeolisAmey Docklands who operate the DLR on behalf of TfL. We aim to offer a limited service over the four days, which coincide with the London Marathon on Sunday 22 April. For up to date information on what services may operate. London Overground * On Sunday 22 April, there is no service between: * Euston and Kilburn High Road until 12:15 and after 20:30, due to Network Rail track work and Network Rail work at Euston to enable High Speed Two (HS2) * Surrey Quays and New Cross after 20:45, due to Crossrail construction work * Sydenham and Crystal Palace from 20:45 until 23:15…

Are you eligible for a British passport?

Fast facts about British nationality for South Africans - You could be eligible for British passport if you were: Born to a parent (father or mother) who was born in the UK before 1983. Born before 1983 to a parent who was born after 1949 – as long as that parent Was a British citizen, or Had a parent born in the UK Born in South Africa after 31 May 1962 but before 1983, and you have a UK-born grandparent Born after 1948, and your parents were married before 1949 and your paternal grandfather (your father’s father) was born in the UK Born between 2 March 1970 and 18 April 1980 in (Southern) Rhodesia, and you have a grandfather born in the UK.

South Africans and the National Insurance Number

South Africans who are relocating to the United Kingdom sometimes get strangled in the paperwork and red-tape involved with their relocation. One of the topics on which the consultants at Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants often get questions is the National Insurance Number. We have compiled a short article for South Africans relocating to the UK, on the issue of the National Insurance number. The National Insurance Number The National Insurance (NI) number is unique for every person. You will keep your NI number for life, and the number will only be used for one person. It consists of numbers and letters and is allocated by the Department for Works and Pensions. The NI number is used by the HM Revenue & Customs and the Department for Works and Pensions to identify persons. The number also ensures that NI and tax contributions are recorded against the record of the correct person and that the correct amount of tax and NI are paid by every person. The National Insur…

Weekend travel information for 6 April 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 7-8 April, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check if any of the following affect you. London Underground Due to ballast and track replacement, there is no service: Metropolitan line On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 April, between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge Piccadilly line On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 April, between South Harrow and Uxbridge London Overground There will be no service: From Saturday 7 April to Sunday 8 April between: • Gospel Oak and Barking, due to Network Rail infrastructure work • Crouch Hill station will be closed, with no staff or ticketing facilities available, due to Network Rail bridge work On Sunday 8 April between: • New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace/West Croydon, due to Network Rail track and infrastructure work • Surrey Quays and New Cross after 20:45, due to Cr…

Moving abroad: The top five cities South Africans should consider

As beautiful as South Africa can be, sometimes you’ve just got to fly the nest. So with the help of Nestpick, we’re looking at some of the most attractive options for those of us considering moving abroad. Compared to previous generations, we have been lucky enough to travel around the world for many different reasons, either for pleasure and curiosity of exploring what we can find behind the doors of our comfort zone or simply for gap years or educational exchanges. Whichever your reason might be and even though most popular destinations among expats include Australia, USA, UK and New Zealand, there are some top cities that definitely attract a larger audience of expats eager to live and work abroad. Nestpick, a search aggregator for apartment rentals all over the world, has analysed different factors in some of the most attractive cities for expats in order to assess the costs of renting a flat there and furnishing it. The best cities for South Africans moving abroad: Lo…

Moving to the UK? Don’t leave South Africa without tying up these loose-ends

For South Africans, the road to the UK can be a challenging one, but once you get there it’s worth it. To help you navigate through all the requirements and to ensure that your move goes off as smoothly as possible, we’ve compiled some essential advice and information based on what other Saffas have learned while making the big move. Transfer your money the easy way When transferring your money out of South Africa, you want to get as many Pounds for your Rands as you can. Banks are notorious for giving shoddy exchange rates and it’s far better to use a specialist forex agency. Forex agents build key relationships with banks from all around the world and they process all their transfers in bulk. That’s how they’re able to give you the best rates at lower fees. So forget about using your bank, shop around online and find a broker with local expertise that can help you get the most out of your money transfers. To financially emigrate, or not to financially emigrate? Financial e…

Weekend travel information for 23 February 2018

London Underground Due to ballast and track replacement work this weekend, there will be: Circle line No service between Aldgate and Edgware Road (via Victoria). District line No service between Edgware Road/South Kensington to Ealing Broadway/Richmond/Wimbledon and Earl’s Court to Kensington (Olympia). London Overground There will be no service between Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 February, between: • Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction, due to Network Rail track work • Sydenham and West Croydon, due to Network Rail signalling work • Romford and Upminster, due to Crossrail construction work Sunday 25 February between: • Hackney Downs and Chingford until 09:45, due to Network Rail track and infrastructure work From Monday 26 February until Thursday 1 March there will be no service between Hackney Downs and Enfield Town/Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) after 22:30. This is due to Network Rail track and infrastructure work. TfL Rail …

Weekend travel information for 26 January 2018

London Underground District line On Sunday 28 January there will be no service between Turnham Green and Richmond due to track maintenance. Metropolitan line On Sunday 28 January there will be no service before 09:30 and after 20:30 between Aldgate and Wembley Park. London Overground On Sunday 28 January there will be no service between the following stations • Willesden Junction and Richmond due to Network Rail track work • South Tottenham and Barking until 12:45 due to Network Rail track work • Romford and Upminster due to Crossrail construction work and Network Rail infrastructure work • Until 23:59, Bethnal Green will not be served by trains to/from Chingford due to Network Rail track work TfL Rail On Saturday 27 January there will be a reduced train service with trains running every 15 minutes between Liverpool Street & Chadwell Heath and every 30 minutes between Liverpool Street and Shenfield (not stopping between Stratford & Ilford a…

Transport for London – Weekend travel information

London Underground Metropolitan line On Sunday, trains will not run between Aldgate and Wembley Park before 09:30 and after 20:30. This is to allow us to replace track and signalling between Baker Street and Finchley Road. London Overground All weekend there will be no service between Hackney Downs and Chingford due to Network Rail track and infrastructure work. Until Sunday 14 January 2018, trains will not run between Gospel Oak and Barking. This is while Network Rail continue major work to enable new, longer trains to run from spring 2018. Buses Bus users may be affected by the following this weekend. While we will try to maintain a good service, buses may be delayed, diverted or stop short of their normal destination: Trinity Square Junction with Byward Street - From Thursday 11 January until late summer 2018, one lane in the westbound direction will be closed on the approach to the junction. This is due to works to reinstate the left turn for traffic…

Your Transport info for 22 September 2017

London Underground Piccadilly line Trains will not run between South Harrow and Uxbridge. This is while we renew a set of points at Rayners Lane. Metropolitan line There will be no service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge. This is to allow us to renew a set of points at Rayners Lane. London Overground Until 22 October, there will be no service between Gospel Oak and Barking. This is while Network Rail continue major works to enable new, longer trains to run from spring 2018. TfL Rail On Saturday trains will not run between Liverpool Street and Stratford. This is while Network Rail carry out track and station improvements as part of their Railway Upgrade Plan, as well as Crossrail construction work. DLR All weekend there is no service between Stratford and Bow Church. This is due to Crossrail work at Pudding Mill Lane. Buses Bus users may be affected by the following this weekend. While we will try to maintain a good service, buses may b…