Determine in what capacity you plan on entering the United Kingdom and apply for the appropriate visa. Student, work and travel visas have different application requirements. Residence exceeding six months requires obtaining a visa from the UK Border Agency.
Determine your work status with the UK Border Agency if you are planning on obtaining a work visa. Highly-skilled workers do not need a formal job offer or business sponsorship as part of the application process. Skilled and temporary workers need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid certificate of sponsorship in order to apply.
Apply for '"Indefinite Leave to Remain" status once you have maintained five years of continuous residence in the United Kingdom by filing form SET(O) with the UK Border Agency. Your immigration category -- Tier 1 for highly skilled migrants or Tier 2 for skilled/temporary migrants -- will determine what qualifications you must meet in order to have your application accepted.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the English language and British culture by passing the "Life in the UK" test required of all English-speaking migrants. This 24-question multiple-choice exam determines your ability to assimilate to living in the UK.
