|
||
| English | | | Afrikaans |
| info@breytenbachs.com | ||
| Thu, 11/3/2010 | ||
Breytenbachs have relocated to new offices in the City of London during February 2010.
We are now based in offices more suitable for our needs and conveniently situated in the heart of London, close to St Paul’s Cathedral. Our new offices are easily accessible via public transport. You are welcome to call our offices for directions to our new premises, or you can visit the Contact us page on our website for a map and directions.
Our new telephone number is 0207 248 4100 and fax number 0207 248 0101. We are looking forward to see you at our new offices! Third Floor, 3 Creed Court, 5 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7AA.
The BBC reported that according to figures from the financial services Moneyfacts, mortgage availability for homebuyers has improved over the past year and month. At the beginning of March there were 1,798 mortgage deals available which required deposits between 0 and 40%. This is 68% more than a year ago and a 6% improvement on a month ago.
A spokesperson for Moneyfacts told the BBC that there are a growing number of mortgage providers who are becoming a little more accommodating with their credit criteria and this bodes well for consumers who will benefit from a growing competitive mortgage market. She also said that it is pleasing to see that the average mortgage rate is falling at the same time as deposit requirements are getting smaller.
The BBC reported that the Bank of England has kept interest rates at its record low level of 0.5% in March 2010, for the twelfth consecutive month. The Bank of England has also decided not to release any more money into the UK economy under its quantitative easing programme for now, as it has spent the planned £200 billion.
According to the latest UK government house price survey, house prices in the UK rose by 2.9% in 2009. According to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) prices have now risen for eight months in a row.
The BBC reported the chief economist at Global Insight as saying that virtually all house price measures, including the ones by the DCLG, show that house prices through in the early months of 2009 and have been firming ever since. He further said that the revival in house prices since the early months of 2009 was a consequence of buyer affordability and interest being lifted by sharply reduced mortgage interest rates.
At Breytenbachs, much of our business comes from existing clients referring their friends, family and colleagues to us. We trust that your experience with us was of the highest of quality and as such, we would greatly appreciate it if you could pass on your kind words to anyone who you may think will be interested in making use of our Property department’s conveyance services.
Please feel free to contact the head of our Property department, Bridget Miller at bridget@breytenbachs.com
If you are interested in buying property in the UK and would like to
discuss your conveyancing needs.
Please feel free to
e-mail us for more information
Latest
Latest Immigration news The UK Home Office has announced that new immigration fees will be introduced from Tuesday, 6 April 2010 for all those applying to study , visit, work or stay in the UK.
Breytenbachs advise all clients who want to apply before these increased fees take effect, to contact us without delay.
Please contact the consultant dealing with your case directly, alternatively please send an e-mail to info@breytenbachs.com
Since, 22 February 2010, students who apply for a student visa to study in the UK under Tier 4 of the points-based system must possess a confirmation of acceptance of studies (CAS) from their prospective sponsor (educational institution).
From this date, all student visa letters have been replaced by CAS (confirmation of acceptance to study) which is an electronic system. Applicants are issued with a CAS reference number instead of a physical student visa letter by the prospective educational institution.
Since this date, student visa letters are not accepted even if it was issued before 22 February 2010.
The UK Home Office has announced stricter rules for foreign students from outside Europe. This came into affect on 3 March 2010. All Tier 4 applications submitted on or after this date will be subject to these new restrictions. According to the UK Home Office, these new rules are introduced in order to tackle the abuse of the Tier 4 by bogus students.
The new rules will not apply to students who come to the UK to study a foundation degree, courses at degree level or above and for child students at independent schools. For students studying courses below this level the following rules apply;
The amount of time a student is allowed to work during term time is halved from 20 hours per week to 10 hours;
Students on courses of six months or shorter are not allowed to bring any dependants to the UK; and
Students’ dependants will not be allowed to work in the UK, unless they qualify in their own right for an immigration category that allow them to do so.
Visas for courses below degree level with a work placement will only be granted if the institution is on a new register, the Highly Trusted Sponsors List. (To be implemented on 6 April 2010.)
The minimum level of English language course that can be studied under Tier 4 will be raised to the equivalent of GCSE standard.
For further information, or to apply for a student visa, please contact Geoffrey Yeung at geoffrey@breytenbachs.com, who will be delighted to assist you further.
The UK Home Office has announced that it is temporarily suspending all student visa applications from Northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh from the end of January 2010.
This move came after there was a significant increase in the number of student visa applications from these countries in the last three months of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008. According to officials the system has been overwhelmed with the increase in student visa applications and there are concerns that many of the applications are not genuine.
The BBC reported immigration lawyers as saying that this move is going to affect genuine students who want to come to the UK, as they won't be able to get to the UK in time for their courses.
The BBC reported that if proposals by the Department of Health are accepted, visitors to the UK could be required to hold health insurance before they can enter the UK.This move is apparently an attempt by the UK Government to crack down on health tourists who come to the UK for treatment and fail to pay for it. A separate immigration review also proposes that entry to the UK could be refused to foreigners owing money for health care.
According to reports the NHS is paid more than £25million a year by overseas visitors, but have to write off £5million in unpaid bills.
If the proposals are accepted, the NHS will provide a list of migrants with treatments debts to immigration officials from later this year. These migrants will then be turned away by the UK Border Agency if they try to enter the UK without settling their debt. The proposals will reportedly not cover visitors from the European Economic Area and countries with whom the UK has reciprocal health agreements.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe are continuing to fall.
In the year to June 2008, there were 100,000 new arrivals from these countries, compared to 68,000 in the year to June 2009. The number of new immigrants from these countries thus fell by nearly a third.
Other figures show that over 500,000 people came to the UK in the year to June 2009. In the same period about 370,000 people left, which brings the net increase of the population for this period to 147,000.
Hannes Breytenbach in South Africa
The senior partner of Breytenbachs, Hannes Breytenbach, is currently in South Africa for a business visit.
He is available in Pretoria for consultations on Friday, 12 March and the week of 15 to 19 March 2010.
If you would like to book a consultation with him, please contact Marieta van Greunen at marieta@breytenbachs.com or phone Barbara Prinsloo on SA tel 082 375 6375.
Question:
I obtained my UK Citizenship through naturalization, and now it seems as if I have lost my South African Citizenship. I was never aware that I had to apply for permission from the South African authorities before taking up my second nationality, and when I now wanted to apply for another South African passport, I was made aware of this fact. What do I do now?
Answer:
If a South African Citizen takes up a second nationality through naturalization, it is seen by the South African authorities as a voluntary act, and as such, if one does not apply for permission from the South African authorities before the second nationality is obtained, South African Citizenship is automatically lost. There are two sub categories which are divided by a date line.
Where an applicant has applied for and obtained naturalization as a citizen of a foreign country prior to 6 October 1995...In this category the applicant would potentially have automatically lost his/her South African Citizenship on the date of acquisition of the citizenship of another country. However, Section 26(4) of the 1998 amendments to the South African Citizenship Act determines that the Minister may exempt a person who have ceased to be a South African Citizen from having lost his/her citizenship...please follow this link to read further
Our South African affiliate office in Pretoria has two vacancies for Personal Assistants.
Ideal candidates will be professional, friendly and energetic individuals who take pride in their work. Candidates will also be highly organised individuals with the ability to handle a very busy work schedule. Excellent typing abilities and English language skills are essential to this post.
If you believe you have what it takes, please forward your CV with a cover letter to jacinda@breytenbachs.com
South African clients who want to apply for their visitor visa can contact Breytenbachs Immigration CC in South Africa for assistance. Contact them on +27 12 460 9959 or send an e-mail.
Want to live and work in the UK?
Don’t take a chance, we are specialists on top of all changes proposed by Home Office and can advise no matter what your circumstance or where in the world you are.
Follow this link to find out more about our popular online evaluation form of your circumstances.
Clients who wish to make a Will (and everyone should) can come to Breytenbach with their requirements. We will send you a Questionnaire which will give us the outline information we need. The Will, or joint Wills, are then prepared for signature and dating. We normally need to meet with those making the Wills at some point, but other arrangements can be made if necessary – for instance if the clients are in South Africa. We recommend that clients make two Wills if appropriate, one for South African assets and one for assets everywhere else.
Every Will needs to state who is to be the executor(s), and if clients so wish, the partners of Breytenbachs, either alone or along with family members, can be appointed to this duty. This might be an advantage where, for instance, they can provide continuity if perhaps an appointed executor unfortunately pre-deceases the testator.
Similarly, when a person dies, they may have assets in the UK which have to be dealt with, when their Will is proved in the Probate Court (Probate) or if no Will, then administration is applied for. We can deal with these matters also on behalf of clients, and wind up their estates according to law.
Where deceased
clients leave assets both here and in South Africa, there are international
agreements in force allowing us to deal with the UK property, and attorneys in
other countries such as South Africa, to wind up the estate there. We do in
fact, deal with quite a number of such cases, and this extends to assets left
offshore, for example in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Contact us at
any time for further advice or information.
At Breytenbachs we constantly aim to improve our services to ensure that we give our clients the best service possible.
We value and appreciate feedback on your experience of our services, as this will enable us to improve our services to you and others in 2007.
Thinking of returning to South Africa? Need help to get your non-South African spouse or partner a visa to live and work in South Africa?
Our South African affiliate office will be able to assist you! Please contact Breytenbachs Immigration CC in South Africa on +2712 460 9959 or alternatively, you can visit our online SA Immigration appraisal form. By filling out this form, we can determine whether you will qualify for a South African visa or permit and provide you with the best advice in your individual case!
Our expert South African immigration advisors are waiting to hear from you.
Kurt Darren has been the top selling artist for the last 3 years, with album sales in excess of a million. He performed in London in 2008 at the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday celebrations in Hyde Park and now returns at Afrikhaki with his first full show. The show will include his biggest hits, ‘Kaptein’, ‘Loslappie’ and ‘Standing on the Edge’.
Arno Jordaan is one of the rising stars of the Afrikaans music scene. He is a young energetic performer that will keep the crowd on their feet the whole night.
Tickets are available now from
www.ticketweb.co.uk or visit
www.afrikhaki.co.uk for more information.
19h00, 9 April 2010, The Clapham Grand, London
Email
info@afrikhaki.co.uk regarding childminding services.
ZAUK is a collaborative HUB for South Africans in the United Kingdom who specialise in creating the lifestyle we are accustomed to – after all, it’s a South African thing.
We aim to unite all South African residents in the UK by creating the facility to meet, connect, network and socialise with other South Africans through our online community (similar to Facebook), our events and our ZAUK area managers across the country. The lifestyle also includes of course ensuring we have all our favourite Saffa goodies from home delivered straight to your front door, so your Braai is never without Boerewors or your favourite South African wine or beer or any other spice, sauce, crisps, sweets and anything else you can get in SA.
The best thing about ZAUK is that being a member is free so register as a member and keep in the loop of anything that’s happening in the UK for South Africans. So if your South African and miss home and the friendship and fellowship of other link minded South Africans, visit www.zauk.co.uk and become a part of South Africa again, through ZAUK.
The Saracens vs Harlequins game will take place on Saturday, 17 April 2010 at the Wembley Stadium. There will also be a carnival with knights, jugglers, acrobats and many more. Right Said Fred will also give a performance.
Adult ticket prices are from £10 and U16s from £5. Book now at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or phone 0844 847 2482. For more information on suite hospitality contact Ed Clark on 01727 792825 or send an e-mail to edwardclark@saracnes.net
'A sleeping giant of a rugby club with strong South African ties and Premiership ambitions is making waves in England’s lower leagues.
London South Africa (LSA) was established three years ago with the vision of progressing from the canvas of the English club scene in the Surrey County Leagues to the Premiership. They gained promotion in their first year and followed that up with another promotion year, which saw them progress to London 4.' - Posted in Super 14
Follow this link for a video on the club's activities or visit their website for more details.
Breytenbachs is proud to support and legally assist the London South Africa club and wishes them all the best in its journey through the leagues of English rugby.
| Ask the Expert |
| 'I am a visitor in the UK and looking
at opening my own business. Does the UK have some kind
of visa that will enable me to realise my dream?' Read all the answers on the latest questions asked by our clients. |
| more >> |
| What our clients have to say |
| Thank you very much for all your assistance in helping me obtain a six month's extension. Not only were you diligent on my behalf, but always friendly and accessible. I was also extremely impressed with the level of customer service I received from your colleagues. Belinda Von Zweel Do you want to know whether you qualify for a UK work permit or visa? Click here! |
| Newsletter sign-up |
|
|
| © Breytenbachs. 2004 | Disclaimer | Regulated by the Law Society |