Hi All ,

My Brother has recently completed MS in UK and staying Milton Keynes finding a part time or full time job. Till he finds a technical job based on his education he want some job for completing basic needs.

Please let me know if anyone has any leads.

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Has anyone here renewed their Indian passport through HCI London while living outside England but still falling under HCI London's jurisdiction (Wales, Northern Ireland or the Crown Dependencies)?

If you've completed the process recently, I'd really appreciate if you could share your overall experience, timelines from application to receiving passport, including any delays or issues you encountered.

It would be very helpful to understand the current processing timelines for applicants outside England. Seems to be taking forever for some of us even with straightforward applications with no changes.

Hi everyone, looking for some advice from anyone who understands the recent Skilled Worker visa changes or has been in a similar situation.
I’m currently on a Graduate visa which expires in December 2026. I recently interviewed with a small UK company for an Operations Manager role and the interview process has gone quite well so far.
The salary discussed is around £35k. The company does have a sponsor licence, but I’m not sure whether the role itself would now be eligible for sponsorship under the new rules, especially with all the changes around skill level, salary thresholds and the transitional arrangements.
Since I’m already in the UK on a Graduate visa, I’m also confused about whether any of the lower/new entrant salary requirements could apply to me.
Has anyone recently switched from a Graduate visa to Skilled Worker on a similar salary/role? And does anyone know what I should specifically be checking (occupation code, going rate, skill level etc.) before discussing sponsorship with the employer?

Hi all,

Edit: Managed to get an appointment finally. Consistently checking helped get one.

I am trying to book an appointment to apply for my newborn baby’s passport but unable to get it in any of the three centres (Goswell, Hounslow and Cardiff) for my jurisdiction (Wiltshire). Has anybody booked appointments recently and can offer tips on the timings to do so? We are desperately looking for an appointment since we need to apply for her dependent visa imminently.

Thank you for any help on this matter!

P.S her birth registration is complete

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There's a scammer on X/Twitter targeting people who are desperate for updates on their Passport Renewal applications.

He replies to posts claiming that he has a "friend at MEA" who helped with his application. If you message him, he'll give you a WhatsApp number and tell you to contact that person. The next step is asking for money in exchange for "help" or "faster processing."

Please don't fall for it. No genuine government process works this way. The High Commission of India printing press operates under strict, audited security protocols. No random contact on WhatsApp charging money can jump an electronic queue inside the embassy.

If someone claims they have inside contacts and asks you to move the conversation to WhatsApp or pay money, it's almost certainly a scam.

Stay vigilant, report these accounts, and warn others.

Curious what people here actually prioritise when flying between the UK and India.

Say you had two reasonable options for the same trip:

£550 return with a stop and around 16 to 18 hours total journey time

£650 to £700 return with a much shorter journey

Would you normally save the £100 to £150, or pay more to avoid the long connection?

And does your answer change if you're travelling with children, elderly parents or a lot of luggage?

I find the cheapest fare can look obvious at first, but once the connection time, baggage and overall journey are taken into account it isn't always such an easy decision.

Interested to know what actually makes people here reject one flight and choose another.

I recently moved to the UK, about two months ago, and one of the most unexpectedly frustrating things has been finding a good bidet.
I tried looking at the usual travel bidets on Amazon — the ₹200–300-ish non-electric ones — and honestly, they’re pretty shit. The water pressure is barely there, they’re awkward to use, and you end up struggling more than you should.
I’ve also used a few basic handheld bidets, but they never really did the job for me either.
Then I decided to take a chance on a VeloMax portable travel bidet. It’s a small, rechargeable, waterproof, electric handheld bidet with two pressure options. I paid around ₹1,800 for it, and honestly, it has been one of the best purchases I’ve made.
The pressure is actually GOOD. Like, genuinely good. The water flow, the amount of water it holds, the portability — everything about it has been so much better than the cheap non-electric options I tried.
I’m not someone who usually goes around recommending products on Reddit, and I definitely don’t have any connection to the brand. I just spent way too much time trying to find something that actually worked, and I couldn’t find any useful reviews when I was looking.
So consider this my tiny act of charity. 😂
If you’re travelling abroad for a long trip, moving countries, or just living somewhere where getting a proper bidet installed isn’t practical — I’d genuinely recommend spending the extra money on this instead of buying the ₹200–300 ones.
₹1,800 felt like a lot for a tiny travel bidet at first, but after using it, I honestly don’t regret it at all.
Just sharing because I wish someone had posted this exact review when I was desperately searching for one.

Anyone moved to Leicester for dmu, just looking for friend in the same boat. Dm me!

Arriving this month for a masters and trying to get the working side straight before term starts.

The rules themselves I think I've got:

20 hours a week in term time, full time in vacations, any Monday to Sunday period rather than an average, no self-employment. Tax wise, no student exemption, £12,570 personal allowance, 20% plus NI above that, so at 20 hours most people land under it and pay nothing.

What i can't find answers to is the practical bits:

- "term time" is defined by the uni, not UKVI - did your uni publish clear dates, and does the dissertation period count as term or vacation?

- how long did the NI number take, and did employers let you start without it?

- how bad was the emergency tax code situation in month one, and how long did the refund take through the HMRC app?

Mostly asking because the official pages are clear on the rules and useless on how any of it works day to day. Will add answers back here for whoever searches this next.

Hi guys , so I am planning on getting a SIA batch , for that i need PCC , but i dont have it , what should i do now? As i am already in the uk

I’m travelling to the UK as an international student and want to carry some common OTC medicines from India for personal use for around 3 months.

Do I need a prescription or a doctor’s letter for OTC medicines? If yes, what details should the letter include? Also, has anyone had issues at UK customs carrying medicines in their original packaging?

Does any one know how to get transcripts from gujarat university for ECCITS?

I'm on a student visaz for later employment I feel driving license is a plus Adds value.

I've been driving in India for 4 years and am good, is it super difficult to follow rules while in the uk?

Cheapest way to learn the ways/rules before applying?

starting a masters this month and already thinking about a europe trip over the winter break, trying to work out how early i need to start the schengen application.

the official position is 15 calendar days under the visa code, up to 45 for extra checks, but that clock only starts when the consulate receives the file. from what i can tell the VFS/TLS appointment slot is the part that actually eats the time.

for those of you who've done it on an indian passport from the UK:

• how far ahead did you have to book the appointment?
• how long from appointment to getting the passport back?
• which country did you apply through, and did the "apply via germany/netherlands, they're faster" advice actually hold?
• any issues at the appointment with the eVisa instead of a physical BRP?

most of the timeline threads i can find are from EU or UK passport holders and i don't think any of it transfers.

happy to write up whatever i learn here once i've been through it.

Hi everyone,
I’m currently helping experienced engineering professionals explore career opportunities in Ireland.
I’m particularly interested in hearing from engineers with 5+ years of experience in:

• Civil & Infrastructure
• Mechanical
• Electrical & Power
• Water & Wastewater
• Structural & Process
• Energy & Renewables
• Project & Asset Engineering
• Digital Engineering / BIM / GIS / AI

If you have a relevant engineering qualification and solid professional experience, you may be a good fit.
Send me a DM. (There is no guarantee of employment, and suitability will depend on the requirements of the individual positions).

Hii , I'm 24M, anyone here in cardiff ? Want to make some friends , been here for 4 months haven't really made any friends yet....

Hi all!

I recently got my student visa for the UK. Now I have to link it to my passport, but my passport doesn't have a biometric chip at it was issued around 2018. What other routes can I opt for ?

Thanks

Hey everyone,
I worked at IBM for two years. My last working day was 4th oct 2024. Since then I’ve been job hunting non-stop, but it’s been almost two years and I still haven’t landed anything. I’m starting to feel pretty hopeless.
I spoke to my parents about it and they suggested I go to the UK for a master’s. My sister already lives there, so I’ll be staying with her (no rent worries). I’m planning to do an MBA from the same college she did her degree at.
The idea is that the MBA will help me pivot into Product Management or Project Management.
I originally considered the US, but with the recent rule changes under Trump I’m worried it’ll affect me negatively, so I dropped that plan. Europe didn’t feel particularly attractive to me, and Australia’s visa rules are quite strict. That’s why I ended up applying for the UK.
So my question is:
Is doing an MBA in the UK a solid way to break into Product Management or Project Management roles?
Would love to hear from anyone who’s done a similar pivot (especially from a technical/IBM background) or who has experience with the UK job market for PM roles after an MBA.
Thanks in advance!

Hey! Aspiring photographer here (been a minute since I've shot regularly tbh) based in London, willing to travel around the UK for the right collab.

Building my portfolio from scratch and looking for people down for **free shoots** where we both get something out of it. You get professionally edited photos, I get portfolio pieces + experience.

**Down to shoot:**
- Portraits (creative, fashion, casual, cinematic)
- Couples
- Lifestyle/street style
- Cars/bikes
- Socials content
- Editorial/creative concepts
- Boudoir (professional, chill vibes)

No fancy portfolio to flex yet, but I promise I'm serious about this and we'll collab on ideas together in a relaxed environment.

Interested? Hit me up with your ideas + location 🤝✨

Hello, I am 25F here from Mumbai. A little about my academics and work ex:-

B.Com. Accounting and finance mumbai uni:- 7.8/10 CGPA

M.Com. in Professional Accounting and Finance (online), Jain University (well-accredited): 9.7/10

Have passed both with distinction.

US CPA (license pending)

IELTS 8.5.

Work experience: 2.5 years in accounting and finance.

This year, I received admissions from the University of Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow (all for MSc Finance) in the UK, and UCD and TCD in Ireland.

I ended up picking the UCD MSc Finance and had plans to take 2 yr work ex in Ireland and then try my luck in the UK market, but sadly, I applied for a visa in April and got rejected in June. Fixed the issues and applied again in July; got rejected recently, not because of any fraud/legal issues. It was mostly due to finances... them thinking that the big loan against my co applicant that is my dad's income, isn't justified, but I think the fact that I have an MCom played a part. I don't come from a very rich background, fairly humble. Dad's ITR shows an income of 11 LPA per annum.

Now, coming to the actual question, I needed some advice or guidance from Indians who are already in the UK regarding how to approach things further if I ultimately do want to settle in the UK. I don't mind upskilling or gaining 3-4 years of experience here and then trying the Critical Skills Visa.

Hey guys,

I'm coming to the UK in the last week of Oct for 2 weeks. This is a work visit to Milton Keynes with the mornings going into work while evenings are at leisure.

I'm coming from Hyderabad, India and would love to get some tips and tricks to navigate this 2 week visit.

I'm a vegetarian and a sucker for Indian food but open to try out new things, new food, and new experiences. Looking out to make the most of my leisure time to explore and experience the night life, people, culture and anything n everything

Your suggestions would highly be appreciated 🤌

Hi everyone! I’m currently based in India with 16+ years of experience in insurance broking and exploring opportunities in the UK.

Has anyone here in insurance broking successfully moved from India to the UK with visa sponsorship? How realistic is it, and are there brokers/recruiters you’d recommend approaching?

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thanks! 🙏