The UK nevertheless remains a great power with leading economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence. It is a recognized nuclear weapons state while its military expenditure ranks third or fourth in the world, depending on the method of calculation. It is a Member State of the European Union, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, G8, G20, NATO, OECD and the World Trade Organization.

The UK is one of the world's most globalised countries. London is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York, has the largest city GDP in Europe and is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies. The aerospace industry of the UK is the second- or third-largest aerospace industry in the world, depending upon the method of measurement.

The economy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain includes the economies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Isles are part of the British Isles and have offshore banking status.

The UK has a population of 61m and a GDP per capita is US$37.4k, which makes it the 30th richest country in the world, above the European Union average of US$33.8k.

UK GDP by industrial sector:

• Services Sector - 76.2 per cent of UK GDP
• Industry & Manufacturing - 22.8 per cent of UK GDP
• Agriculture - 0.9 per cent of UK GDP

The U.K. economy has grown 2.8% since the end of the recession; the UK economy has recovered twice as fast as expected so far. The UK is currently ranked fourth in the world (and first in Europe) in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index .

The main language spoken in Britain is English, although several other languages are spoken too. Over 250 languages are spoken in London, making the capital the most linguistically diverse city in the world.

More than 10% of primary children and 9% of secondary pupils do not have English as their first language.

Britain's currency is based on the pound sterling (£) which is divided into one hundred pence (100p). The coin denominations are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. The most common bank notes are £5, £10 and £20, though they do go higher. The cost of living varies from one part of the UK to another. Generally it is more expensive to live in London and the south-east of England, and cheaper up north.

The British are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. They are famous for their politeness, self-discipline and especially for their sense of humour. British people have a strong sense of humour which sometimes can be hard for foreigners to understand.

Britain is a country of mixed cultures. London has the largest non-white population of any European city and over 250 languages are spoken there.

There is a pass mark for each category which has to be met at the time of a new application or at the time of renewal of the visa. Points are earned for the following:

• Age
• Qualifications,
• Previous Earnings
• UK Experience
• 10 points are granted for those competent with the English language
• 10 points are granted for funds that are required for the individual to support himself and his family while in the UK. The figure is specified for each category.

Those applying under any tier except tier 1 & Tier 5 Youth Mobility will need to be sponsored in order for their application to be successful. Sponsors are usually UK organizations / employers / Colleges & Universities (in case of students)

Click Here to read more about the Tier visas

Tier 1 HSW Visa – It is a point- based visa that allows an applicant to work or do business in the UK. Applicants do not need to have a job offer, but must demonstrate that they are highly skilled/of exceptional talent/entrepreneurs, have money to support and can speak English.

UK Border Agency closes Tier 1 applications for overseas applicants from the 23rd December 2010. Tier 1 (General) UK Visa applications made from overseas will no longer be accepted.

Tier 1 (General) applications made in the UK will remain open until 5 April 2011, when the Tier 1 (General) will be closed permanently. Click here to read more

A permanent cap has been introduced that will drastically reduce the number of skilled visas made and the Tier1 (General) visas will be scrapped from April 2011. To read more please click here.

Tier 2 Visa – The Tier 2 is for qualified professionals to come to the UK with a skilled job offer to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker. A total of 70 points must be scored across various criteria. To read more about your eligibility please click here.

Tier 4 Visa – A points-based system was also introduced for international students wanting to study in the UK. Students have to be sponsored by a university or other qualified UK educational institution and are also required to score points. To read more about your eligibility please click here.

Tier 5 Visa – The Tier 5 is a points-based system that allows temporary workers and 18-30 year olds to travel to the UK and undertake short-term temporary employment To read more about your eligibility please click here.

Post Study Work Visa – It is a 2 year visa that allows international students who studied in the UK to stay back & work anywhere in the UK without the need for sponsorship. To read more about your eligibility please click here.