For those who are granted "leave to enter" the UK it is possible to apply for permanent resdency after two years, subject to all the checks and balances.

Wonderful, isn't it?

Despite being a crowded island nation, we still welcome immigrants. Unlike China where we have to work to get a work visa, business visas are limited, and green cards are nigh on impossible to come by. Yeah, you can get a 5 year D visa if you got a chinese wife...but you can't work or do business on that!!!

An american guy I knew, got raided for running a training centre in his wifes shop. He pleaded to the cops, how am I supposed to support my wife and her son, if I can't work, LOL!