Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

APPLYING FOR THE UK VISA

Do I need a visa for the UK?
Certain nationalities, known as visa nationals, need to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK. Even if you are not a visa national, you may need an entry clearance, depending on the reason for coming to the UK.

*Non-visa nationals: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and USA.

Can my friend or family member in the UK apply for my visa for me?
Visas for the UK can be issued only at UK entry clearance offices overseas. If you need a visa, you must get it before you travel to the UK.

Can somebody else apply for a visa for me?
No, you need to come yourself in order to give your biometric data and you must also sign the application form personally to show that the information given on it is true and accurate. Giving false or misleading information, or failing to give important relevant information on an entry clearance application form, or to an entry clearance officer, can be reason for an application to be refused.

What if I don't understand English?
There will always be staff available at the UK Visa application centre to assist you with language.

Can I come to live permanently in the UK?
If you are not a British or European Economic Area (EEA) national and you wish to settle permanently in the UK, you must qualify under the Immigration Rules and must obtain an entry clearance before you travel to the UK. For more information, see our guidance notes.

Can my children accompany me to, or join me in the UK?
The rules concerning children are quite complicated, but in many cases, they may be permitted to join you. They may require entry clearances before travelling to the UK. See the Family Members guidance note for more information.

Can I study in the UK?
The UK welcomes overseas nationals who wish to study in the UK.
For more information on how to apply for a visa to study in the UK, see the Students guidance note for more general information on studying in the UK. The British Council website also gives advice and guidance.

If I am planning to visit the UK or study for less than 6 months do I need a Residency Permit?
Non-visa nationals planning to visit or study in the UK for less than 6 months do not need prior permission before travelling. Traveller may enter the UK and present their documents to the Immigration Officer as is present practice.

If you do not need an entry clearance when you arrive in the UK, you will have to satisfy the Immigration Officer that you qualify for entry. They will then give you permission to stay in the UK for six months. You will not be allowed to extend your stay in the UK as a student unless you arrived with a student or prospective student visa, or are studying on a course at degree level or higher.

What do I need to show the Immigration Officer if I am studying for less than six months?
It is recommended that non-visa nationals planning to study for less than 6 months present the following documents to the Immigration Officer upon entering the UK:

• School letter confirming their intended studies and the fee paid to date
  
• Evidence of finances i.e. bank statement, cash, etc.
  
• Evidence of accommodation arrangements (if available)
  
• Return air ticket or enough money to be able to purchase a return ticket.

If I enter the UK as a visitor can I change to a student?
No. You can only apply to extend your stay in the UK as a student if you originally entered the UK with a student visa. If you are in the UK as a visitor and you want to study for longer than your current approved visitor stay, you must return to your home country to obtain the correct student Entry Clearance.

Can I work in the UK?
Visitors are not allowed to work in the UK. The majority of people coming to the UK to work require a work permit. The Work Permits web pages have full information. Some students may take employment, but with restrictions. There are also a number of other immigration categories that allow people to take employment in the UK, such as the Working Holidaymakers, Au Pairs, seasonal agricultural workers and other forms of permit free employment. See our guidance notes for more details.

If I have a work permit do my dependants and I need a visa?
From the 13th November 2003, it is mandatory for all work permit holders staying 6 months or more to have a mandatory Entry Clearance before arriving in the UK. This is applicable to all nationals. Entry Clearance for dependants is mandatory regardless of the duration of their stay or nationality.

What is the acceptable maximum amount for finance documentation that is required for UKRP?
There is no minimum or maximum amount you must be able to show that you or your sponsor has the ability to meet the full costs of your stay in the UK.

How long will my visa be valid for?
The period for which your visa is valid is always shown on the entry clearance placed in your travel document. A standard visit visa is usually valid for six months, but we also issue visit visas that are valid for 1, 2 or 5 years. All visit visas can be used for an unlimited number of entries to the UK. You may stay a maximum of 6 months on each visit, or to the expiry date of the visa, whichever is shorter. If you are coming for another reason, the validity of the visa and how long you may stay is dependent on the reason.

The entry clearance will show the date from which it is valid. This is usually the date that it is issued. However, if you do not plan to travel immediately, you can ask for the start date to be deferred by up to three months. You must tell the entry clearance officer this when you make your application.

How much does a UK visa cost?
Go to Fees for an up-to-date list. Fees are payable at the visa office to which you will apply, usually in local currency. A fee is charged to pay for the cost of processing your application and for that reason it is not refundable. For up-to-date information on fees in the local currency, please contact the UK Overseas Mission where you intend to apply.

How long does it take to get a UK visa?
We aim to operate a fast and effective entry clearance service. If an Entry Clearance Officer is satisfied of your application with documents you submitted, your visa will be authorized, once it is authorized you will receive the passport with the visa by DHL within 3 - 4 days (please note that the time period depends on the company workload). If an in-depth interview is required, we aim to process non-settlement applications within 10 working days, but please be aware that during peak periods, dealing with increased volumes of visa applications, it can take longer.

If you are applying to settle in the UK, in most cases we are able to process your application within 13 weeks, however this may vary depending on where you are applying.

Why do I have to wait for an interview date?
When an entry clearance officer cannot make a decision about issuing you a visa immediately, you may be asked to attend for an interview. Though we aim to do this within 10 days, this may take longer, depending on where and when you apply. Always try to make your application well in advance of your intended travel date.

I have just married my partner in the UK. Can they apply to the Home Office for an extension as a Spouse?
Only if your partner holds a valid Fiancé (e) visa can they apply to the Home Office for an Extension. If they are currently in the UK as a visitor, student or any other short-term stay they cannot change immigration status and will have to return to their home country. If in doubt please check first before applying.

I have already purchased a plane ticket. Can I have my visa before the travel date?
You are advised not to buy a ticket due to delay or refusal of your application would result in financial loss. THE EMBASSY CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH LOSSES.

Visa and Immigration Problems

What happens if you refuse my visa?

If we refuse your visa, you will get a written notice explaining why. To ensure that we have made a fair decision, in accordance with the Immigration Rules, an Entry Clearance Manager reviews every refusal without a right of appeal within 24 hours. For some types of application, there is a right of appeal if we refuse your visa. If there is a right of appeal the Entry Clearance Officers will tell you at the time they refuse you and give you three documents:

• the Notice of Refusal (this tells you why the Entry Clearance Officer has refused your visa)
  
• the Notice of Appeal (you must fill this in and return it to the Entry Clearance Officer to explain why you think they were wrong to refuse your visa); and
  
• a leaflet explaining the appeal process
  

If we refused you a visa before, you can make another application at any time, but if the reasons for your refusal still apply, you can be refused again.

How long will my appeal take?

• Family visit appeal - there are two types of appeal hearings, oral or paper. Our aim is to process family visit appeals as quickly as possible. Paper hearings, generally, are dealt with more quickly than oral hearings, but neither should take more than a few weeks, once the papers have been received by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) which handles the appeals process. Unfortunately, it is not possible to give guarantees on how long an appeal will take and this information is given for guidance only.
• Other appeals - It is not possible to give time-scales for other appeals. It is unlikely that the appeal will be listed for a hearing for some considerable time, possibly up to one year.

What if I have been refused a visa for, or entry to the United Kingdom before?

If we have refused you a visa, or entry to the United Kingdom before, it does not necessarily mean that you will not be allowed to enter the UK again, but it is very important that you tell the entry clearance officer of this.

If you are not a visa national, depending on the reason you wish to go to the UK, it may be better if you apply for a visa before you travel. The entry clearance officer will then be able to decide whether you qualify for entry before you travel. Note that if you would not normally need a visa, you will not be prevented from travelling to the UK, but you may have problems when you arrive.

What if I have been refused a visa for or entry to another country?

Each visa application for the UK is dealt with on its own merits, but an entry clearance officer may want to know why another country refused you a visa or entry.

After I Get My Visa

Does the visa guarantee my entry to the UK?
No, but if you have a valid UK visa, we will not normally refuse you entry to the UK unless

• your circumstances have changed;
• you gave false information; or
• you did not tell us important facts when you applied for your visa.

When you arrive in the UK, an Immigration Officer may question you, so take all relevant documents in your hand luggage.

What is the latest date I can arrive in the UK with my visa?
The expiry date will be shown on the visa, but remember that this is also the last day on which you are permitted to stay in the UK.

How long can I stay?
The last day on which you may enter or be in the UK is the expiry date on the visa. For visitors, this is normally a maximum of 6 months.

Can I use the visa to enter the UK more than one time?
UK visas are usually valid for multiple entries to the UK, until the expiry date shown on the visa.

If my travel plans are delayed, can the validity of my visa be changed?
No, except where there are compelling compassionate circumstances. At the discretion of an entry clearance officer, the expiry date of a visa can be extended for up to 3 months, provided there has been no change in your circumstances. Otherwise you should apply for another visa.

What if my reason for going to the UK changes?
A visa is normally issued for a specific purpose. If your reason for going to the UK changes, you should inform the visa office, preferably the one that issued your visa. You may be asked to make another visa application.

Do I need to bring any documents with me?
On arrival, an immigration officer may ask you to show evidence of your reasons for coming to the UK. This may include travel tickets, evidence of funding, letters from your sponsor or businesses you are visiting, or school you will study at. You should bring copies of the documents that you showed to the entry clearance officer, in your hand luggage.

Can I extend my stay in the UK?
If you are a visa national coming for a short visit to the UK, you are not allowed to extend your stay or change from being a visitor to another category. If you are coming to the UK for another reason, you may be allowed to extend your stay. You should contact the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for more information.

The United Kingdom and Europe

Can I get a visa for another European Union or European Economic Area country from a UK visa office?
No. You should contact the embassy or consulate for the country that you want to visit.

I have a Schengen visa. Can I use it for the United Kingdom?
No. The UK is not part of the Schengen group of countries and if you need a visa for the UK, you must apply for one at a British visa office before you travel to the UK. Use our Do I Need a Visa? Questionnaire to find out if you need a visa.

I am an EU/EEA national. My family member is a visa national. Do they need a visa to visit the UK?
Your family member will need to get an EEA Family Permit from a UK visa office overseas before they travel to the UK. You must either travel to the UK together, or your family must be joining you in the UK. Family permits are issued free of charge.

Terms and Abbreviations

EU

European Union. The EU countries are:

Austria Greece Netherlands Belgium Hungary Poland Cyprus Ireland Portugal Czech Republic Italy Slovakia Denmark Latvia Slovenia Estonia Lithuania Spain Finland Luxembourg Sweden France Malta United Kingdom Germany

EEA
European Economic Area (the EU countries, plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein)

Entry Clearance
A visa or entry clearance certificate

Entry Clearance Officer
An officer based in a UK mission overseas who issues entry clearances

Schengen Area
The group of EU countries that do not have border/immigration controls between them. The UK is not part of the Schengen Area.

UK
United Kingdom

UK Mission/Post
A UK embassy, high commission or consulate overseas