UK Visa Application

Most visitors to the UK require a visa to enter the country.

In order to enter the UK, you must apply for the visa appropriate to your circumstances and the reason for you entering the country.

The different visa UK categories are as follows:

• UK Family and Partner Visas. This includes Spouse Visas, Fiancé Visas and family dependent visas
• UK Work Visas.  Skilled Worker Visas and Temporary Worker Visas fall under this category
• Student Visas. For international adults and children who wish to study in the UK
• UK Visitor and Transit Visas.  These visas are for those visiting the UK for a short period of time. Transit Visas are for those who need to pass through British borders while in transit to another country. They include Business Visitor Visas and Student Visitor Visas.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain. Settlement applications are for those who have lawfully lived in the UK for a certain period of time.

The application process for a UK visa depends on the visa you are applying for.

Still, all applications will include the following steps:

• Completion of an application form
• A bundle of documents to support your case will need to be submitted to the Home Office (along with the application form)
• You must pay the application fee before submitting the application
• You may need to provide biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) as part of your application
• The Home Office will consider your application, taking into account whether you have provided all necessary documentation and adhered to administrative standards
• A letter will be sent to you, informing you of whether you have been successful or not
• If your application is successful, your Biometric Residence Permit should arrive within 10 days (if applicable)

Our Birmingham immigration lawyers offer a specialist application package. With this service, one of our expert immigration lawyers will work with you to formulate your immigration application to the highest of standards.

Call us now on 0121 667 6530 to find out more about our application package.

You will need to provide a bundle of documents to support your case with any UK visa application.

The specific documents you need to provide depends on the visa you are applying for and your particular circumstances. Your bundle of documents is an integral part of the application, and you must provide all the necessary documentation, and in its proper form.

You must check which documents are needed for the visa you are applying for. The purpose of the portfolio of evidence is to demonstrate that you are eligible for the visa you are applying for.

For all UK visa applications, the following documents must be provided:

• Completed application form
• Two passport-sized photographs
• Valid passport with at least one blank page
• Certified translation of any submitted document which isn’t written in English or Welsh. (This must be provided along with the original document)
• Evidence that your visa fees have been paid
• Documentation proving that you have the financial means to support yourself whilst you are in the UK

The documents which you provide to support your application must be in their original form. Photocopies will not be accepted unless there is a legitimate reason for the original documents not being available.

Also, certain documents will need to be certified to prove that they are genuine. Documents can only be certified by a professional and upstanding member of society.

The Home Office deems the following professions to be eligible:

• Ministers of Religion
• Dentists
• Doctors
• Teachers or lecturers
• Officials of a bank or other financial institution
• Chartered accountants

The person you choose must not be related to you, not in a relationship with you, not resident in the same address as you and not representing you in your application.

If any of your documents are not in English or Welsh, they must be translated by an accredited translator. You will need to include both the original documents and the translations in your bundle of documents.

You may need to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of the UK Visa application process. Whether you need to pay or not depends on the immigration status you are applying for.

If you apply for UK visa inside the country, you will need to pay a healthcare surcharge if:

• You are applying for a visa to work, study or join your family in the UK for more than six months and not applying to remain in the UK permanently

If your visa application was completed outside of the UK, you will need to pay the healthcare surcharge if:

• Your visa application is for longer than 6 months
• You’re completing an immigration application which isn’t to remain in the UK permanently

The cost of the UK’s immigration healthcare surcharge is as follows:

• £470 per year for a student and those on the Youth Mobility Scheme
• £470 per year for applicants aged 18 years and under
• £624 per year for all other visa applicants

If you are completing the application online, you will need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your British visa application form.

Those who are completing their application by post will need to pay the healthcare surcharge online before they send their application.

You will receive the same NHS services as UK citizens after you have paid the healthcare surcharge.

Bear in mind that eye tests, dentistry and prescriptions are not covered by the healthcare surcharge payment.

Residents of certain countries will need to take a tuberculosis test as part of a UK visa application. This only applies if the applicant intends to stay in the UK for longer than six months.

Those in the following groups do not need to take the tuberculosis test:

• Children under 11
• Children who have been recommended to not take the test by a paediatrician
• Returning UK citizens who have been out of the country for more than two years
• Individuals who have been resident for at least six months in a country where Tuberculosis screening is not necessary
• Pregnant women who have decided to take the test after pregnancy

Do I need to have a certain level of English to be eligible for a UK Visa?

For certain UK visa applications, you will need to prove that you possess a certain level of English. The level of English required depends on the visa you are applying for.

However, there are certain applicants who will be exempt from the English language requirements including:

• Citizens of majority English-speaking countries,
• Those who have completed a degree or higher qualification taught in English at an accredited educational establishment
• Applicants aged 65 or over
• Those with a long-term physical or mental condition

Those who don’t fall into these categories will need to prove a certain level of English with most visa applications. English language tests must be taken at an approved test provider. The test can be taken in different locations in the UK and throughout the world.

The processing time for a UK visa depends on the visa which is being applied for. For example, work visas are generally processed within three weeks, where as Family Visas can take up to 12 weeks to process.

It is important to keep in mind that if Home Office officials require additional information from you, this will delay the processing time.

Visa applications must be submitted at least 15 working days before you plan to travel to the UK.

Regardless of the visa which is being applied for, we highly recommend you to complete and submit your application no sooner than 90 days before you plan to travel to the UK.

If you would like to speed up the processing time, you can opt for the visa application priority service. This is a particularly good option if your application is time sensitive.

With the priority visa application service, your visa application will be processed within five working days at an additional cost of £500.

The super priority service is for those who need the quickest possible turnaround.

With this service, your visa application will be processed within one working day at a cost of an additional £800.

Once you’ve scheduled your appointment online, print out the confirmation email that outlines your appointment details. Be sure to bring this email along with the necessary documents to the chosen UK visa application centre.

It’s crucial to submit the required documents in their original form. Double-check that everything is in order, as even minor errors can lead to complications. Additionally, remember that the appointment should be booked in your name, not someone else’s.

Attend the UK visa interview

When you visit the UK visa application centre, you’ll be asked to provide biometric data, including a photograph and fingerprint scans. This is mandatory for all visa applicants, including children. If the applicant is under 18, they must be accompanied by an adult.

If you need a quick decision on your visa application, you can choose the Priority or Super Priority service. These options speed up the process but come with extra fees. It’s important to know that these services won’t improve your chances of approval.

With Priority service, you’ll get a decision in five working days, and with Super Priority, it’s just one working day.

For more information on Priority Application service, contact our London immigration lawyers. We have a Fast-Track Application Package for those in a hurry to apply for a visa.

While completing the visa application form is central to the process, you’ll also need to provide supporting documents to demonstrate your eligibility for the specific visa you’re seeking. Each visa type has distinct requirements, so it’s crucial to consult the guidance and document checklist for your particular visa.

Certain documents are universally required for all applications:

1. Two passport-sized photos
2. A valid passport with at least one empty page
3. A fully filled UK visa application form, signed where necessary
4. Documents verifying your financial eligibility for the chosen visa
5. Certified translations for any non-English or non-Welsh parts of your application
6. Proof of payment for visa fees
7. Biometric data, which will be collected at your nearest visa application centre and is necessary for obtaining your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

If your visa application is accepted, you will be given a visa vignette (sticker) from the Home Office which will be placed on a blank page in your passport. The visa vignette will display your visa, as well as the expiry date of that visa.

Applicants who submitted their passport with their application form and other supporting documents will have their passport returned with the visa vignette inside.

Those who haven’t completed their application in the standard way will need to collect their visa vignette from their nearest visa application centre.

With your visa vignette, you will be able to travel to the UK and enter the country. Keep in mind that you will still need to report to border officials in the UK when you arrive.

A refusal letter will be sent to you if your visa application is rejected. This letter will set out why your visa application was rejected, and whether you have the option to appeal against the decision.

As a general rule, you will have 28 days to appeal against a Home Office decision if you believe the decision they reached was unfair.

With the administrative review appeal, your application will be reviewed again by a different Home Office official. This is the best option if you believe a clear mistake was made when your original visa application was considered.

A judicial review is a separate process. With this option, your case will be heard by an independent judge who will decide whether to overturn the Home Office’s decision.

The judicial review can be lodged either on paper or in-person at a court of law in the Upper Tribunal.

It is possible to withdraw your visa application at any time.

If your application was made from outside the UK, you need to get in contact with the UKVI who will be able to provide you with information on how to withdraw the application. As long as your case has not been processed, you will receive a full refund.

If you submitted the application within the UK you can withdraw the application by filling in the contact form specifically designed for visa application withdrawals. You will not receive any refund for a withdrawn visa application if it was made from within the UK.

Visa extensions are available with many UK Visas including Family Visas, Partner Visas and Tier 1 and Tier 2 Work Visas.

Visa extension applications must be completed before the original visa is due to expire. If you remain in the UK past the expiry date of your visa you could be subject to disciplinary action, including removal from the country.

If you have lived in the UK for a certain period of time, you could be eligible for permanent status. Typically, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of living in the UK. After one year of residence under ILR, you will be able to apply for British citizenship.