Anyone who wants to pay a short visit to visit UK for, Great Views and Terrific Scenery, Urban Adventures, World Class Festivals and Events, to seek business opportunities, and many more attractions, must apply for a UK visitor visa.
Basic Requirements
- Applicants should have enough funds to support the stay in the nation without having to work or seek help from the public funds. At the end of your visit, applicants shall leave the geographical boundaries of the UK.
- Any other costs associated with your visit, including your return or journey onwards you should be able to pay for it.
- In the UK, you shall conduct business activities that are only allowed by the Visitor Rules.
Extended stay
All the visitors can only stay for a period of six months in the United Kingdom, whether for social, business or study related reasons. However, you can file an application for extension for up to six months in total, if you have been granted a visitor permit for less than six months. Applicants from certain nationalities have the liberty of applying for different visa types to extend their trip in the UK.
There are cases and many other situations, wherein individuals may be able to stay for longer:-
- At the end of your visit, you shall leave the geographical boundaries of the UK. You need to pay a visit the nation on a regular basis over a longer period of time to prove that you have applied (and paid an extra fee) for a long-term visit visa.
- If applicants are coming to the nation for a private medical treatment – up to a period of 11 months.
- If you are an academic on sabbatical and visiting the nation for research work – you, your civil partner or spouse may also be able to stay in the UK for up to a period of 12 months.
You must prove the following points, if you are applying for a long-term UK visitor visa:-
- You should have an ongoing and frequent need to visit the UK,
- While your visitor visa stands valid, the reason behind your consistent visit to the UK is unlikely to change,
- And if you plan to leave the nation at the end of each visit.
Application Requirements
In order to make an application for a UK Visitor Visa, you will need following :-
- Two recent passport sized photocopies, 45 mm x 35 mm in size with a white background
- Pay the visa fee (generally non-refundable in nature). The fee is usually required to be paid in the local currency of the country where the application shall be filed
- A duly completed VAF1- Non-settlement application form
Processing Times
UK visitor visa can be applied by an individual for up to three months prior to the intended date of travel. Some visas may take longer than usual to process. In general, a decision on the visa application is given within three weeks. In case the application is incomplete, these situations may arise that the supporting documents submitted are incomplete or irrelevant, or the information furnished is false.
