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Obtaining a visa for the United Kingdom
The UK Border Agency is the organisation responsible for admitting or denying access to travellers from abroad, through the issuing of visas for both work and study within the country. The visa entitles the holder to visit or move to the UK, through the process of ‘entry clearance’. Within the process, there are four distinct categories of entry clearance which can be applied for when you are looking to enter the country:
- Visas for nationals of countries beyond the remit of the European Econimic Area (EEA)
- An entry certificate which is allocated to people who are non-visa nationals
- A family permit for individuals who have family members that are EEA nationals
- An exempt vignette for professionals such as diplomats, who fall beyond the jurisdiction of the 1971 UK Immigration Act
Although the UK does not have dedicated resources in each country where you can apply for the document, there are a number of global visa centres where individuals can submit applications and provide biometric information for the acquisition of your document. These centres are run by commercial partners, and individuals can collect their documents from the centres once the application process has been completed.
From there, British mission staff evaluate applications and make a decision whether to provide or deny a visa to the applicant. Occasionally, further documentation may be required before a visa is issued to an individual or family. Everyone wishing to travel to the UK who needs a visa must apply and collect it before they attempt entry to the country.
Applying for an agency to complete your application form on your behalf
While it is standard practice for many travellers to the country to engage the services of a visa agency, to complete the application process on their behalf, all documents need to be signed by the individual applicant before it can be submitted. In the event that your circumstances change while you are travelling or studying within the UK, you are obliged to inform the Home Office about the change prior to leaving the country. If your visa access is curtailed for some reason, you will be asked to apply again when you are overseas.
All visa applications are only available in the English language, and need to be completed in English or be accompanied by certified translation. Documents can be submitted in your local language, as long as they are accompanied by a summary in English.
Applying for a long-term visa for visiting the UK
Visas can be issued for people wishing to stay in the UK for up to ten years, providing the applicant’s details fulfill all the clearance criteria for entry. However, if your application is denied for some reason, you are not permitted to a refund on your administration charges for the application. In some cases, you may be offered a visa which is for a shorter time period than that which you originally applied for. Many visitors to the country choose to apply for a short-term visa in the first instance, before choosing to extend their stay for longer periods.
For long-term applications, individuals will need to demonstrate that they have a valid reason for remaining within the country, and show that their personal circumstances will not change during the duration of their stay. It’s also important that an individual is able to support themselves financially, and show proof that they will be leaving the country when their visa access comes to an end.
Supplying biometric information for the visa application process
Every individual who applies for a UK visa needs to supply the Border Agency with a set of biometric data. This includes ten-digit electronic finger scans and a digital photograph of the applicant. This information is taken at your local visa application centre and accompanies your application form. The only exception to this rule applies to people who are exempt for diplomatic reasons, or children under the age of five years old.
Undergoing the visa interview process
In some circumstances, a visa officer may need further information from you before making a decision to allocate or deny your document. In these cases, you may be asked to attend an interview in order for your application to be assessed in more detail. This is usually done within fifteen days of your application being submitted.
