Business Travel Tips We want to make traveling easier!

How To Get A UK Visitors Visa

Getting a UK visitor's visa to the UK is a frightening task. It is probably more difficult from some countries than others. So some peoples will have a harder time than others. However, this is not official government policy. You must not take this personally - it is a reflection of British public opinion. Please remember this when you are liaising about obtaining a UK visitor's visa with the embassy staff, who are only following government guidelines.

You should take note here that a UK visitor's visa is usable for six months and not only that but the recipient can enter and leave the UK as often as he/she wants within those six months. However, in practice, for the first UK visitor's visa at least, restrictions may be imposed. For example, if you state that you want to go for six weeks, a note may be pinned into the passport advising customs of the 6 week restriction. You must also 'promise' not to try to stay longer than that!

The UK visitor's visa also precludes you from access to public funds " social security, unemployment benefit, et cetera. Most people are refused a UK visitor's visa the first time because they do not have a strong enough, valid reason for going to Britain. If the reason is to visit a lover, then you have a far better chance if you can prove that you have had a continuing relationship for at least six months. At this stage of the proceedings, all your efforts should be directed at validating the reason for your visit or proving your relationship.

I will concentrate on providing evidence of a continuing relationship. Most applicants from poorer countries will need a sponsor. This is usually an employer or a lover. Obviously, immigration stamps in a passport can prove how long it is possible that a couple could have known each other, but you will need more evidence than that. A letter from a friend, employer or relative stating when you met can help. However, you should keep all correspondence, telephone bills, bank statements (recordings of ATM transactions), restaurant receipts, theatre tickets, train and bus tickets, even menus and photos. In fact, anything that can help establish that you are having the relationship that you claim you are having and that you have had it for at least six months.

Now is the time to get the 'Visa Application Form' or VAF from the embassy or its website. Their websites are very helpful and will inform you what you should enclose with the application for a UK visitor's visa. However, a bare minimum would be: passport(s), VAF, fee, photos, sponsor's letter and supporting proof and 'evidence of a log-lasting, continuous relationship' ie of at least six months standing.

Therefore, it is necessary to realize that the sponsor plays a critical role if you want to make your first application for a UK visitor's visa a successful one. He/she must be prepared to cover your financial requirements during your stay in the United Kingdom and he/she must prove it with a letter and bank statements.

From this you can see that the sponsor plays the most important of roles in successfully applying for a UK visitor's visa, for he/she will have to prove that he/she can support you. To do this your sponsor will need a letter from his/her employer and a copy of bank statements to prove sufficient funds and a letter from the mortgage provider or council to show that you will have somewhere to stay. Marital status does not enter into the equation, but sometimes apparently weird reasons are given for refusal of a UK visitor's visa.

"Mr. / Mrs. Miss Applicant for a UK visitor's visa has not previously used a passport" - easy, just go over the nearest border.

"the person applying for a UK visitor's visa does not seem to have strong socio-economic ties to his/her country of origin" or, in other words, they don't trust you to return to your country. A letter from your boss, doctor, solicitor or village elder; proof of children or living parents; proof of property are all useful.

Approach the application for a UK visitor's visa with caution; do not rush. It is better to get it right first time. Think about why you want to go to Great Britain; determine a 'good reason' and remember it - you will probably be asked. Be a solicitor for a day and support everything you say with irrefutable, written evidence.

Run through applicant's story until he/she has it well-rehearsed (they will not want to see the sponsor and sometimes, he/she is not even allowed to wait on the embassy compound). The applicant for a UK visitor's visa will be required to attend an interview the first time and this can be held in English or the applicant's native tongue. The UK visitor's visa will normally be available for collection the next day.

Warning: get a longer permit to stay than you need, because the UK visitor's visa is valid from the day it is issued, but you probably don't have a flight booked yet. You can be delayed getting there and coming back too. The rest of the 180-day multiple entry UK visitor's visa may have to be cancelled on your return to help deter you from returning on that visa. If you have to do this, don't return on a Friday because the embassy is closed on the weekend.

And lastly a warning: don't be tempted to lie - its not worth it. You will be caught out!

Do you want a UK visa? Then you won't want to miss our priceless free information on getting a UK visitor's visa!