UK Visa & Immigration Blog » Visa Tips

Visa Application Tips

UK-Visa — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:30:54 +0000

This section is designed to help you avoid unnecessary delays in processing your visa application. The following principles of form filling and visa planning will be of great value to all.

The Passport

	Will your passport have sufficient validity for the country or countries you are visiting, considering the date and duration of travel? (If you are not sure check against the visa search facility at MyVisaAdviser)
	What condition is your passport in? If the film over the biographical (photo and details) page of the passport is separated you may need to replace your passport.
	Before obtaining a visa, your passport must have 1 and sometimes 2 completely clear visa pages in your passport.
	The UK passport application must be completed in BLACK ink and signed within the box provided.
	Passport photos must be on a white background.

‘Know Before You Go’ is an awareness campaign aimed at encouraging British travelers to prepare better before going overseas.

We recommend you check the travel advice on the Foreign Office website before travel, and if on an extended trip also while abroad.

The Visa

	Most visa application forms can be downloaded and printed from this site. US embassy visa forms must be completed online and then printed and signed.
	Visa Applications forms should always be completed in BLACK ink and capital letters a few embassies will accept a form completed in blue ink but most will not.
	All application forms must be signed………use Black Ink.
	All questions on an application form must be completed. If a question does not apply to you put a dash – in the box or write N/A for not applicable. Some embassies will reject an application if some answers to questions are left blank.
	If you are a foreign national with more than one passport applying for a visa in the UK, you must submit with your application the passport that has your LEAVE TO REMAIN IN THE UK stamped inside it

Student Visa Guidance

UK-Visa — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:23:27 +0000

This guidance explains what you will need to do if you want to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) to study, and what the Immigration Rules say. It is only a guide but it aims to answer some common questions.
If you applied for a Student visa on or before 30 March 2009 and now wish your dependants to join you in the UK, please read the following guidance.

Please note that from 31st March 2009, students intending to study in the UK will have to apply for their visa under Tier 4 of new points-based system and their dependants will have to apply as PBS dependants. Advice on how to apply is in our INF29 – Tier 4 General and Child Student guidance. However, if you are coming to the UK for less than 6 months and do not intend to work or extend your stay, you may also enter as a Student Visitor. Please see our INF 2 – Visitors for details.

Please see the attached flowcharts for further information:

Flowchart for entry clearance categories for students over 18
Flowchart for entry clearance categories for students under 18

Family Visit Visa Tips

UK-Visa — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:05:52 +0000

Do I need a visa to visit the UK?

You will need a visa to visit the UK if any of the following apply to you:

you are a national of one of the countries listed in the visa and transit visa nationals page on this website;
you are applying to visit the UK in order to get married;
you are applying as an Academic Visitor and intend to stay in the UK for more than 6 months;
you are applying as a parent of a child at school and intend to stay in the UK for more than 6 months;
you are applying as a Prospective Student;
you are stateless (you do not have a nationality);
you hold a non-national travel document (a travel document which does not give you the nationality of the country that issued it), or
you hold a passport issued by an authority that is not recognised in the UK.