An enormous variety of people travel to the UK each year for a variety of reasons, including business, education, and sightseeing. The people of the rest of the world are likely to require a visa in order to be allowed entry into the United Kingdom, even though citizens of many Western countries—especially those in Europe—are exempt from the requirement.If you have a valid UK visa, you can enter the nation by land, sea, or air. Having a visa indicates that you have met the requirements for that specific visa.
This comprehensive guide will assist you in comprehending the steps for UK visa application process that you must complete in order to be granted entry into the country.
UK Visa Application Process: A Step-By-Step Guide
To complete the UK visa application process, simply follow the below mentioned steps:
Identity your visa type
Your intended reason for visiting the UK will determine the majority of the UK visa application process, including the prerequisites for obtaining one. What kind of visa you require depends on why you are visiting the UK. One of the aforementioned visas may be necessary:
- UK Tourist Visa – Anybody who wants to travel to the UK for personal reasons, such as a wedding, vacation, business trip, private medical care, or to see friends or relatives, must get a UK tourist visa.
- UK Transit Visa – For travellers who must go via the UK on their way to another nation.
- UK Work Visa – For everyone who wants to work for pay in the United Kingdom.
- UK Study Visa – For anybody who wants to come to the UK to study at a university or take a course. To apply for a UK short-term student visa if your studies are only temporary, please do so. Instead of a Tier 4 visa, you must apply for a Student Visa (commonly known as the Student Route) if you require long-term authorisation to remain in the UK.
- Other visas – which include business visas for opening an account in the UK and family member visas for visiting relatives within the country.
Check Eligibility for UK Visa Application
The following criteria must be met in order to apply for a UK visa:
- Evidence of your booked return ticket
- Confirmed hotel reservations
- It is necessary for you to demonstrate the purpose of your visit and your ability to provide for both yourself and your dependents.
- Enough money to cover the whole trip and return.
- The laws and regulations in the UK must permit you to engage in the activities you wish to.
In order to qualify for a UK student visa, you have to:
- Obtain verification of study acceptance from an accredited UK institution.
- satisfactory scores in the English Language Proficiency Tests (IELTS)
- Financial evidence, or having enough cash on hand to cover your living expenses as well as the cost of your education. For courses in London, you would require around £1,334 per month (for a maximum of nine months) and £1,023 per month (also known as maintenance funds) for courses outside of London.
Required Documents for UK Visa Application Process?
You must include below obligatory documents with your UK visa application in order to bolster your case.
- Your Valid Passport: It needs to be good for an additional three months beyond the date you intend to depart the UK following your trip. Additionally, the visa must have at least one blank page.Travelling may not be possible if your passport has expired.
- Two photographs: Colour images that were shot no more than 6 months ago are required for these. MyBiometricPhotos.com is where you may obtain a photo compliant with UK immigration requirements.
- Evidence that you are able to pay for your living expenses while in the UK. These might be your pay stubs from the same time period or your bank statements from the previous 6 months.
- Proof of accommodation: A document indicating your accommodations for the duration of your stay in the UK must be presented. To obtain such a document, you are not need to pay in full for a hotel or hostel in the UK before obtaining the visa.
- Complete travel itinerary: Send in a travel itinerary detailing your entire itinerary, including your travel route and activities in the UK. Add the itinerary for your trip, the locations you will visit, the dates of your scheduled tour, the meetings, the festival, etc.
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number and the necessary papers for CAS acquisition.
- Tuberculosis Test Results: A tuberculosis test request must be submitted by citizens of several nations in order for them to be eligible for a UK visa.
- Paid UK visa fees: The receipt attesting to your payment of the necessary visa fee should be submitted.
- Invitation letter for UK visa (If appropriate): If you plan to stay over with a friend or member of your family, then submit a letter of invitation. Your host needs to be a citizen or lawful resident of the United Kingdom.
- Translations certified by an authority on any document not written in Welsh or English.
- Biometric information: You must provide your biometric data when applying for a visa that would allow you to stay in the UK for a period longer than six months. This includes submitting your fingerprints and a digital photo that was taken at the appropriate application centre.
Complete the Online Application Form for apply the UK Visa
Typically, the online application form for a UK visa asks for personal information such as:
- Your name & surname.
- Residence nation
- Nationality.
- Marital status.
- Personal number.
- Passport number
- Rationale for seeking entry into the UK.
- Further details on your application.
Your application will be denied if the data in the UK application form is inconsistent with the data in the other necessary documents.
Process of Pay the UK Visa Fee Online
You can now start getting your paperwork ready for the UK visa application process, knowing the visa you need to apply for and whether you are eligible to apply for it. This phase consists of two parts: assembling your documentation and paying for your visa application. First, though, here’s what to anticipate in terms of visa fees and available payment methods:
When applying from outside the UK, the cost of the UK Student Visa—formerly known as the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa—is £363 (about Rs 37,082). For the most recent information on fees, it is always advisable to periodically visit the official UK government website.
Depending on how long you plan to remain, there will also be a healthcare premium that you must pay in addition to the visa fee. The healthcare surcharge covers access to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK for the duration of study abroad.
The healthcare surcharge and visa fee may be paid in the manner listed below:
- Online Payment: Visa or MasterCard credit cards can be used to make online payments for the healthcare surcharge and visa fee.
- Demand Draft: Additionally, demand drafts are accepted for payment at the Standard Chartered Bank branches and visa application centre.
- Cash Payment: The visa application centre and a few Standard Chartered Bank branches accept cash payments.
The UK government could occasionally alter its payment policies, therefore for the most accurate and recent information on payment procedures, it’s always best to check the official UK government website or the visa application center. For more information you can hire a reputed educational advisor of Study in USA for International Students.
Book and Attend a Biometrics Appointment
After submitting your online application, you will schedule a time to meet with a visa application centre to present the necessary documentation. Show up at the appointed time. Bring your passport and all of your original identity documents with you. They’ll be evaluated along with your visa application, and you’ll get the results back with your visa decision.
The personnel at the application centre will also collect your facial pictures and fingerprints.
Submit Supporting Documents
You must include certain necessary documents with your application for a UK visa in order to strengthen your case. Original documentation must be submitted for all relevant documents.
Attend an Interview (If required)
If you receive an invitation for a visa interview, get ready for it. An invitation to a visa interview could be extended to you prior to receiving a decision. You must make sure you are ready for the interview if you receive an invitation. Your sincere intention to apply is vital to the Home Office.
Wait for a Decision
The type of visa you are asking for will determine how long it takes to be approved. The average processing period for a visa is 3 weeks, but it can take up to 90 days. This is the last step in the application process, where you wait to hear if your visa application has been accepted or denied. If you have complied with the requirements of the visa application process, your application will be granted.
Also Read- Best universities in UK for international students