Applying for a UK visitor's visa for a foreign friend to go to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be very stressful. I am also certain that it is more difficult for people from some countries than for others. This is because the staff are concerned about the applicant's ability to support him/herself. This is government policy and you must not hold it against the embassy staff - they are only doing their job! It is well worth remembering this when talking to the embassy staff about a UK visitor's visa.
It is worth pointing out here that a (British) UK visitors visa is valid for six months and multiple entries into the UK, although in practice, the first visa to be granted will usually be limited by a note pinned into the visitors passport. For example, if you have applied for a visa to visit friends for the month of, say, March, you would be granted a multiple entry, 180 day visitor's visa with a letter, signed by yourself, pinned into your passport, which states that you wish to visit the UK from March 1st to March 31st and that you will not attempt to extend that stay.
The stipulations of the visa also forbid you from claiming social benefits such as social security and national health. Very often, applicants are refused on their first try, because they do not present a strong enough reason for wanting to go to the UK. If the reason is to visit a friend, then the onus is on the applicant to prove a continuing, long-lasting relationship. This should have continued for at least 6 months and you should devote your attention to proving it
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.
You could then obtain the application form (VAF) either by writing to or visiting the nearest British Embassy or Consulate or downloading it from the Internet. Most embassy sites provide excellent advice on what is required or recommended to put in the envelope with your UK visitor's visa application form, but it will include: two colour, passport-size photos; the application fee (about 50) in local currency; the applicant's passport; proof of the applicant's address; proof of a continuing relationship of at least six months; the sponsor's letter; proof of the sponsor's means of support; proof of the sponsor's accommodation and possibly, the sponsor's passport to prove entry stamps.
So, you must realize that the sponsor is crucial to a successful first application for a UK visitor's visa. Your sponsor will be required to make up any shortfall in money that the applicant has and the British embassy staff will need to be able to satisfy themselves that he/she has the wherewithal to do it.
This means that the sponsor has to provide a letter from his/her employer proving continued, stable employment and/or a bank book, proving that he/she has enough money to provide what he/she has pledged on the UK visitor's visa application form; and proof of accommodation in the form of paid council tax bills, property deeds or a letter from the mortgage provider. Proof of marital status does not seem to be an issue for the sponsor or the applicant, although the question is asked of the latter. Some applicants are refused for apparently strange reasons such as:
"the person applying for a UK visitor's visa has never left the country before": this is usually quite easy to remedy if you live near a border.
"the applicant for a UK visitor's visa has not displayed a strong enough economic or social bond to his/her country" meaning that they do not trust him/her to return to his/her native country. A letter from a relative, proof of children and a letter from the applicant's employer can help, although proof of children is not considered a compelling social reason to return! Proof of property ownership is useful.
It is better to take your time instead of rushing the application for a UK visitor's visa. Make sure you have a valid reason for wanting to visit the UK and then make sure you can validate everything you say. Treat the application as if you were a barrister: back up everything you say with evidence or a letter.
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.
Please do not be tempted to lie! The embassy staff are trained to weed out liars and they are good at their job. It will cost you your UK visitor's visa if you are caught out. If you don't know an answer, just say so.
It is worth pointing out here that a (British) UK visitors visa is valid for six months and multiple entries into the UK, although in practice, the first visa to be granted will usually be limited by a note pinned into the visitors passport. For example, if you have applied for a visa to visit friends for the month of, say, March, you would be granted a multiple entry, 180 day visitor's visa with a letter, signed by yourself, pinned into your passport, which states that you wish to visit the UK from March 1st to March 31st and that you will not attempt to extend that stay.
The stipulations of the visa also forbid you from claiming social benefits such as social security and national health. Very often, applicants are refused on their first try, because they do not present a strong enough reason for wanting to go to the UK. If the reason is to visit a friend, then the onus is on the applicant to prove a continuing, long-lasting relationship. This should have continued for at least 6 months and you should devote your attention to proving it
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.
You could then obtain the application form (VAF) either by writing to or visiting the nearest British Embassy or Consulate or downloading it from the Internet. Most embassy sites provide excellent advice on what is required or recommended to put in the envelope with your UK visitor's visa application form, but it will include: two colour, passport-size photos; the application fee (about 50) in local currency; the applicant's passport; proof of the applicant's address; proof of a continuing relationship of at least six months; the sponsor's letter; proof of the sponsor's means of support; proof of the sponsor's accommodation and possibly, the sponsor's passport to prove entry stamps.
So, you must realize that the sponsor is crucial to a successful first application for a UK visitor's visa. Your sponsor will be required to make up any shortfall in money that the applicant has and the British embassy staff will need to be able to satisfy themselves that he/she has the wherewithal to do it.
This means that the sponsor has to provide a letter from his/her employer proving continued, stable employment and/or a bank book, proving that he/she has enough money to provide what he/she has pledged on the UK visitor's visa application form; and proof of accommodation in the form of paid council tax bills, property deeds or a letter from the mortgage provider. Proof of marital status does not seem to be an issue for the sponsor or the applicant, although the question is asked of the latter. Some applicants are refused for apparently strange reasons such as:
"the person applying for a UK visitor's visa has never left the country before": this is usually quite easy to remedy if you live near a border.
"the applicant for a UK visitor's visa has not displayed a strong enough economic or social bond to his/her country" meaning that they do not trust him/her to return to his/her native country. A letter from a relative, proof of children and a letter from the applicant's employer can help, although proof of children is not considered a compelling social reason to return! Proof of property ownership is useful.
It is better to take your time instead of rushing the application for a UK visitor's visa. Make sure you have a valid reason for wanting to visit the UK and then make sure you can validate everything you say. Treat the application as if you were a barrister: back up everything you say with evidence or a letter.
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.
Please do not be tempted to lie! The embassy staff are trained to weed out liars and they are good at their job. It will cost you your UK visitor's visa if you are caught out. If you don't know an answer, just say so.
About the Author:
Do you want a UK visa? Then you will not want to miss out on our free information for getting a UK visitor's visa!
