Interested visitors will be able to enjoy some extra new permissions on their short-term 6-month visit visa. One can also apply for the 2, 5, or 10-year visa depending upon the personal circumstances.
Key changes in visit visa according to new immigration policy
Visitors can attend conferences and meetings, attend interviews, gather information for their work overseas, and give and receive training in most circumstances. A new Short-term Study route is being introduced for students who wish to come to the UK to study English language courses for between 6 and 11 months, replacing the current route. The study must be at an accredited institution. Students who wish to come to the UK to study for 6 months or less may now do so under the Visitor route. There have been some changes in visitor visas. Most of them are on the positive side such as:
- volunteering work will be allowed on the visitor visa if needed
- study permission of up to six months under the standard visit route. All study must be undertaken at an accredited institution, except recreational courses are undertaken for leisure that last no longer than 30 days
- allowing drivers on international routes to collect as well as deliver goods and passengers in and out of the UK
Beyond other changes, visitors will still be unable to stay in the UK in the long term for example more than 6 months. Visitors will still be unable to work during their stay in the UK.
How much will it cost?
It varies how much can it cost you to apply for a visit visa to the UK. The UKBA has however set aside non-refundable visa application fees as under:
- 6 months – £100
- 2 years – £376
- 5 years – £670
- 10 years – £837
Along with this, there are many other expenses for applying for a visa that change from country to country.
Who can get a visit visa?
The following are the reasons for which one can apply for the standard visit visa in the UK:
- for medical reasons, for example, to receive private medical treatment
- for certain business activities, for example, attending a meeting
- to do a short course of study
- for tourism, for example on a holiday or to see your family and friends
- to take part in research or an exchange program as an academic
You can also check here if you need to apply for the visit visa or you can enjoy the visa exemption.
Documents required for applying
When you apply online for the UK visitor’s visa, you are provided a checklist of documents as per your visa purpose category, you will have to provide these all documents to apply for the visa. In general, these could be:
– Identity documents and personal details
- a valid passport
- your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
- details of your travel history for the past 10 years
- your partner’s, parents and children’s name, date of birth, and passport number (if available)
- the name, address, and passport number of any family members you have in the UK
– Travel plans
- details of where you’ll be staying during your visit
- the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK
– Financial circumstances
- how much you think your trip will cost
- how much you earn in a year (if you have an income)
- your employer’s address and telephone number
- the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
Additional documents are required from the applicant if he/she is applying as an organ donor, an academic, short-time studies, or private medical treatment. UKBA has issued a complete list of required documents list from the applicant
Major requirements
There are many certain requirements that one has to meet to apply for a visa. Each visa purpose and category has its requirements. A standard visit visa can be applied for under general requirements which are the same for all categories such as leaving the UK at the end of your intended tour, not living in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, and also showing that:
- you have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules (if you apply for a business visit visa)
- you can pay for your return or onward journey and you’re able to support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you). One can prove this by showing the amount in a personal bank account with proof of financial means and regular income through a job or business.
If you are applying for a standard visit visa of the Uk for a longer period of time, you must prove that you will only use it for visit purposes and you will not live in the UK for longer than the intended dates in your visa application.
Visa Categories-wise requirements
Short-term visitor visa categories are for many purposes such as for studies, private medical treatment, as an academic, or as an organ donor.
1- Visitor’s visa as an organ donor
You must prove that the person you’re donating an organ to is legally allowed to be in the UK. You can only visit the UK to donate organs to:
- a family member who you’re genetically related to (for example your sibling or parent)
- someone you have a close personal relationship with (for example your spouse or friend)
2- Visitor’s visa for medical treatment
You must prove that you:
- are not a danger to public health if you have an infectious disease, such as leprosy
- have made arrangements for consultations or treatment
- have enough money or funding to pay for your treatment
- have a medical condition that needs private consultation or treatment in the UK
- will leave the UK once your treatment is completed, or when your visa expires
3- Visitor’s visa to study for up to 6 months
You must already be enrolled in a course that is the equivalent of a UK degree, before applying to do research or a placement in the UK. You must prove one of the following:
- you’re at least 16 years old and are doing an ‘elective’ (an optional additional placement) as part of an overseas medicine, veterinary medicine, and science, or dentistry course
- you have been accepted onto a course of no more than 6 months provided by an accredited UK institution (this cannot be an academy or state-funded school)
- you are at least 16 years old and have been accepted by a UK higher education institution to take part in research that’s relevant to the course you’re studying overseas. Find out here if you need an ATAS certificate
4- Visitor’s visa as an academic
You can stay in the UK for up to 12 months if you’re applying as an academic. You must prove you are:
- not filling a permanent teaching post
- highly qualified in your field of expertise, for example, you have a PhD
- visiting for a formal exchange or to carry out research
- currently working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas
How to apply for a visa?
The visitor’s visa can be applied online. The visa application has been made easy to fill in as there are many options for a language priority to choose from. Here is an online visa application link for all country’s citizens. Once you have submitted an online visa application, you will have to get an appointment from your local “Visa Application Center”. There your fingerprints will be taken along with your passport-sized photo called biometrics. You can choose here your country’s visa application center.
Is a visit visa extension possible?
Yes but in rare and in very special circumstances. You will have to pay an amount of £993 to extend this visa plus an extra £800 if you use the super-priority service. You must also pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. You can only apply to extend your stay as a visitor for over 6 months if you’re:
- a graduate doing a clinical attachment or retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test
- a patient receiving medical treatment
- an academic and you still meet the eligibility requirements