Obtaining a visitor’s visa to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a daunting and usually difficult task. I also think it is more difficult from some countries and therefore for some nationalities than others, although this is not admitted official government policy. Poorer people from poorer countries definitely have a harder time convincing embassy staff to grant a UK visitor’s visa. This is not their personal vendetta, but a reflection of government policy, which, in turn, is supposed to be a reflection of the opinion of the majority of the British public. It is a good idea to bear this in mind when dealing with the embassy staff regarding a UK visitor’s visa application for yourself or a friend.
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,’0 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 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.
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.
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.
“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.
“Mr. / Mrs. / Miss Applicant for a UK visitor’s visa has not proven strong enough social or economic ties to his/her country of origin” - they are saying they don’t trust you to go home after your visit. In this case, try to prove these ties with a letter from your employer, a letter from your bank, a letter from a ‘trusted person’ like a doctor, lawyer and proof of ownership of any real estate.
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.
Hint: apply for more time than you need as the UK visitor’s visa runs from the day it is granted, but you may not be able to get a flight straight away. You will probably also be required to return to the issuing embassy when you arrive back to have the UK visitor’s visa cancelled; after all, it is a multiple entry,’0-day visa that could be used to return to the UK without the sponsor’s knowledge, so try not to arrive back on a Friday unless you want a holiday in the capital.
And lastly a warning: don’t be tempted to lie - its not worth it. You will be caught out!
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