fbpx

Contact us

Book consultation

Visit our office

Book consultation

Contact our team to find out if we can help.

Book a free call to discuss your matter with us. Please leave your details and we will call you. We would also ask you to briefly describe your matter in the notes section, for the assessment before the call.

Please kindly note, we'll try to call you within the one hour slot you book, however, sometimes we'll have to reschedule the call. You call will last 15 minutes.

Please answer mandatory questions below.





    Contact Us

    Corporate services

    Individual services

    UK Visitor Visa

    Should you be considering a trip to the United Kingdom for reasons such as business, tourism, study, or other eligible pursuits, it may be necessary for you to acquire a UK Visitor Visa. This document permits a stay of up to six months in the country. The option of applying for an extension may arise in specific circumstances, such as for medical treatment.

    At Sterling Law, we understand that navigating the visa application process can be overwhelming, which is why we offer expert advice and legal services to help make your UK visit as smooth and stress-free as possible.

    How is the UK Standard Visitor Visa Defined?

    An entry permission certificate that grants foreign nationals the right to visit the United Kingdom for a brief period is called the UK Standard Visitor Visa. This visa is intended for international citizens who want to visit friends or family in the UK, as well as for those who wish to enter the country for tourism, business, or other eligible activities like medical treatment.

    When securing a UK Standard Visiting Visa, you must present credible evidence of your travel purpose, your financial stability, and your strong connections to your country of origin. Failure to do so may result in rejection of your visa. With such a visa, the length of stay is capped up to six months, and it does not allow you to engage in paid or unpaid work or get an education (except short-term courses up to 6 months) while in the UK. Therefore, foreigners, who wish to work or study in the country, must apply for a separate visa that is specific to their intended activity.

    What Are The Rights and Restrictions on a UK Visitor Visa?

    As an individual without UK citizenship, possessing a Visit Visa UK enables you to gain entry into the United Kingdom for numerous purposes. However, such a visa comes with certain limitations which a foreigner must be aware of to avoid any legal complications.

    Permitted Activities Allowed By the UK Visit Visa

    • Seeing family, friends, or relatives. With Family Visitor Visa you can visit your relatives, loved ones, or friends, who reside in the UK, to spend time with them, attend family occurrences, or simply catch up with them.
    • Tourism. You may visit the UK for tourism purposes, such as going on holiday or vacation. This may involve sightseeing, exploring the country’s culture and history, or engaging in recreational activities.
    • Engaging in voluntary work with a legally recognized charitable organization. If you are passionate about helping others, you are allowed to partake in volunteer work with an official charity organisation in the UK for a maximum of 30 days. This may involve participating in community projects, fundraising events, or other charitable activities.
    • Transiting through the United Kingdom to reach another destination. You may visit the UK as a transit passenger if you are travelling to another foreign location. This may involve a layover or a short stopover in the UK.
    • Business affairs. A UK Visiting Visa permits for business-related activities, namely attending business events, conferences, and other similar gatherings. Individuals can also negotiate and conclude business contracts, promote their products and services at trade fairs (yet without selling them), and receive work-related training if it is not available in their native country. Other acceptable activities include delivering unpaid talks, conducting site visits, overseeing delivery of goods, sharing knowledge, delivering training, and advising on computer hardware & software installation, equipment repair, servicing, or dismantling if an foreign company has a contract with a UK organization or company.
    • School exchanges. If you are a scholar or student, you have the opportunity to travel to the UK for a school exchange initiative. This may involve attending classes, staying with a host family, and learning about the UK’s education system.
    • Study, placement, or exam. You can visit the UK for studying, placements, exams, or work experience for up to 6 months. Eligible activities will encompass attending university or college, taking English language courses, conducting research projects, participating in optional placements (electives) if studying medicine, science, animal medicine, nursing, dentistry, or midwifery, retaking exams or course modules, participating in Ph.D. oral exams, undertaking unpaid clinical attachments, or taking OSCE or PLAB tests.
    • Recreational courses. You can visit the UK to complete some leisure courses of up to 30 days, such as cooking lessons, photography workshops, or art classes. This may involve acquiring new skills or improving existing ones.
    • Medical reasons. Visitors to the UK may stay for as long as 6 months for medical reasons, including private and NHS treatment if so falls under a reciprocal healthcare agreement. To qualify for a visa for private medical treatment, a person must demonstrate that they require treatment and have made arrangements for care. Sufficient funds must be available to cover medical expenses, and visitors must furnish proof of their intent to depart from the United Kingdom after treatment or when their visa expires. A person must not pose a public health risk if they have an infectious disease. If an organ donor wishes to donate, they must do so to a family relative or close friend, and documentation must confirm that the recipient is legally authorized to be in the UK.
    • Academic, senior doctor, or dentist. As an academic visiting the UK, there are several appealing prospects for you. You have the option to take part in official exchange programs with UK institutions or conduct your research independently during a sabbatical. Additionally, as a senior doctor or dentist, you may partake in research, teaching (excluding permanent teaching positions), and clinical practice (excluding permanent positions).

    Prohibited Activities by the UK Visit Visa

    When requesting a Visit Visa to the UK, specific limitations and restrictions would apply to your visit. Firstly, a holder of a Visit Visa for the UK must not engage in any unpaid or paid work for a UK-based company or as a self-employed individual. This means that you cannot seek employment anywhere in the United Kingdom, and you also must not take up any freelance work or consulting projects during your stay.

    Claiming public funds or benefits is either prohibited with a standard visiting visa UK. This includes financial assistance from the government, such as housing benefits, jobseeker’s allowance, or tax credits.

    It is not permissible to reside in the UK for extended durations by frequently or repeatedly entering the country using a Visit Visa, as it is expressly designed for short stays. Getting legally married or registering for a civil partnership is also not allowed with a Visitor Visa UK. This requires a Marriage Visitor Visa.

    Criteria for Securing a Visitor Visa for the UK

    No matter your motives to enter the country, you must meet the basic UK Visitor Visa requirements:

    • possessing a passport or travel documents that are valid for the entirety of your stay;
    • having the financial resources to fund your travel back home or continuing journey, or having someone who
    • can act as a sponsor and take care of these expenses for you;
    • being able to demonstrate that you will depart the UK at the end of your visit;
    • making sure you possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses while you are staying or having someone sponsor you with adequate financial support during your stay;
    • not going to stay in the UK for extended periods by frequently visiting, neither having any intention of making it your primary residence.

    To obtain a visiting visa to the UK, you may have to fulfil further eligibility criteria according to your purpose of visit.

    Study, Placement, or Exam

    If your intention is to take an exam, study, or attend a placement in the UK, you must provide proof of your enrolment in a course, an invitation to sit for an exam, or a confirmation from the organization facilitating the placement.

    Senior Doctor, Dentist, or Academic

    Individuals in senior doctor, dentist, or academic positions may be required to present proof of their professional status as well as the purpose of their visit.

    Medical Treatment

    In the event that you are seeking medical attention in the UK, evidence of your medical condition, the healthcare you require, and the arrangements made for your treatment will be necessary.

    Different Rules for Travel from Isle of Man, Jersey, Ireland, and Guernsey

    Persons from the Isle of Man, Jersey, Ireland, or Guernsey, who intend to go to the United Kingdom, may not require a visa to cross the border. This is because these countries are part of the common travel area (CTA) with the UK, which means that there are no passport controls on entry or exit between them.

    If you are a resident of any of these territories and entering the UK from a location outside of the Common Travel Area, you must provide legitimate identification, like a national ID card or passport, in order to gain entrance to the country.

    Although a visa may not be necessary for you to enter the United Kingdom, you may still need to apply for permission to enter the country if you are coming for a specific purpose, such as work or study. This will depend on the nature of your visit and your particular circumstances.

    Essential Paperwork for Applying for a UK Visitor Visa

    In order to travel to the UK as a tourist, it is necessary to obtain a Standard Visiting Visa, which grants permission to engage in a number of activities, such as attending business meetings, visiting relatives and friends, or undertaking a brief study course, for a period of up to 6 months. The application process entails providing specific personal information and documentation.

    Passport or Travel Documents

    The most important document for a UK Visitor Visa application is your government-issued passport or other travel documents. It is necessary for the document to remain valid throughout your entire stay in the UK and have an empty page for the visa sticker. During the application’s processing period, the passport will likely be held by the UK visa application centre. Therefore, it is imperative that your travel document does not expire during this procedure.

    Online Application

    Requesting a Visiting Visa UK begins with filling out a web-based form. You can apply for your travel permit as early as 3 months before your scheduled travel date. In your online UK Visit Visa application, you’ll need to disclose the below-mentioned data:

    • The specific dates you have chosen for your travel to the UK
    • The lodging arrangements you have made for your duration of stay
    • Approximate expenses you expect to incur during your trip
    • Your current residential address and the duration of your residency
    • The names and birthdates of your parents (if available)
    • Your yearly earnings (if applicable)
    • Information regarding any criminal, immigration or civil offenses you may have committed

    Supplementary Documents

    Depending on your circumstances, you may require additional papers, which could include:

    • A record of your travel history for the previous 10 years
    • The address and phone number of your employer
    • Information regarding your partner’s name, passport number, and date of birth
    • Specifics about any sponsors for your trip
    • Details about any family members you have residing in the United Kingdom
    • A certificate verifying that you have undergone a tuberculosis test (if your stay exceeds six months)

    If you’re travelling to the UK for academic, study, or medical purposes, you must provide specific documents related to your goal of travel.

    Certified Translations

    In the case of non-English or non-Welsh documents, it is mandatory to furnish certified translations of said documents.

    Establishing Your Identity and Biometric Data

    An online application for a UK Visiting Visa also requires you to set up an interview at a visa application centre. To validate your identity, you will be required to present your passport or travel documents during your appointment. To support your application, you can also supply an invitation letter for a UK Visitor Visa (if you have any). This letter can help demonstrate to immigration authorities that the visitor has a valid purpose for their trip and that they have a trustworthy host in the UK, which might contribute to a positive visa application decision.

    The provision of your biometric identifiers, which includes your fingerprints and a facial photo, is also mandatory when applying for a Visitor Visa to the UK. The purpose of collecting biometric information is to authenticate your identity and confirm that you are the individual who submitted the visa application.

    Taking biometric credentials is a quick and easy process, typically taking only a few minutes. You will need to attend a biometric interview at a designated location, where you will have your photograph and fingerprints collected. This data will then be stored on a secure database and used to check your identity when you enter the UK.

    What is a UK Long-Term Standard Visit Visa?

    Frequent visitors can apply for a long-term standard Visit Visa for the UK, with the validity for either 2, 5, or 10 years. The maximally allowed duration of each stay allowed under this visa is 6 months.
    If you submit an application for a long-term visa before you reach the age of 18, it will only have a validity of up to 6 months from the date of your 18th birthday.

    UK Visas and Immigration may grant a visa for a shorter duration than requested if the eligibility criteria are not met by the applicant. In such cases, neither a refund nor a partial refund of the fee will be made if the application is refused or if a shorter visa is issued.

    It’s worth highlighting that, if the applicant’s travel history indicates a pattern of extended stays in the UK, their long-term Standard Visitor Visa may be cancelled.

    UK Visit Visa Processing: How Long to Wait?

    After applying online, completing identity verification formalities, and submitting all necessary documentation, you’ll typically get a decision on your UK Visit Visa within 3 weeks. Persons who require expedited processing of their application may avail the priority service, which enables them to receive a verdict within 5 business days, in contrast to the regular processing time. However, such a service comes with an additional fee and must be booked in advance.

    The priority service is not a guarantee of an approval of your UK Visiting Visa application, but it can significantly reduce the waiting time for a decision.

    Regardless of the outcome, you will receive an email notification about your UK Visiting Visa application. The email will contain instructions on your next steps.

    Navigating the UK Visitor Visa Application Process

    Here are the common steps to follow to apply for a visiting visa for the UK:

    1. Find out if a Visit Visa is required for your visit to the United Kingdom. Nationals of some countries are exempt from visa requirements, so talk to an experienced immigration lawyer to clarify your options.
    2. Gather the necessary documents. To enter the UK, you must possess a legitimate passport or other travel documents, demonstrate your ability to financially sustain yourself for the duration of your stay, and provide proof of your UK itinerary or planned engagements.
    3. Complete the online application form. You can request a UK Visitor Visa online through the UK government website. Prepare to provide personal information, details about your trip, and information about your employment or education.
    4. Pay the fee. Receiving a standard UK Visit Visa is a paid service, and it currently costs £100.
    5. Schedule an interview at a visa application centre. To get a visa, it is necessary to have your biometrics (photo and fingerprint) collected at a visa application centre. You can arrange an interview by visiting the centre’s website and scheduling it online.
    6. Attend your interview. Bring your application form, passport, and supporting documentation to your interview. You will have your biometrics taken and may be asked additional questions about your trip.
    7. Wait for a decision. Upon conclusion of the visa application process, either by email or letter, you shall receive a notification regarding the decision. In the event of an approval, your passport shall receive a visa stamp.

    The Price of a UK Visit Visa

    The amount of visa fees required for a visit to the UK varies based on the specific type and duration of the visa needed.

    The Standard Visit Visa costs £115. It permits a stay of up to 6 months. For frequent visitors, a long-term Standard Visitor Visa is available, costing more but providing greater flexibility.

    For academics, the Standard Visit Visa costs £200, and it permits a stay of up to 12 months.

    The medical Visitor Visa is priced at £200, allowing a stay of up to 11 months.

    Long-term options include a 2-year visa priced at £400, a 5-year visa costing £771, and a 10-year visa costing £963.

    All options mentioned include a stay of up to 6 months per visit.

    Visa fees are ever-changing, so check the latest information on the UK government website or talk to a qualified immigration solicitor in London to inform you of the latest UK Visitor Visa tariffs.

    What if an Application for the UK Visit Visa Refused?

    If you are denied a Visiting Visa to the UK, you shall receive either a letter or an email that outlines the cause of the refusal. Some possible grounds for rejecting a Visiting Visa to the UK include:

    • Lack of proof of intention to depart from the UK. The applicant is unable to provide sufficient evidence to show that they intend to leave the country when their visit ends.
    • Insufficient funds. The applicant cannot bring evidence that they have sufficient financial assets to cover their expenses during their stay in the United Kingdom.
    • Criminal history. The applicant has a criminal record or has been involved in illicit activities in the past.
    • False or incomplete data. The visa application contains inaccurate or insufficient details about the applicant.
    • Lack of connections to home country. The candidate fails to provide evidence of significant bonds to their country of origin, such as employment or real estate.
    • Previous immigration violations. The applicant has previously violated immigration laws or overstayed a previous visa.
    • Health concerns. The applicant has a health condition that may pose a risk to public health in the UK.

    If your passport was kept during the application process, it will be returned to you upon a negative decision regarding your Visiting Visa UK. The refusal letter will also outline your options for appealing the decision. You may be eligible for an administrative review, which is a process where a different caseworker will review your application and make a new decision.

    Alternatively, you may be able to appeal the decision through an immigration decision appeal. This process involves a hearing where an immigration judge will review your application and make a final decision. There are strict time limits for submitting an administrative review or immigration decision appeal, so it is crucial to act quickly if you wish to pursue either option.

    In the event that your request for a UK Visiting Visa has been denied, you have the option to seek an administrative review of the decision within 28 days of being notified of the refusal. This review involves a separate caseworker from the Home Office who will scrutinize your application to verify that the initial decision was made accurately.

    In case you are not satisfied with the result of the administrative review, you have the right to initiate an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) within 14 days of receiving the administrative review verdict.

    Can a UK Visiting Visa Be Extended?

    If you possess a Visiting Visa that is valid for less than six months and are presently in the UK, there could be a chance for you to prolong your stay. By availing of this extension, you can stay in the country for up to a maximum of six months. Bear in mind that individuals who wish to stay longer must belong to specific categories, including those receiving medical treatment, academics, or those retaking the PLAB test or undergoing a clinical attachment as a graduate.

    To apply for an extension, a fee of £1000 must be paid regardless of nationality. It is necessary to apply for an extension before the expiry date of your current visa or permission, and while you are still in the UK. Biometric information will also need to be provided, which includes fingerprints and a photo. The cost for extending stay as a Standard Visitor is £1000, and incorporating the super priority service will result in an additional fee of £800.

    How Can We Help?

    Sterling Law is a highly reputable and established law firm in London that provides comprehensive legal services to clients wishing to obtain a Visitor Visa to the UK. Our team of immigration lawyers has years of expertise in handling such applications with absolute professionalism and efficiency.

    We understand that the visa application procedure can be complicated and stressful, which is why we offer tailored support and assistance throughout the entire process to ensure that our clients are well-informed and confident in their application. Our team is committed to providing you with exceptional legal representation, regardless of whether you’re applying for a Standard Visitor Visa UK or any other type of visa. We understand that overcoming the complexities of international travel can be arduous, which is why we’re here to guide you every step of the process. Don’t let legal hurdles stand in the way of your travel dreams – let us help you achieve them!

    Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can aid you in achieving your immigration goals.

    Recent news

    Our team

    48 legal professionals

    Successful cases