Non-citizens of the United Kingdom must obtain a visa to legally enter the country, and the application process varies by country of citizenship. The United Kingdom accepts visa applications by mail, in person and online, but citizens and residents of select countries are only able to submit a visa application online via the visa4UK website.
The FactsA visa to the UK is an official travel document that supplements your passport as you enter the United Kingdom. The visa grants you permission to enter the UK and return to your home country, and is authorized by the Entry Clearance Officer at the British embassy. The visa and passport will be reviewed by the Immigration Officer at the airport.
SignificanceCompleting a visa application is the first step to traveling overseas, and the application process varies by country you are planning on visiting. The visa application process to the UK is relatively simple and all forms can be submitted online. A biometric finger scan is collected from an approved Application Support Centre in your area and the British Government will then review the application to determine eligibility.
FunctionThe visa application process is comprised of a formal application and finger scans to confirm your identity. There are various fees associated with each. You will need to pay a higher fee for longer term multiple entries to the UK. Some countries support the online ‘WorldPay’ payment system for fees, which can make the application process more efficient. Booking your appointment for the finger scans is early as possible will ensure your visa application is processed efficiently and your visa can be authorized well before your travel date.
ConsiderationsIn order to complete your UK visa application form, you will need a current passport, the address you are visiting in the UK, your travel itinerary and an e-mail address. Make sure to submit your most-used e-mail address as this is how the UK Border Agency will contact you on about the status of your application. When you are submitting your visa application online, you will have a chance to save the information and come back to it at a later date if you cannot complete it in one session. Look for a red ‘Pause’ symbol on the Visa application page so that you can save the data.
WarningsThe visa application is only considered complete when the finger scans have been received and approved. All fees are non-refundable, and any mistakes on your application cannot be corrected online; you will need to submit a paper application with corrections to modify your application. The UK may reject visa applications that do not meet their eligibility criteria; in some cases, the UK will put a temporary hold on accepting applications from a particular country. All of this information can be found on the Home Office for the UK Border Agency website.
Resources: Home Office for the UK Border Agency
By: Sabah Karimi
Sabah Karimi has been writing for the Web for over 3 years, and some of her work can be found in "Dining Out," "Papierdoll" magazine and on Zappos.com, Associated Content and several blogs. She enjoys traveling, shopping, reading and running (not all at once), and currently works as a freelance writer and online marketing strategist in Orlando, Florida.Read Next 5 Articles
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