The UK visa is a legal document that gives citizens the right to enter, reside temporarily, or stay forever in the territory of the UK. It is a stamp on your passport or a document given by the UK consulate or embassy in your country of residence.
If your visa application gets approved, it means that you are eligible you fulfill the UK visa requirement, and you can enter the UK without facing any barriers from the USA. You are allowed to do multiple activities using a UK visa such as study, work, run a business, get residence permits, stay for short or long term, or tourism.
There are a lot of visa types for every purpose and situation. There is a visa for visiting the UK for a holiday and a visa for starting a new job or business. It will not only give you legal entry into the UK but also will include the duration of your stay in the country and the activities you are allowed to participate in with your visa such as employment or education.
There are several UK visas for every situation and purpose. These are the most common UK visas that an individual can apply for depending on their situation in the USA.
This visa is for those who wish to visit the UK as a tourist, to visit family, or those who want to attend short business appointments or events.
A work visa is permitted for those who want to engage in paid activities. Such visas depend on the skills, type of work, and the duration of the contract.
This visa is catered for students who wish to pursue education from any educational institution in the UK for short courses to complete a university degree.
A family visa is given to an individual who wants to visit or join a family member who is either a resident or a citizen of the UK.
It is available for all those individuals who are a citizen of the Commonwealth countries. It comes with certain privileges and is based on historical connections and reciprocal agreements.
You will have to apply for a UK visa if you are a citizen of a country that does not have a permit to travel visa-free to the UK which is known as a visa national. You will have to obtain a visit visa before arriving at a UK port of entry to get permission to enter the country legally.
This visa is for visa nationals who wish to visit the UK for six months for tourism, business-related activities, or any other permissible activities like medical treatment.
Those who are visiting the UK to get married or to register a civil partnership within 6 months can apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa
Travelers who do not wish to stay in the UK but have to pass through its borders.
ETA is for those travelers who belong to a country that does not require a visa for short-term stays or transits.
This is for Chinese citizens who are coming to the UK as a part of a tourist group.
You will have to apply for the right type of visa according to your situation when you are applying for a UK work visa. You have to apply by meeting several different route-specific requirements. The main immigration routes are:
Any individual who has been offered a skilled job in the UK which is valid for up to five years before the extension can go for a Skilled Worker Visa
These are tailored for medical professionals who are coming to the UK to work in the health sector and it is valid for up to five years.
It is for individuals who have recently graduated from top global universities to come to the UK and search for work.
It is a temporary post-study work route for international graduates.
It is a hybrid route that allows workers to come to the UK and work for a fast-growing UK sponsor in an eligible job.
For some specific types of workers who are doing temporary jobs in the UK for an overseas organization.
The UK offers multiple immigration routes for those who wish to do employment for a short term.
This visa is for those who intend to start an innovative business in the UK.
A foreign national can run their own business in the UK by getting sponsored by their organization with the Self-Sponsorship Route.
If you are a student who wants to pursue education at a prestigious college in the UK then apply for the correct type of visa that allows you to participate in the course you choose to study.
Students who wish to pursue a full-time degree course in the UK can apply for a student visa. Sponsorship is required from a qualifying educational institution for this.
For children who are attending independent schools in the UK and are between the ages of 4 and 17. It is valid till the duration of their education and an extra 4 months afterward.
Individuals who are taking a short course in the English language in the UK can apply for a UK Short-Term Study Visa
If you want to visit the UK to start a new journey with your loved one who is already residing in the UK then you will have to apply for a family visa. There are different types of family visas for meeting a spouse or partner residing in the UK, children meeting parents, or parents meeting children who are residing in the UK.
It is granted for 2.5 years and can be extended. It is for partners of UK residents to live in the UK.
It is granted for 2.5 years with an extension for parents who want to bring their children to the UK.
The duration for this visa will vary depending on the visa status of their parent visa status and it is for those children who are joining their parents in the UK.
Applying as an Adult Coming to be Cared for by a Relative: Adults who are applying to come to the UK to be looked after by a relative over there.
Individuals who have significant personal and long-standing ties to the UK can apply for this visa.
It allows a British citizen or a person who is settled in the UK to bring their fiance to the UK to join them to get married within six months of the visa.
It is valid for five years and is for commonwealth citizens with a grandparent who was born in the UK.
It gives the freedom to live and work in the UK for an indefinite period to eligible people.
It is for young individuals from participating countries to live and work in the UK and is valid for up to 2 years for most of the applicants.
It permits the citizens of Hong Kong’s British National (Overseas) to live, work, and study in the UK opening a door to citizenship.
Check the Step-by-Step Visa Guide
You can apply for UK visas online for which you have to visit the official website of the UK government and choose the visa type according to your situation. Consider these steps to easily apply for a UK visa:
Before filling out the application form you must check if you are eligible for the type of visa you want to apply for or not. Ensure to choose a visa type that perfectly defines the reason why you want to visit the UK (e.g., tourism, business, family, study, etc.).
After choosing the visa type the next step is to fill out the application form which contains questions related to your personal information like your name, nationality, passport number, contact, etc. Ensure that all the information is relevant and accurate because if the information you fill out does not match with the other required documents then your application may even get rejected.
There are some necessary documents that you have to submit as part of the UK visa application. You will have to prove your identity and show documents that prove your eligibility along with enrolling your biometric information.
Every document must be submitted clearly in the proper required format. You can gather all these documents beforehand to avoid any last-minute hassle. Submitting all the documents that are required is mandatory to avoid any delay or rejection.
You may have to schedule and attend an appointment at a Visa Application Center if you are applying from outside the UK or with a UK visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) then Once you schedule an appointment you have to take a printout of the email that confirms the details of your appointment and take it with you along with all the required documents at the UK visa application center.
The appointment must be booked in your name and not someone else. All the documents that are required to be submitted in original must be submitted in original form only and ensure that you have all documents according to the requirements because even a silly mistake may disappoint you.
When you visit the UK visa application center you will have to submit your biometric information in which you will have to provide a photograph of yours and a digital scan of your fingerprints.
Every applicant who is applying for a United Kingdom visa has to attend the interview and visit the Visa application center in person including the children. Applicants who are under the age of 18 must visit the center with an adult.
After everything now is the time for you to wait for your application to be processed. The UK visa processing time in the USA will vary depending on the type of visa and every individual’s situation. You can track the status of your visa application online through the visa application portal.
Keep an update on the status of your application until you receive it. If your visa gets approved then your passport will have a visa sticker and you will be informed whenever your passport is ready to get collected from the visa application center if your application gets rejected or denied then you will receive a letter for that as well with an explanation.
You should check the latest document requirements on the official website of the UK government to not miss out on anything but consider the below-mentioned documents as a general checklist when applying for a UK visa application from us:
The applicant may have to provide some additional documents depending on the visa they have opted for. They may also have to provide some evidence to prove their eligibility.
You should apply for a UK visa as early as possible. The earliest time you can apply for a visa is three months before the date you intend to travel to the UK. Keep this thing in mind that the processing time of your visa may take up to two to three weeks.
So, it is better to apply in advance so that you can give sufficient time to the consulate for the processing of your visa. It will also help you to prepare everything carefully without any hurry and you will be able to submit an error-free application for instant approval.
Citizens of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and Commonwealth countries do not have to apply for a visa before entering the country. You will have to apply for a UK visa if you belong to any of these below-mentioned countries.
The processing time for any visa will depend on the type of visa and whether you are applying within the UK or from overseas.
For instance, a family visa application made from overseas can take up to twenty-four weeks and if applied within the UK it may take eight weeks. In comparison, a work visa will take three weeks even when you apply from the UK or overseas.
The visa application processing can be affected by both external factors and the quality of your application. Submitting a completely relevant and accurate application is crucial because any mistake or missing document can cause delays or even rejections as the officials may ask for additional corrections.
The number of applications present at the moment at the center can also affect the processing time mainly during peak periods like holidays or before the start of academic terms.
Some applications are liable to extra security checks that are influenced by factors like the applicant; 's country of origin, travel history, and flags raised during the screening process. In some situations, the applicants may have to attend an interview and the availability of the slots for appointment may also delay the processing.
All information must be filled in accurately and correctly. Even a silly mistake may lead to a delay or rejection of your application in the US. These are the most common reasons for a UK visa denial.
If your UK visa application gets rejected In us because of any specific reason then you should:
If you decide to withdraw your application while it is being processed or it gets refused then you will not get any kind of refund. The amount you pay as fees for a UK visa is used to cover all the expenses that come during the processing of your application and hence refunding the amount is not possible. You will have to pay the fees again if you wish to reapply for the UK visa after the refusal of your application in the USA.
A foreigner might have a visa but they may have to face Immigration Control (examination) anytime while crossing the UK border. There are possibilities that the visa may even get canceled at the border by the officers.
If you overstay or violate any rules of a visa while being in the UK or outside the UK it will be considered as an act of offense.
The Visa provides the answers to:
This UK visa may prohibit the holder from doing several activities which are:
Such restrictions can be informed to the holder through a written notification in the visa or application form or attached to the passport/travel document.
The normal processing time for a UK visa will generally take around three weeks. However, the processing time will vary from one application to another depending on several factors which are:
Yes, depending on the type of visa you want to apply for you can choose the priority service or the super-priority service while filling out your application form.
The priority service helps you get the result within five working days by charging an additional fee of $600, on the other hand, the super-priority service costs $950 excluding the visa fee and it gives the result by the end of the next working day.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is an amount that you have to pay when you apply for a UK visa. Once you enter the UK with a visa then you are allowed to get services of the NHS just like the other UK citizens. Please keep in mind that you still have to pay for prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests, and other services.
The health surcharge for a student or a tier 5 ( Youth Mobility Scheme) visa costs£300 per annum and for all the other visa and immigration applicants it costs £400 per annum.
You need to register with the police after entering in UK with a valid visa if the visa sticker on your passport has “Police registration’ or ‘Register with the police within seven days of entry’ written on it.
You can visit the police for registration within seven days after arriving in the UK. If you do not visit and register with the police then the validity of your visa will be shortened and you may have to leave the UK.
A UK visa holder is allowed to travel abroad when in the UK but there may be some extra requirements depending on their nationality and purpose of travel that they should fulfill.
To travel to the USA you may have to apply for a US visa in the UK depending on your nationality. If you are a citizen of a country that belongs to the Visa waiver program then you have to apply for a ESTA instead of a visa.
To visit any European country you will have to apply for a Schengen visa from the UK that allows you to travel for business or tourism purposes for up to ninety days.
If you are a British citizen you can still apply for a visa from the UK. The procedure to apply is the same for all applicants so you must make yourself familiar with all the requirements and specifics.
If you are planning to get a Schengen visa from the UK then you have to purchase a Schengen visa health insurance plan that covers your entire duration of stay in Europe.
You may have to attend an interview as a part of the UK visa application process in which the caseworker will verify if you meet the relevant visa requirements or not. You have to prepare very well for this interview.
Recheck all the documents you have submitted and make yourself familiar with all the information so that you can clear every doubt. Take all the required documents including your passport, completed online application form, appointment letter, etc. Make sure that you arrive at the center on time and dress up neatly to leave a good impression.
The questions they ask will depend on your situation and the type of visa you have applied for. You have to answer everything honestly and refer to your documents while giving the answers. Common questions that they may ask will be:
From filling out the application form to attending the interview you have to follow everything when applying for a UK visa. You can get help from an expert to avoid missing out on anything and to have maximum chances of getting a successful outcome.
The processing time and the visa fees will vary depending on the type of visa you choose, application volume, and individual situations. Keep checking the official website of the UK government to get all the current visa information and updates. You can even get help from a professional to get support with your UK visa application.
