Harbouring a wide diverse crowd of people, the UK possesses some of the best mixes of medieval and modern architecture. Travellers from across the world with a UK visa can encounter the country's uniqueness.
People who do not belong to the EU, USA and a few other visa-exempt countries require a permit to visit the country. Citizens of the UAE, Kuwait and a few other GCC countries also have an Electronic visa waiver program. Indian citizens require a UK Visa to enter the country. The permit is issued in the form of a sticker in your passport. The validity of the visa depends upon the types. Different types of visa have multiple duration and entry types given with that particular permit.
Before starting the application process for the visa, you will need to decide the right type of visa you are applying for. It is important to meet the eligibility criteria for a particular type of visa. Once this is done, you will have to gather the necessary documents required for the process. These may vary depending upon the UK Visa types. Please note that in the case of North Korea, there is only an offline application. However, most countries have online application mode.
How to apply for UK visa online from India?
The process of applying for a UK Visa for Indians online is described as below.
Please note that in certain cases, you may be required to submit to an interview. Also, it is necessary to ensure that you submit genuine and correct documents. Any false information can lead to visa rejection. A refusal for the permit can affect your future applications.
There are a number of types of permits issued to visit the United Kingdom. For the temporary visas; Based on the purpose of visit, the major types can be classified into the following.
As per the UK Visa documents requirements for Indian citizens, the documents needed for UK Visa depends on the type of visa. Each one of the UK Visa types has a certain set of documents specific to it. However, the general requirements for most types are as follows -
According to the regulations, the photos have to be as per the following instructions -
The time taken for a permit to enter Britain depends on several factors. Mainly, it depends on the type of visa. Certain visas are processed much faster than the other ones. Apart from this, it also depends on the embassy workload, additional documentation requirements, fast track processing, and so on. On average, the popular types are issued within 15 days. It is necessary to ensure that you apply for the permit well in advance to avoid delaying your visa.
The UK Visa fees India depends on aspects such as the UK Visa types, the number of entries, the duration of the visa, express processing fees, biometric charges, as well as any additional service charges. It is crucial to check the exact fees before applying for it.
Except for a few certain types, every other UK Visa types have to be applied online. The online application is completed on Visa4UK, and alternately on visa services portal in the cases of standard visitor visa. However, for the biometric, and document submission, you will have to visit one of the visa application centres located around the country. As per your convenience, you can book an appointment at any of them near you. The applications, however, as processed by the British High Commission in New Delhi, or the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
You can acquire complete assistance for the process from the professional visa services. This way you can ensure that there are least chances of any errors in the process and odds of visa rejection are reduced as well.
You cannot check the status of UK Visa application online. You will be notified of the status via text message if your visa has been approved. You can also check it by sending a message with your passport number to the designated number. Alternately, you can perform the UK Visa tracking by contacting the High Commission, or VAC email or phone and telling them the GWF number. The GWF is a unique number given for each application. You must make a note of this. Once your visa has been accepted and has been dispatched, you can track it using the GWF number on the courier company’s website.
Normally, you do not have a visa interview. However, if you are called for one, you will have to ensure that you answer honestly. The main questions will revolve around your purpose of visit, the duration you plan on staying, your future plans once your purpose has been finished, and your source of funds. They can also ask you a few questions about the UK, as well as other questions they seem is necessary to grant you the visa.
Since the UK is no longer a part of the Schengen area, you will require a Schengen visa to visit those countries. Your UK visa alone is not enough. Despite this, there are certain European countries where you will not require a visa, or be issued with a visa on arrival as long as you hold a valid UK visa. These include Turkey, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Ireland, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia. However, to qualify for these, you will have to meet certain conditions on your visa for the United Kingdom.
Yes, you can delete your application online as long as you have not booked an appointment. You will have to log in to your visa4UK account and then delete it. However, please note that your visa will only start processing once you have submitted your documents at the appointment centre. If you do not make it to your appointment, the application will be automatically deleted.
You will have to mention the number of funds you possess, in this field. You will have to show a minimum sum to prove that you can support yourself during your stay in the UK. Along with this, you will have to submit financial documents to prove the same.
There is no specific number of statements that you can submit. However, it is advised to submit only a single bank’s statement for better processing. Also, keep in mind that you will have to show the statements for the past 6 months at least. The statement you submit must be genuine and should contain a seal from the bank proving its authenticity.
The medical tests depend on the UK Visa types. For a visitor permit lasting less than 6 months, you normally do not require a health check-up. However, if you are applying for a visa longer than 6 months, depending on the country you are travelling from, you may require tests to be taken. Indian citizens visiting the UK from India for more than 6 months will need a Tuberculosis test to be taken. Apart from this, it is suggested to have a health check-up before you travel to any country for safety reasons.
No, you cannot apply for another permit without cancelling your current application. The portal will not let you apply for another one as long as you have an active application. To apply for another visa, either cancel the application or wait until you are issued with the current visa.
It depends on several factors such as the strength of your application, the reason for your ban, the visa interview, and so on. Although, if your passport shows a stamp proving the ban from the US, you are most likely to be rejected. The US and UK share immigration data. However, you can still apply for a UK Visa. Make sure that you answer honestly when asked about the ban. If you do this, you may or may not get rejected. But, if you lie on the application form about the ban, you will 100% be rejected.
As per the requirements, a cover letter is not a mandatory document for the application for a UK Visa. However, if you wish to strengthen your application, you can submit a cover letter stating the purpose, duration, as well as the source of funds for your visit. You will have to address it to the British High Commission, New Delhi.
No, you do not require travel insurance while applying for the UK entry permit. However, it is advised to obtain it as it will greatly limit your expenses due to emergencies. Although, if you are going to the UK on a visa other than the visitor visa, and the length of the stay is longer than 6 months, you may have to pay for the UK healthcare while applying for the visa. This is done by paying an Immigration Health Surcharge fees.
To reschedule a UK visa appointment, you will have to log in to your Visa4Uk portal. You can then click on your present appointment, and choose to update it to a new date. However, in the case that you missed your appointment, you will have to make a new application and pay the fees again.
Yes, you can obtain a UK visa without an agent. However, in this case, you will have to do every bit of the work. You are going to have to fill the application form, book the medical tests, book the appointment, get the certificates notarized, and so on. However, a visa agent makes your job easier. You will only have to show up for appointments. They will take care of everything else.
Yes, you can obviously apply for the visa again. However, the chances of you getting it approved depend mainly on the reason for rejection. Technical errors in the application, spelling mistakes, and other minute problems will not affect the application greatly. You can rectify this, and submit a stronger application. However, if the visa refusal reasons were of a higher degree, such as criminal charges, fraudulent documents, etc, you will almost certainly have the application rejected again. This is applicable for almost all visas.
You cannot change your visa application centre once you have paid the fees and booked the appointment. Alternately, you can cancel your application and start a new application with a new visa appointment as long as you have not attended the appointment and submitted your biometrics.
Yes, you may apply for a UK permit while you are on a tourist visa in the USA. However, there are certain restrictions on this. You can only apply for the UK visit visa in another country other than your country of residence. Since the B1/B2 is a visit visa, it is not a residence permit. If you have a residence permit in the USA such as the F1, or H1B, etc, you can apply even for other types of UK visa from the US.