UK Visitor Visa

If you’re a foreign national looking to travel to the UK for leisure, to meet family, or to visit friends, you may need to apply for a UK Visitor Visa.

Contact us today at 02033939272 for professional assistance with your Visitor Visa UK application. Our immigration solicitors are ready to support you in person, by phone, or online.

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Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

What is a UK Visitor Visa?

A UK Visitor Visa, also known as a Standard Visitor Visa, permits individuals from other countries to temporarily enter the UK for a period of up to six months. You are allowed to use this visa for:

  • Tourism
  • Business meetings
  • Short study courses
  • Other approved activities
UK Visitor Visa

Do You Need a Visitor Visa?

Before applying ensure that you actually require a UK visitor visa. Some nationalities do not need a visa to come and live in the UK for up to six months. This information can be obtained on the official website of the UK Home Office.

Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

How to Qualify for a UK Visitor Visa?

To get a tourist visa UK, you must meet these basic UK tourist visa requirements:

  • Decide to depart from the UK once this trip is over.
  • Make sure you have enough cash to cater for your stay.
Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

Types of UK Visitor Visas

There are different kinds of visitor visas for specific purposes, such as:

  • Family Visit Visa 
  • Tourist Visit Visa
  • Child Visitor Visa
  • Student Visitor Visa
  • Business Visitor Visa
  • Visitor In Transit Visa

This visa allows you to explore the United Kingdom, whether you’re planning a leisure trip, visiting loved ones, or conducting business.

The UK Visitor Visa enables anyone who meets the requirements under the UK immigration law to visit the country for a limited period for a number of purposes. Here are the different types of UK Visitor Visas:

1. Family Visit Visa

People who are from countries outside the EEA and would like to come to the UK to visit their families must obtain a UK Family Visit Visa. For the duration of six months, one can live in this country provided by this visa. You cannot be employed or receive public benefits and dependents cannot be as part of the same application. Every member of the family must apply for the Family Visit Visa UK separately. Family visa categorically has rigid requirements, especially meeting financial requirements and your intention to stay back in your home country.

2. Child Visitor Visa

Children under the age of 18 years from countries outside the EEA, require a Child Visitor Visa in order to visit the country. With regard to this visa, children are allowed to stay for up to six months in the country for purposes such as visiting relatives, participating in school exchange programmes, or for studies. Parents or guardians must show that the person being taken care of has someone to look after them and has somewhere to live in the UK. A passport, visa, proof of income, and itinerary would be required.

3. Student Visitor Visa

If you are going to have a short-term education in the UK, then you have to apply for a Student Visitor Visa. This visa is valid for the duration of your course or up to 6 months whichever is the shortest, for short courses, language courses, or certificate programs. However, it does not apply to longer courses or to any degree studies.

4. Business Visitor Visa

The Business Visitor Visa will enable people to undertake specific business related activities in the UK for a maximum of six months. It may include meetings, conferences, signing of contracts, or contract training or any movement that may not require extended movement from a central base. However, you cannot be paid or employed with any UK based company while under this visa.

5. Visitor In Transit Visa

If you are planning to make a transit to another country and your stay in the United Kingdom will not exceed 48 hours then you will need to apply for the Visitor in Transit Visa. You will also need documents that prove you have arrangements for another destination that you will be proceeding with and that you will not stay in the UK for long.

Visas are also categorised into different types depending on the purpose and duration of the visit; this is why an Appropriate visa should be sought depending on the planned visit of the visitor.

Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

What are the UK Visitor Visa​ Requirements?

To successfully apply for a UK Visitor Visa, you’ll need to meet these basic requirements:

  1. You must show that you genuinely intend to return to your home country at the end of your trip.
  2. You need to prove that you can support yourself financially during your visit.
  3. Also, you should have funds to pay for your journey back home.
  4. The Visitor Visa UK is not meant for making back-to-back trips to stay in the UK permanently.

If you’re visiting for specific reasons, such as studying, taking an exam, completing a work placement, or receiving medical treatment, there might be additional requirements.

Our immigration lawyers are here to help. Contact us for a free consultation to guide you through the UK Visitor Visa application process.

Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

How to Apply for a UK Visitor Visa?

Follow these steps to apply for a UK Visitor Visa:

  1. Before starting, confirm whether you need a visa to enter the UK.
  2. Submit your visitor visa UK application online. If traveling with family, each member must complete their own application and pay the required fee.
  3. Ensure the fee is paid when submitting your application.
  4. Schedule an appointment at your nearest VAC.
  5. Bring all required documents, have your photo taken, and provide your fingerprints (biometrics).

In most cases, you’ll receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks.

Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

What Documents Are Required to Apply for a UK Visitor Visa?

When applying for a UK Visitor Visa, you must provide documents to prove your eligibility. If you don’t have an EEA visa, you’ll need to show the following:

  1. Purpose of Visit
    Evidence of the activities you plan to undertake in the UK, such as business or other permitted activities.
  2. Duration of Stay
    Proof that you don’t intend to stay longer than six months and plan to leave shortly after your visit.
  3. Financial Support
    Documents showing you can pay for your trip, including flights.

    Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependents during your stay without relying on public funds.

  4. Travel Documents
    Current and previous passports or another valid travel identification.
  5. Translations
    Any documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Additional Documents You May Need

  • Travel itinerary, including dates of travel.
  • Immigration and travel history, showing movements between countries.
  • Proof of trip costs and financial statements like bank records.
  • Details of your overseas residence and contact number.
  • Information about employers or companies you plan to work with outside the UK.
Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

What Are the Reasons for UK Visitor Visa Refusal?

The Home Office may refuse a UK Visitor Visa for several reasons, including:

  • Thinking that you want to use it to live in the United Kingdom as a holder of a visitor’s visa.
  • There are concerns that you could be perceived as a threat to the state’s security, potentially endangering lives.
  • Some of the breaches of the visa regulations in the past.
  • Facing pending criminal charges; that is, having criminal charges that are still pending in court.
  • Suspicion about the validity of the application.
  • Failure to obtain necessary funds for your maintenance during your stay in the United Kingdom.

To add, in most cases, you cannot find the administrative review of the visitor visa refusal. However, in some cases, it is preferable to apply with a new application explaining the circumstances that led to the refusal.

If you need help preparing an application that will meet all the necessary requirements, our proven visit visa UK consultants can help. If you require our assistance, then please feel free to call us today and we shall assist you.

Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

Can I Extend My UK Visitor Visa?

It is important to recognize that the UK Visitor Visa is scheduled for a short-term visit exclusively. But if you arrived on a visa for less than six months, you may be able to get an extension to the six-month period.

Extensions beyond six months are only possible in specific cases, such as:

  • Health care consumer working & accessing medical treatment in the UK.
  • Studying a short course.
  • Reviewing the PLAB test to be conducted by the relevant board or doing a clinical attachment as a graduate.

The current cost of extending a UK Visitor Visa is £1000.

Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

What a UK Visitor Visa Allow and Does Not Allow?

With a UK Visitor Visa, you can do the following for up to 6 months:

  • Tourism (e.g., holidays or sightseeing)
  • Getting married (provided you intend to live in a different country after getting married)
  • Visiting family or friends
  • Volunteering for a UK-based charity for up to 30 days
  • Traveling from the UK to another country
  • Engaging in certain business activities like meetings or interviews
  • Participating in a school exchange program
  • Attending recreational classes that last up to 30 days
  • Studying for courses lasting no more than 6 months
  • Fulfilling a placement
  • Taking a test
  • Working as a professor, senior doctor, or dentist

However, with a UK Visitor Visa, you are not allowed to:

  • Perform paid or unpaid jobs
  • Access public funds (e.g., welfare benefits)
  • Live in the UK by making repeated visits
  • Conduct activities that require a specific visa, such as a Marriage Visitor Visa for marriage or civil partnerships.
Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

How Rees Clayton Can Help with Tourist Visa UK?

Rees Clayton will offer professional advice with regard to the application for the UK Tourist Visa. Our visitor visa solicitors consist of professional consultants who would help you individualise the application, thus making it right and appropriate to submit. From document preparation to reviewing your application, we reduce the chances of your application being refused.

This could be a new application for immigration or any social support, or an appeal, Rees Clayton stands ready to offer help from scratch and follow through till completion.

Our experienced UK Visitor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions & Answer

A UK Visitor Visa, generally referred to as a Standard Visitor Visa, permits persons from other countries to visit the UK for up to six months. It is needed for travelling for leisure, to visit relatives or friends, for business or trade, or to study for a short term. Some nationalities do not have to apply for a visa, and this information is available on the UK Home Office website.

Key documents include:

  • A valid passport or any other legal means of identification for travel.
  • Evidence of financial arrangements for your visit and to travel back.
  • Destination of the trip, including the date on which the trip is intended to be made, and the planned activities to be undertaken.
  • Proof that you will not be intending to live in the UK after your trip.
  • Letters for other occasions, as for instance, to prove business meetings or school exchange programs.
  • If the document is in any other language other than English/Welsh, then the document has to be attested.

Certainly, it is unlawful to change your status while in the UK on a tourist visa. In case you wish to apply for a different visa, you have to return to your country or another qualifying country for the application.

It is unlawful to overstay a visa, and this automatically has implications as you apply for other visas in the future. This is advice that you should always leave the United Kingdom before your visa expires. If you are unable to travel due to some complications or situations you need to contact the Home Office to seek permission to remain legally in the country.

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About Us

Rees Clayton Immigration is an authorised trading style of Rees Clayton Solicitors, a UK-based firm specialising in personal and business immigration services. Rees Clayton Solicitors are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), under SRA Number 635563.

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