Generally for foreign nationals to travel to the UK, they would need a UK visa. The type of UK visa that would be needed depends on the purpose of their travel to the UK. As a foreign national that has intention to travel to the UK for a short term visit, you would generally need a UK visitor visa for such purpose.

A UK visitor visa is generally referred to a Standard Visitor visa. As a Standard Visitor, you can stay in the UK for up to 6 months, unless in certain circumstances where you can stay longer than 6 months, for example if you are in the UK receiving medical treatment.

Do I need a Standard Visitor Visa to visit the UK

Before applying for a UK visitor visa, you first have to check if your country’s passport allows you to travel to the UK visa free. If you are a national of the following countries listed below, then you don’t need a visa to travel to the UK for a short term visit, but you must still meet the requirements for UK Standard Visitor visa.

Note: You can not stay in the UK for more than 6 months if you entered the UK visa-free.

UK Standard Visitor Visa Requirements

In order to successfully get your UK visitor visa approved, you must meet basic requirements put in place by the UK government. Depending on your purpose of visit to the UK, you will be required to meet additional requirements.

• International Passport: You must have an international passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended period of stay in the UK.

• Ensure that what you plan to do in the UK is allowed as Standard Visitor

• Proof of Financial Capability: You must prove that you have enough money to take care of yourself throughout your visit in the UK.

• Proof of Strong Ties to your Home Country: You must prove that you have strong ties with your home country and will leave the UK after your visa expires.

• You must prove that you have enough funds to pay for your return or onward journey if you passing through the UK to another country (“In transit”).

• Proof of Financial Support: If someone is sponsoring your trip to the UK, then you have to provide an affidavit of support from the person sponsoring you.

• You must prove that you will not live in the UK for extended period through frequent and successive visits, or make UK your permanent home.

Purpose of Visit as a Standard Visitor

In order to successfully apply and get your UK visitor visa approved, you have to make sure that what you plan to do in the UK is allowed as a Standard Visitor. Here we have listed the activities you can do in the UK as a Standard Visitor.

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, that is for holiday or vacation

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor to visit family or friends.

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor for certain business activities like attending meetings or interviews

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor to study (but the course must not be longer than 6 months and the education provider must not be an academy or a state-funded school).

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor to do placement or write exams

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor to do certain permitted paid  engagements or events.

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor to engage in school exchange programs

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor to do recreational courses for up to 30 days

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor for medical treatment

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor as an academic, senior doctor or dentist

• You can pass through the UK to another country (“in transit”)

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity organization in the UK.

• You can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor as an expert in your profession, like giving lectures in a UK higher institution (as long as you will not be taking up a permanent teaching position with the institution) or performing.

Activities not Allowed as a Standard Visitor

As a Standard Visitor in the UK, you are not allowed to do any of the activities listed below:

• You are not allowed to claim public funds or pensions

• You are not allowed to live in the UK for a long period of time through frequent and successive visits.

• You are not allowed to do paid and unpaid jobs for a UK company or be self employed unless you are doing certain permitted paid engagements or events.

• You are not allowed to get married or register a civil partnership

• You are not allowed to send notice of marriage or civil partnership registration

Can I Travel to the UK as a Standard Visitor if am under 18 Years

You can travel to the UK as a Standard Visitor if you are below 18, but you have to meet certain requirements. We have listed out these requirements below.

• You need a written consent from your parents or guardian stating that they are aware of your travel to the UK and that they have given their approval.

• You need to prove that you have sufficient money to take care of yourself during your stay in the UK. If you are been supported financially by someone else, then you have to provide an affidavit of support from that person.

• You need to have cash to pay for your return journey or onward journey if you are transiting to another country through the UK.

• You need to make arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK for the short period of time

• You need to prove that you intend returning back to your home country after your short period of stay in the UK and not planning to make UK your permanent home.

• If you will be accompanied by an adult, you need to indicate the full name of the adult in your visa application. The name of the adult that will accompany you to the UK will appear on your visa, although the adult have to apply for a Visitor visa separately. You can have a maximum of two adults that can accompany you to the UK.

UK Standard Visitor Visa Application Process

The UK Standard Visitor visa application process is a very easy one. Here, we have listed a step by step process to successfully apply for the UK visitor visa.

• Apply Online: The first step in a UK visitor visa application process is to first apply online and submit all your required and supporting documents.

• Biometric Information: After applying online, you have to submit your fingerprint scan and passport photo to the UK Visas and Immigration center in your home country, or you can use the “UK Immigration : ID Check” app to send your biometric information. You need to sign in or sign up for the UK Immigration and Citizenship account to send biometrics through the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app.

When is the earliest Time that I can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa?

You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa 3 weeks before your intended date of travel to the UK. It usually takes up to 3 weeks to get a decision on your application. If you want a faster decision on your visa application, you have to pay for premium processing.

Possible Reasons for Visa Denial

Not every body that actually applies for a UK Standard Visitor visa actually get their visa approved. Here are the possible reasons for a UK Standard Visitor visa denial.

• You are unable to prove that you have strong ties with your home country and as such will return back to your home country after your visa expires.

• You are unable to prove that you have enough funds to take care of yourself during your stay in the UK.

• When you have a bad travel history, that is when you always over stay your visa in the UK.

• When you have a criminal record in your home country

• When you have a very deadly and infectious disease

• When you submit a fraudulent document to the visa application center

• When you are not able to prove or establish the intent of your travel

• When you are unable to provide your parent or guardian consent for applicants under 18 years

• When you have a history with violating the UK immigration laws

Cost implication of applying for a Standard Visitor Visa

Here we have listed the various fees for each UK visitor visa category. Kindly go through the list to find the fee that you will pay depending on which category you are going for.

• Standard Visitor Visa: The fee attached to this visa is 115 pounds with a maximum validity period of 6 months.

• Standard Visitor Visa for Medical Reasons: The fee attached to this visa is 200 pounds with a validity period of 11 months.

• Standard Visitor Visa for Academics: The fee attached to this visa is 200 pounds with a validity period of 12 months.

• 2 Year Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa: The fee attached to this visa is 422 pounds with a validity period of 2 years and a maximum of 6 months period of stay per visit.

• 5 Year Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa: The fee attached to this visa is 771 pounds with a validity period of 5 years and a maximum of 6 months period of stay per visit.

• 10 Year Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa: The fee attached to this visa is 963 pounds with a validity period of 10 years and a maximum of 6 months period of stay per visit.

Can I extend my stay in the UK as a Standard Visitor?

You can extend your stay in the UK as a Standard Visitor on certain conditions. You will be eligible to extend your visa for longer than 6 months if:

• You are in the UK receiving medical treatment

• You are an academic

• You are a graduate retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test, or undergoing a clinical attachment.

In order to extend your Standard Visitor visa, you have to pay a fee of 1,000 pounds regardless of your nationality and you have to apply before your current visa expires.

You will usually get a decision on your visa extension application within 8 weeks but you can pay a premium fee of 1,000 pounds (super priority service) to get a faster decision on your application.

Application Process for Standard Visitor Visa Extension

The application process to extend your Standard Visitor visa in the UK is very much the same with the application process explained above for a fresh application.

• Apply Online: The first step of your Standard Visitor visa extension application process is to apply online. You have to pay the required visa fee and extension fee of 1,000 pounds.

• Proof of Identity: You have to submit your biometric information (fingerprint and passport photograph) to the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.

After submitting your biometric information, you will usually get a decision on your application within 8 weeks. If you want a faster decision on your visa application, then you have to use the super priority service and pay a fee of 1,000 pounds.

Here at Schmick Travel, we have experienced consultants with many years of experience. If you want us to handle the whole process for you, kindly get in touch with us and one of our experienced consultants will be glad to assist you with your visa application process.