UK visas are required for citizens or nationals of numerous territories that wish to stay in the UK for a certain period of time. There’s a whole host of visa options, below we have presented some general information you should know about.
So, who actually requires a UK visa? There is an extensive list of countries whereby nationals or citizens will need a visa if they are to enter the United Kingdom. This includes Afghanistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Ghana, Cuba, Georgia, Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Thailand, Belarus, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Peru, Mali, Jordan, Egypt, Cape Verde, Colombia, and much, much more.
You will be able to find a full list on the government website. Nonetheless, most citizens or nationals from countries outside of the EU will need to make a visa application UK of some sort. Moreover, stateless individuals and people that hold non-national documents will also need a visa, as do those that have passports or travel documents that have been issued under the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or the former Soviet Union.
There are several documents you will require if you are going to apply for any type of UK visa – whether you need a marriage visa, wish to make an FLRO application, make a student visa application, or anything else. This is why it is advisable to hire an immigration lawyer, as they will be able to assist you with making your application correctly. If you do not provide adequate documents it could be refused.
When it comes to making an application for a visitor visa to the UK, you will need the following; a letter from your employee granting your leave of absence from your job, evidence of savings, bank statements from the previous several months, travel plans, a letter from your school or college if you are a student – stating the course you are studying on, evidence of any property you own in the country you reside in and if you are self-employed you will have to show evidence of your business activities.
The documents you need largely depend on the UK visa application you are making. Nonetheless, from discretionary leave to remain, to FLRO forms, to a marriage visa, two things every applicant will need are as follows – a passport or travel document and a recent passport-sized photograph. This photo must be in colour and please note passport size means 45 mm x 35 mm. This must be of a good quality and against a light coloured background. Ensure it is printed on normal photographic paper. Your full face must be easily visible. Do not wear anything that is going to distract from this, such as a hat or sunglasses. The only exceptions are those that are covering their head for religious or cultural reasons, yet your face cannot be covered. The last thing you want is for your visa application form to be rejected simply because of a poor photograph!