Why do I need to provide documents to support my application?
UK immigration law says that it is up to you to satisfy the visa officer that
you qualify for a visa. Visa officers aim to make a decision on your
application without interviewing you, so it is vital that you send the correct
documents with your application. If you do not send the documents they need,
they may refuse your application without interviewing you. Where possible,
please send documents which can be checked by someone else. For example, it can
be difficult to prove that a mobile phone number belongs to a particular
person, whereas it is easier to prove that a landline number belongs to that
person. We appreciate that it may not always be possible for you to provide
these kinds of documents, but please be aware that it will help visa officers
make the decision if you can.
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What sort of documents do I have to show?
Everyone's circumstances are different. Our checklists below give you a general
idea of the kinds of documents which will help the visa officer check that you
have met the immigration rules. It is up to you whether you submit these
documents, or different ones. It is your responsibility to make sure that you
have read the available information on the category of visa you want to apply
for. The list below does not cover every single situation, and producing all
the documents on it will not guarantee you a visa. Please make sure that you
include all supporting papers with your application, and don't send or fax any
papers separately.
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Are there any documents which you don't need to see?
Please don't submit credit cards, or original airline tickets.
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What happens if I don't send the suggested documents?
If you do not submit the documents they need to see with your application, our
VAC staff will point this out to you. You will be asked if you want to continue
with your application, knowing that you do not have all the documents to
support it. It is entirely up to you whether you go ahead with your application
or not.
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What if I want to apply for a visa for my child?
If your child is under 18, as well as meeting the immigration rules, they must
show that they have a parent or guardian who is responsible for their care, and
that they have suitable travel and care arrangements for when they travel to
the UK. Children can travel accompanied or unaccompanied. If they are
travelling on an accompanied visa, the name and passport number of up to 2
adults travelling with them will be written on their visa. The child will then
have to travel with one or other of those named people each time they go to the
UK. The visa will not be valid if plans change. You can get more advice on what
kind of visa is most suitable for your circumstances from Application Centre
staff.
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How long will it take to get my visa?
For straightforward applications the British Embassy aims to process visa applications within 24 hours. For such straightforward applications passports are usually available for collection after 16:00 hrs on the next working day following submission of your application.
Non-straightforward applications, for example where an applicant has not visited the UK before, take longer, particularly where the visa officer needs to make additional checks or enquiries The Embassy aims to process such non-straightforward applications within 15 working days. For non-straightforward applications we cannot guarantee that your passport will be ready for collection the next day.
You can choose to sign up for our SMS messaging service and receive a text on your mobile phone as soon as your passport is ready to be collected at the application centre. This can be arranged when you submit your application.
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