- What documents are required?
Please see the "Documents Required"
page on this website for details of what documents you
must submit with your visa application. Failure to submit
the required documents may result in your application
being refused without an interview being offered.
- Do I need to submit original documents?
Original documents are preferable. The UK Border Agency
is willing to consider photocopied or faxed documents,
but reserves the right to request originals if the need
arises. Please note: Students must always submit the
original enrolment letter from their university, college
or school in the United Kingdom. Work permit holders
must submit their original work permit along with their
application. Such letters / permits must not be sent
direct to the UK Border Agency, but should be submitted
by the applicants with their application.
- Do I need to show my old passport?
It is extremely helpful if you do if your old passport
showing previous foreign travel (for example: UK, Schengen,
Swiss, USA visas).
- Must I always provide the name
of a British Citizen as a sponsor?
No. Anyone present in the United Kingdom, for whatever
purpose, can sponsor someone. It is important to name
the specific sponsor particularly in the case of family
visits. If you are intending to visit a relative then
please specify this and submit evidence of their immigration
status in the UK (for example, a copy of their passport
photograph page and current UK visa).
- Apart from a letter of invitation
what other evidence should I bring?
This very much depends upon the type of application
which is being submitted. Please see the "Documents
Required" section.
- What does a letter of invitation
need to say and does it need to be notarized?
There is no set form of words for a letter of invitation.
Sponsors should write the invitation in their own words.
It should be addressed to the person being invited and
must include details of the purpose and duration of
the visit and also the relationship between the applicant
and the signatory of the letter and the persons inviting
the applicant. These letters do not have to be notarized
but they must be written in English. Essentially, it
should be clear from the invitation why the person is
being invited, by whom, for how long and where they
will stay.
- Where should sponsors send their
invitation letters?
Invitations should be sent direct to the person who
is being invited (visa applicant) and they should be
submitted with their visa application. Please do not
send (or copy) invitation or sponsorship letters to
the UK Border Agency. It is extremely difficult, administratively,
and very time consuming to hold on to such documents
and then link them with applications when they are finally
made. Copying or sending such invitations only serves
to slow down the application and decision-making process.
- Is it necessary to have a letter
from my employers indicating my salary if some or all
of my expenses are going to be covered by my sponsor?
Evidence of your circumstances is helpful to satisfy
the visa officer that you are in settled employment
and also to indicate your financial situation. You should
include information with your application whether you
are paying for the trip or not.
- Do I have to be interviewed?
Issue or refusal of a visa is based on the assessment
of your application by an UK Border Agency visa officer.
The visa officer may decide to interview you if they
need more information before making a decision on your
visa application. In such cases, you will need to visit
the UK Border Agency at the British High Commission
in Pretoria by prior appointment.
- For a marriage visa, must the
sponsor be present at the interview?
No. In most circumstances only the applicant needs to
be interviewed. You will be required to submit evidence
of the sponsor's residence status in the United Kingdom,
freedom to marry and ability to support and accommodate
without recourse to public funds (see "Documents
Required").
- How long will my visit visa be
valid for?
With a visit visa you can usually enter and leave the
UK any number of times while it is still valid. The
visa officer may occasionally limit a visa so it is
valid for only one entry. You cannot stay for longer
than 6 months on each visit. Visit visas can be valid
for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, or 5 years. It is recommended
to apply for a 6 month visa if you are applying for
a UK visa for the first time. Please note: The
visa officer may decide to make your visa valid for
a shorter time than you have asked for, for example
if you are not a regular traveller or have never visited
the UK before.
- How far in advance should I apply?
You can apply for a visa 3 months in advance of your
intended travel date. Applicants are strongly advised
not to make their travel arrangements until they have
received their visa.
- How long does it take to get
a visa?
Please see the 'Processing
Times' page on this website for information on how
long your visa application might take.
- Can you help me find a job in
the UK and obtain a work permit?
No. Our involvement in the work permit process is limited
to dealing only with applications for work permit visas
after an applicant has obtained their work permit. For
information on work permits please visit the website
"www.ukvisas.gov.uk"
section and the link to UK Work Permits.
- Do you issue visas for Commonwealth
countries?
Yes, the UK Border Agency issues visas for certain Commonwealth
countries and other territories such as the Bahamas,
Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands. Please visit "www.ukvisas.gov.uk"
for complete details of which countries and territories
we issue on behalf of.
- Can I get my money back if my
application is refused or I withdraw it?
The visa application fee reflects the administrative
costs of processing an application and is not refundable
if your visa application is refused. If a payment has
been made and the application is not submitted or if
the applicant refuses to provide biometric details with
their application, then we will refund the fee.
- If I am refused a visa, will
I know why and can I appeal against the refusal?
If you are refused, you will receive a written notice
from the visa officer detailing the reasons why you
have been refused. The right of appeal against refusal
only exists for certain categories and the visa officer
will inform you at the time of refusal whether you have
the right to appeal. Please see the 'Appeals'
page on this website to find out more about the appeals
process.
- If I am refused a visa, when
can I re-apply?
You can re-apply at any time. You should be aware, that
if there has been no significant change in your circumstances
since the last refusal, or if you are unable to address
the points of refusal as written on the refusal notice,
you might be refused again. A previous refusal will
not though, in itself, mean that any subsequent application
will be refused automatically. If your application has
been refused because you have provided false information,
documents or passports in support of your visa application,
all future applications will be refused for up to 10
years.
- How long does the appeals process
take?
The UK Border Agency has no control over when your appeal
will be heard. It can take some time and depends on
a number of things. This can include the type of case
(visitor, settlement) and whether you have asked for
the case to be heard orally, so your sponsor can give
evidence. Visitor appeals are usually heard within 6
months of being lodged; for other categories, including
settlement, it can take up to 9 months.
- What happens if I win my appeal?
Your determination will be sent from the Asylum and
Immigration Tribunal to the UK Border Agency in the
United Kingdom, who then send it to South Africa. It
can take several weeks before this arrives with the
visa officer at Pretoria. You should allow at least
6 weeks from the date, you or your representative,
received your appeal determination before you contact
the UK Border Agency at Pretoria. The UK Border Agency
cannot process your visa application until we
get our copy of your determination from official sources.
For more information and for contact details please
see the 'Appeals' page on
this website.
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