The UK Visit Visa or Standard Visitor Visa makes the visitor eligible to stay in UK for a maximum period of 6 months. UK Visit Visa can be issued for shorter periods also. The UK Visit Visa is meant for those who travel to UK for tourism, to visit members of family who are in UK, for medical treatment or for professional purposes. A few other types of Visas including General Visitor Visa, Family Visitor Visa, Child Visitor Visa, Business Visitor Visa including Visas for doctors, dentists and academics, Sports Visitor Visa, Entertainer Visitor Visa, Prospective Entrepreneur Visa, Private Medical Treatment Visa and Approved Destination Status (ADS) Visa are replaced with the UK Visit Visa.
Those who want to visit, study or work in UK can apply for UK Visit Visa. The visitor should be able to understand English. The applicant for UK Visit Visa should produce proof of his/her confirmed return ticket as well as confirmed hotel booking. The applicant should show clear reason for his/her visit to UK and should also show his capability to support his/her dependents along with himself/herself. The applicant should keep ready all the documents that are necessary to apply for UK Visit Visa.
Those who apply for UK Visit Visa are required to submit the following documents:
Those who apply for UK Visit Visa should prove that they have sufficient funds to manage all reasonable expenses in connection with their UK visit without accessing public funds. The expenses include their onward/return journey, expenses incurred by dependents and the costs of specified activities like private medical treatments. In cases in which the visit is sponsored by a friend or family member, the sponsor documents should show that the travel expenses, living expenses and accommodation costs will be covered by the sponsor. The supporting documents to be enclosed by the applicant include bank statements, pay slips, dividend vouchers and tax documents. The applicant need not show that he/she has a prescribed level of funds to meet living expenses, travel expenses and costs of accommodation.
The cost of UK Visit Visa depends on the country from which the application is made. The fee for UK Visit Visa is USD 130 – 135 in most of the cases. The additional fee include USD 40.00 for standard processing, USD 70.00 for rush processing and USD 90.00 for super rush processing.
A person may apply for long term UK Visitor Visa if he plans to make regular visits to UK over a longer period. In such cases the applicant can apply for UK Visitor Visa that will be valid for 2 years, 5 years or 10 years as the case may be. On each visit, the visa holder can stay in UK for maximum 6 months.
Those who want to visit a family member in UK can apply for UK family visitor visa. The applicant for UK family visitor visa should be outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. The applicant should also meet all other eligibility requirements. Those who have UK family visitor visa can stay in UK up to 6 months.
A friend, family member or business associate can be the sponsor in support of the UK Visitor Visa application. The documents required to sponsor UK Visitor Visa include proof of accommodation and the sponsor’s bank balance. Also the sponsor should provide a letter of invitation for the trip to be undertaken by the visa applicant. The letter of invitation should be in accordance with Paragraph 35 Part I of the Immigration Rules. As proof of accommodation the sponsor is required to furnish evidence of the residential property where the visitor will be staying during his UK visit. The sponsor may also provide the latest bank statement to prove that he/she can maintain the visitor during his/her stay in UK.
The applicant may attach six bank statements over a period of 6 months and should include the most recent bank statement. The purpose of attaching bank statement is to confirm that the applicant is financially strong to meet all expenses related to his visit to UK. Bank statements also helps the authorities to know the personal circumstances of the applicant.
Those who apply from outside UK can apply online for UK Visit Visa. As part of the online application the applicant has to book an appointment at the visa application centre. The applicant should have his photographs and fingerprints. Those who are already in UK can apply to extend your visa. Those who are from North Korea cannot apply online.
In case of applications for UK Visit Visa made outside UK, the current fee for:
Visa up to 6 months is £93
Visa up to 2 years is £350
Visa up to 5 years is £636
Visa up to 10 years is £798
Short term student visa up to 6 months is £97
Private medical treatment visa for 6 – 11 months is £186
Visiting academic – 6 – 12 months is £186
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It is usually valid for 6 months. i.e you are allowed to stay up to 6 months at a time. You can apply for a 2 year, 5 year or 10 year visitor visa but you can only stay 6 months in any given 12 months.
Depending on where you are applying from and the time you are applying. It can take up to a month to get an outcome.
Yes someone can sponsor you but they will need to provide documentation to this matter.
Strictly no.