HOW TO APPLY FOR A UK VISA IN AFRICA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Online application
How do I apply?
Applying for a UK visit visa is genuinely quick and simple, there are 3 steps:
Check if you need a visa and which one to apply for.
Apply, make payment and book your appointment at the Visa Application Centre online. All customers applying for a visit visa can now use our new online application form. This upgraded system is faster, simpler and user-friendly. Use this link to talk to Travelbeta Visa Processing Experts.
Attend your appointment at the Visa Application Centre to submit your application and biometric data. Choose one of our added value services to enhance your experience.
When should I apply?
UK Visas & Immigration’s global service standard for visit and non-settlement visa applications is 15 working days from submission of your application and biometric data at the Visa Application Centre. We encourage all applicants to remember this when planning their travel to the UK, and to ensure they apply for a visa in good time. Did you know that you can apply for a visa to visit the UK up to 3 months in advance? We can post-date a visit visa for up to 3 months to accommodate your intended travel date, so why wait? Apply early to beat the queues and avoid unnecessary inconvenience.
Unplanned travel at short notice?
- We recognize that some customers will need to apply for a UK visa at short notice and that unplanned travel is sometimes unavoidable. Please consider your intended travel date when making your visa application and plan to include a minimum of 15 working days for your visa application to be processed. If you know that you need to travel at short notice, or want to have your application placed at the front of the queue for processing, consider purchasing the Priority Visa service.
Which visa do I apply for?
What type of visa do I need to apply for? That depends on why you are going to the UK and what you want to do while there. A wide range of guidance is available for all UK visa routes.
Which visit visa do I need to apply for?
- There are now only four visit visa routes to the UK. A Standard Visitor visa https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa is the most common. On a Standard Visitor visa, you can travel to the UK for tourism, to see family and friends, to shop, and to conduct (some) business activities. Viewing the guidance at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visasimmigration/tourist-short-stay-visas will show you which visit visa is appropriate for the nature of your trip and tell you what you can and cannot do in the UK on that visa.
How long can I stay in the UK on a visit visa?
- A standard visit visa is valid for 6 months and allows multiple entries to the UK during that period. You can stay for up to 6 months but not beyond the validity of the visa. You can also apply for a longer-term visit visa if you travel regularly to the UK. These visit visas are valid for 2, 5 or 10 years and allow multiple entries for up to 6 months on each trip.
Long-term visit visas
You may consider applying for a long-term visit visa if you travel to the UK regularly.
Can I apply for a 10-year visit visa if I’ve never been to the UK before?
- Yes, but check online guidance carefully, you need to demonstrate that you have a genuine reason to visit the UK on a regular basis, and lack of previous travel may be a factor. The difference in fees will not be refunded, if the Entry Clearance Officer grants a 6-month visit visa instead of the 10-year visa you applied for.
Minors
Can I apply for a long-term (2, 5 or 10 years) visa if I am under 18?
- Yes, but you should note that if you are under 18 when you apply, your long-term visit visa (regardless of the duration applied for) will only be valid for up to 6 months after you turn 18 years.
Can I visit the UK alone if I am under 18?
Yes, we call this an unaccompanied child visit. You will need to add in some extra information for applications from minors. Please talk to Travelbeta Visa Processing Team.
Click HERE to begin your UK visa application with ease or contact our visa consultants for all your Travel visa related questions.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 08179704269
