what are the required documents of a visitor visa to the uk

[davathur]

Hi

We are in Phil. and just now, my OH is asking the req. docs. for the visitor visa to the UK.

We've been through the req. and already made an online application, we go to manila next week.
20th February. i feel we are okay but to reassure her can anyone tell her the req. docs.

thanks

Dava

PS. I'm Scottish. she's Filipina.

[Terpe]

Hi Dava, a warm welcome aboard Filipino UK forum.

Securing a tourist visit visa is notoriously unpredictable for many reasons. Not least because approval or refusal is largely based on the discretion of the ECO.
There is no appeal.

The major complication is the need by the applicant to prove a non-immigrant intent. Applicants wishing to come to the UK under a tourist visit must clearly demonstrate that they do not intend to remain in the UK on a permanent basis. Immigration law places this burden of proof on the applicant.
In order to grant a Visit Visa, the ECO must be satisfied that the applicant has sufficiently strong social, economic and family ties back home that would compel them to leave the UK at the end of the temporary stay.

Unfortunately, in most cases it becomes difficult to overcome this presumption.

In principle, you must be able to show that:-

- you are 18 or over
- you intend to visit the UK for no more than 6 months
- you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit
- you have enough money to support and accommodate yourself without working or help from public funds, or you and any dependants will be supported and accommodated by relatives or friends
- you can meet the cost of the return or onward journey
- you are not in transit to a country outside the 'Common Travel Area' (Ireland, the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
- you do not intend to take paid or unpaid employment, produce goods or provide services, including the selling of goods or services directly to members of the public
- you do not intend to do a course of study
- you do not intend to marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership
- you do not intend to carry out the activities of a business visitor, a sports visitor or an entertainer visitor
- you do not intend to receive private medical treatment

Concerning the actual documents needed to submit in evidence, it really does come down to personal circumstance but generally must contain:-

- information about you
- information about your finances and employment
- your accommodation and travel details
- information about your visit to the UK

The application should be supported with some of the following documents for a sucessful application:-

- if you are employed, a letter from your employer granting leave of absence from your job for a specified period - the letter should also say how long you have been employed by that employer, in what job(s), and when you are expected back at work
- if you are self-employed, evidence of your business activities and financial standing
- evidence of any property you own in your home country
- if you are a student, a letter from your school or college stating the course you are on, its start and finish dates, and the dates of the holiday period when you intend to visit the United Kingdom
- evidence of any family or social ties and responsibilities to return home to
- evidence of any firm travel plans you have made
- bank statements going back over a period of several months (suggest 6 months)
- evidence of savings/funds available to you during your stay
- evidence you can financially maintain and accommodate yourself in the UK with or without assistance from family/friends living in the UK but without resource to public funding or employment.

A sponsor can help greatly by providing an invitation/supporting letter to confirm the support they will be providing in terms of financial assistance and/or accommodation.

If the sponsor is intending to totally support the visit this is a listing of fairly typical supporting documents that should be provided:-

- 6 months Bank statements
- 6 months pay slips
- Proof of address (eg utility bill, Council Tax etc)
- Accommodation details (including owner's agreement / rental agreement)
- Sponsors passport copy (Photo page, any relevant stamp pages)
- The main reasons for wanting the applicant to travel at the specific time

The first and foremost element that always needs to be kept in mind when applying for a visit visa for UK, is that of clearly showing an intention to return to your home country that outweighs reasons to stay.
Have a well thought out travel plan. Date of Travel, duration of stay and reasons for travelling.

Reasons to return home and strong/complelling ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual.
Some examples of ties can be a job, a house, social and family relationships, a bank account, possessions etc
The ECO will be looking to see if the aspects of your life that bind you to your country outweigh those aspects that may cause you to be unwilling to return to your home country, or to attempt to change or extend your visa status.

Good luck

[davathur]

thank you terpe for your answer. . gbu