Today, UK Visa for Foreigners; is one of the visa many people find trading hustling on how they can get easy, and migrate to the country without much stress. But at the same time, if you don’t have the rightful information on how you can apply, and the procedures involved for proper application and requirement you may need before applying; so as to get it well secured.
Mind you, before one moves to any country UK for instance; as a foreigner, i advice you get well secured information, that will give the needed things that the application may required for you to secure your’s.
Travelling or moving to United Kingdom you need to understand that there are necessary things you need to find out like;
Do you need a visa to enter the country and which type of visa for the UK you will need to apply for. This will depend on where you are traveling from and the purpose of your visit.
Yes before now there are different types of UK visa and for you to pick yours, you can get it depending on your plan while travelling to UK, and if you are travelling for long or short time stay in the country.
However, the available visa for foreigners to UK are as follows bellow;
Types of UK visa For Foreigners
Now this type of UK visa can be look on in there categories, which are as follows;
- Short-stay UK visas –This the type of visa that can be valid from the duration 24 hours to six months. And this type of visa involves;
- Non-immigrant visas – longer-term temporary visas for purposes such as studying or working on a fixed-term temporary contract, where the applicant doesn’t intend to stay in the UK beyond a fixed period;
- Immigrant visas – for those who want to stay in the UK long-term or permanently, for example, those relocating for work or family reunion purposes.
Short-stay UK visas
- This type of UK visa is allowed and issued to attend a short term study or training program in the UK which can last from 6 to 11 months.You cannot enroll in full-time study program or a get a job while in the UK with this visa
Short-term Study visa
This visa is for short study courses that last for six months or less. The visa can be granted for up to 11 months if you are aged over 16 and studying an English language course.
Marriage Visitor visa
Here you can apply for this type of visa when or if you wants to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK. that is, when you are not ready to stay in the UK.
However, the visa is valid for up to six months and costs £95. You will need to provide.
- valid passport/ID;
- proof that you can financially support yourself for your stay;
- proof of marriage plans in the UK, e.g., venue booking confirmation;
- accommodation plans during your stay
Permitted Paid Engagement visa
This is also the type of UK visa that can only be valid if you
- are invited to the UK by an organization or client based in the country;
- want to do short-term paid work in the UK but haven’t been sponsored under the points-based system
The visa is valid for one month and costs £95. You will need to provide:
- valid passport/ID;
- proof that you can support yourself financially during the stay;
- invitation from UK-based organization/client OR proof that the work you will be doing relates to your skills and expertise;
- accommodation plans
Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa
T he parent of a Tier 4 Child visa is issued to visit the UK for the duration of 6 to 12 months for accompanying your child who is on a tier 4 child visa.
You cannot get employed or self-employed, neither study on the grounds of this visa.
Also this visa costs £516, with extensions costing £1,033. However you child must be under the age of 12 and will also hold a tier 4 child visa.
Moreover, you will be required to provide a valid passport/ID along with your child visa and evidence that you can support yourself financially during your say in UK
UK Visa for a Chinese Tour Group
To visit the UK for up to 30 days, as a part of an Approved Destination Status Agreement (ADS) Chinese tour group.
You cannot get employed or self-employed, or study while visiting on this visa
However, the duration of this visa last for only 30 day and cost £95.
UK Transit visa
Transit visa helps you to pass through the UK in transit, if you are changing flight or travelling through the UK that is on your way to another country.
However, transit are type into two; the following are as follows;
- Visitor in Transit Visa
- Direct Airsids Transit Visa.
1.Visitor in Transit Visa– these allows to stay in the UK for over 48 hours. This covers the period in which you are going to change terminals or travel to.
Furthermore, any one that is interested of travelling to UK, will apply for short stay visa at UK visa application center in your home country. You can look at the list of UK visa application centers worldwide.
However, you can also apply online through the UK Home Office Visas and Immigration Service website.
Non-immigrant UK visas
In case if you wants o stay in UK for more than six months, you will need to apply for a visa. Unless you are qualify for an exemption as detailed in the above section
The majority of longer-term UK visas are issued for periods of between 1-5 years with the chance to extend many of them if you want to stay longer. The types of fixed-term visas available are as follows:
Study visa.
To make it more clear and comprehensive the short term visa , there are two student visas available in UK.
1.General students [Tier 4 ]Visa.
2.Child student [Tier 4 ]Visa.
These visas are available to anyone who has been offered a placement at a recognized UK place of study. General student visas are granted for the length of the study course. Child student visas are available for those aged 4-17. They can be for up to six years (or three years if the child is 16 or 17).
Applicants will need to provide a valid passport/ID plus proof that they can support themselves during their stay without recourse to public funds
General student visa applicants will need to provide evidence that they meet English language requirements. Child student visa applicants will need to show evidence of consent from their parent or guardian.
The student visa costs £348 plus healthcare surcharge cost In some cases, it’s possible to extend this visa. The cost of this is £475.
Students on a general study visa can apply to be joined by certain family members if eligibility conditions are met.
Short-term work visas
There are several short-term UK work (Tier 5) visas. These are:
- Charity Worker visa – for volunteer workers, valid for up to 12 months and costing £244;
- Creative and Sporting visa – for those working professionally in sports or the arts, valid for up to 12 months and costing £244;
- Government Authorized Exchange visa – for those doing work experience, training or research. The visa is valid for up to two years and costs £244;
- International Agreement visa – for government workers and diplomats carrying out work abroad. Valid for up to years and costing £244;
- Religious Worker visa – for those working in a religious capacity, valid for up to £24 months and costing £244;
- Seasonal Worker visa – for those employed to work on UK farms, valid for up to six months and costing £244;
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa – for those aged 18-30 who meet certain, valid for up to two years and costing £244;
- Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa – for workers such as au pairs, cleaners, carers, and cooks working privately for families. This visa is valid for up to six months and costs £516.
Family visa
You can apply for a family visa in the UK if you want to come and live with your below outline relatives.
- spouse/partner;
- fiancée or proposed civil partner;
- child;
- parent;
- relative who is providing you with long-term care
However, for you to secure this type of vise the cost of the visa is £1,523 (or £1,033 that is when you are applying from inside UK.
Moreover, Family visas last for 2.5 years when you are applying as a partner/spouse or parent, even although they can be extended.
If you apply as a child or a cared-for relative, the visa can be for longer.
The exact length will depend on your situation.
Immigrant UK visas
Visas in the UK are usually issued for a limited time period and can then only be extended for limited periods. The exceptions to this are investor visas, family visas, and global talent visas which can be repeatedly renewed if certain conditions are met.
Therefore, the route to staying permanently in the UK (or a period longer than 5-10 years) is usually to apply for permanent settlement. This can be done after five years of continuous residence in the UK.
Work and business visas
If you intend to relocate to the UK permanently or for a period longer than five years for work or business purposes, you will typically need to get a work visa and then extend it or apply for a settlement permit.
Visas that can be extended for a five-year period or beyond are:
- General work (Tier 2) – extended to a maximum of six years total;
- Intra-company transfer (Tier 2) – maximum nine years;
- Minister of Religion (Tier 2) – maximum six years;
- Investor – can be extended indefinitely if the business is still running and you still meet the eligibility requirements;
- Global Talent – can be extended for five years at a time indefinitely;
- UK Ancestry – maximum 10 years;
- Representative of Overseas Business – maximum five years
To stay beyond the maximum extension on your visa, you will either need to switch to another visa (if your current visa permits this) or apply for permanent residence if you meet the eligibility requirements for your visa.
Read more in Expatica’s guide to k work visa
Family visa
UK family visas are issued for 2.5 years for spouses/partners and parents, after which they can be extended. For children and cared-for relatives, they can be issued for longer periods.
As with work visas, those in the UK for family reunion purposes are eligible for permanent residence after five years of living in the UK. Children aged under 18 can sometimes apply for permanent residence earlier.
When You Can Apply For A UK Short-Term Visa
It is advisable for you to apply 30 days before your travel.
The Requirement To Apply For UK Visa As A Foreigner.
Here below are the needed things you have to secure before you can apply for a successful visa to UK as foreigner.
- Recent bank statements as proof of financial subsistence.
- Letter of invitation by UK residence, The host can be a friend or relative, or a business operating in the UK. It has to be supported with documents showing identity, nationality, living address and financial status of such host.
- Evidence of your current status.
- Letter confirming you are a student. (If you are a full-time student). It has to be issued by a recognized education provider, confirming you are a student. This must be accompanied by the permission for absence in studies during your visit to the UK.
- Letter of employment confirmation. (If you are employed). It should be issued by your employer confirming your employment length and your job position. This has to be supported by the permission for absence in the workplace during your visit period.
- Business registration papers. (If you are a self-employed person). They must show you as the business owner and the starting date of your business activity.
- Evidence of your reason for visiting the United Kingdom.
Steps To Apply UK visa
- 1 – File a Petition with USCIS.
- 2 – Case Preparation by the National Visa Center.
- 3 – Visa Interview Scheduling by the National Visa Center (NVC) …
- 4 – Medical Exam.
- 5 – The day of the interview.
- 6 – Visa Approval.
- 7 – After you receive your visa.