Visiting UK :: Visitor Visa For UK (United Kingdom)

The United Kingdom is for many a place of opportunity, for young travellers it provides the opportunity to support themselves while exploring the UK and Europe while on schemes such as the Working Holidaymaker, for others the UK provides a quality education that can in turn lead to career in their home country or the UK, on UK study visas. Many individuals also look to further their careers and maximise their earning potential positions offered by UK employers in areas of demand, taking up offers of employment using a UK Work Permit, or the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. Others have met a new love with UK connections abroad or in the UK and wish to settle with their new partner in the UK, through marriage, de facto, and fiance visas.

Effectively, the UK has just one immigration category for all visitors, whatever the purpose of their trip to the UK and there are certain key rules which apply to everyone. However, there are a number of different types of visitor (not all of which are detailed here) and different points need to be considered depending on the purpose of the visit. Visitors from certain countries (“visa nationals”) need to obtain an entry clearance (visa) from the British Consulate in their home country before travelling. Certain non visa nationals may also find this beneficial, such as those who have had problems entering the UK in the past.

Further Information About Visitors :- In brief, visitors may come to the UK for up to six months and are not permitted to work. The Immigration Officer must be satisfied that they are a genuine visitor, intend to leave the UK at the end of the visit and have adequate funds to maintain themselves here and pay for their onward or return journey. For the vast majority of visitors, in particular those coming for a simple holiday or family visit, the position is very clear and just a few questions will be asked by the Immigration Officer to establish the purpose of the visit. In some cases, the visitor may be asked to produce a return or onward ticket and to provide evidence that they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves here. Further evidence may be requested for certain types of visitor.

Business Visitors :- Visitors are allowed to come to the UK for all the “normal” activities associated with overseas business trips such as attending meetings and conferences, negotiating deals, signing contracts, “fact-finding” missions, purchasing or inspecting goods and certain types of training such as observing procedures in the UK. There is also provision for individuals coming to provide certain limited types of advice, consultancy and training within their own group of companies or to install, service or repair products sold to a UK end user by an overseas company. However, visitors must not do “productive” work in the UK, including project management. Such employment will usually require a work permit or other immigration status which permits employment. It is important to know that receiving salary or other payments overseas (rather than from a UK source) does not remove the need for permission to work - the Immigration Officer will look at the proposed activities in the UK, not where payment is being received. Individuals who are visa nationals must obtain an entry clearance (visa) from the British Consulate in their home country before travelling to the UK. Whether an individual has (or needs) a visa or not, if the Immigration Officer is not satisfied that the proposed activities are acceptable under the rules concerning visitors and that the individual will in fact be doing work for which permission would be required, entry can be refused. It is therefore very important to be certain that the proposed activities are permissible before arriving and that any evidence which may be needed is readily available.

Frequent Visitors :- Visitors should not spend more than six months out of any twelve in the UK and should also be extra careful with having evidence of the nature of their trip available to the Immigration Officer as they may be asked more questions than someone who travels less often. Visa nationals who travel frequently may apply for an entry clearance (visa) which permits multiple entries over a given period. Those who travel to the UK because they have responsibilities for a UK operation as part of their job overseas, for example, managers who have responsibility for overseeing the activities of a UK branch or subsidiary and who feel their activities may go beyond those permitted of business visitors may wish to look at the criteria for issue of a Multiple Entry Work Permit (“MEWP”).

For More Information Please Visit FAQ's.