Family Visitors

This page is a guide for people who want a visa to visit a family member in the UK

Before you apply

Allow plenty of time for the process.

In most cases you will be issued with your visa on the day you apply for it. But sometimes it takes longer. If your application is refused and you appeal, it will be several weeks or more before the visa will be issued, if your appeal is allowed. We recommend that you apply at least three months before you intend to travel.

Decide exactly why you are coming to the UK. Most people planning a short trip of up to six months need a visit visa. If you want to stay longer, or for some the reason (to work or get married, for instance) you will need a different kind of visa. If you apply for a visit visa but you intend to find work or settle in the UK your application may well be refused.

Rules

Apart from citizens of the European Economic Area, everyone who comes to the UK as a visitor must satisfy rule 41 of the Immigration Rules.

41. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor are that he:
    1. is genuinely seeking entry as a visitor for a limited period as stated by him, not exceeding 6 months; and
    2. intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of the period of the visit as stated by him; and
    3. does not intend to take employment in the United Kingdom; and
    4. does not intend to produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including the selling of goods or services direct to members of the public; and
    5. does not intend to study at a maintained school; and
    6. will maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants adequately out of resources available to him without recourse to public funds or taking employment; or will, with any dependants, be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends; and
    7. can meet the cost of the return or onward journey.

Prepare your application

Before you apply, you should gather evidence to show that you can meet these requirements. The suggestions that follow are intended only for guidance. There are other documents which would be acceptable. Do not worry if you cannot provide them all, but do not assume that you will get a visa even if you do.

Rules (i) to (v) above are about the reasons for your visit. You have to show that you only intend to visit and that you will not stay longer than you say you will (up to a maximum of 6 months). So, in most cases, you will need evidence of all the reasons why you must leave the UK at the end of your visit. These could include:

• 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 and in what job(s)
• 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 which course you are taking, its start and end dates and the dates of the vacation during which you intend to visit the UK
• it may also help if you can show that you have family or social ties and responsibilities to return to
• evidence of any firm travel plans you have made

Rules (vi) and (vii) are about financing your stay and your journey home (or to your next destination). You must be able to show that you have somewhere to stay and enough money to pay all your expenses while you are in the UK, or that your sponsor is able and willing to help you. Remember that the cost of living in the UK may be very different to the cost of living at home. Although the document that may help are:

• bank statements going back over a period of several months
• evidence of other savings available to you
• a letter in which your sponsor agrees to support and accommodate you while you are in the UK
• bank statements/salary slips for your sponsor's income

This list does not cover everything, but it should give you some idea of the kind of documents you could use to support your application. If you have other documents you would like to use, your local visa section will tell you whether they can accept them.

Making your application

You must apply for your visa at the visa section of a British Diplomatic Post in the country of your nationality, or the country where you are living. 'British Diplomatic Post' usually means a British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. A small number of posts do not process visa applications, but they will tell you where to apply. You should ask the staff for form VAF1, which is the visa application form for visitors. The form is free. You can also get it from the website of UKvisas at www.ukvisas.gov.uk. Please read the form carefully and the guidance notes that come with it.

What you will need

• a completed copy of the form
• your passport (which must be valid for the whole of your trip)
• two recent passport-sized photographs of yourself
• the visa fee in the local currency of the country where the visa section is located (the fee is non-refundable)
• Any other documents that you think should be looked at

You may deliver these documents yourself. Some visa sections accept postal applications. Your local office will be able to tell you whether they do so, and how the system works.

When you send the form

When you submit the form, it will be checked briefly. They will then:

• Accept the application; or
• They may ask you to provide additional documents before they will accept your application. If this happens, it does not mean that you have been refused a visa, but it will cause a delay while you get the documents. It is best to think about what they will need to see first. Sometimes, you or your sponsor may be asked to complete a 'sponsorship undertaking form' . The visa section will give you the form and explain what you need to do.

A decision can often be made without further enquiries, but sometimes a formal interview is necessary.

The Interview

If you are invited to a full interview, you may also be asked to provide further documents, such as those listed above.

Prepare for the interview in the same way as you prepared for making your application (see above). Be sure about your reasons for visiting. Be certain of where the money will come from and where you will stay. Be clear on the reasons why you must leave the UK at the end of your visit.

At the interview, an interpreter will be provided if you need one. Answer all questions carefully and honestly. Remember that you may be asked some direct and even personal questions. If you do not understand a question, say so. If you do not know the answer to a question, say so.

If they do not think that you meet the requirements of the immigration rules (see rule 41 above), they will refuse your application for a visa. The visa officer will give you written reasons for the decision. If you are a 'family visitor' as defined in UK law, you will also get an appeal form and some notes to help you fill it in.

Although every effort is made to ensure the information in this page is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law and does not constitute legal advice - we cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences. The information in this page is written for people resident in, or affected by, the laws of United Kingdom only.