The festive season is one of the most popular times for international travellers visiting the UK. For those looking to visit family or friends in the UK over the festive period, it is very important to consider any immigration implications which may be relevant before travel arrangements are confirmed.
If the visitor is not from a visa exempt country such as nationals from Canada, Australia, the United States and the European Union, then they will need to apply for a visa online before visiting the UK and certainly before any return flight tickets are booked. There are many Immigration Rules which must be met before a Visit Visa is issued and the main ones are that the applicant intends to leave the UK at the end of their visit, they can support and maintain themselves without recourse to public funds and they will not work, paid or unpaid in the UK.
A formal online visa application needs to be filed and paid for and documentary evidence will need to be provided confirming the visitors ties back to their home country together with the provision of documents confirming that they will be able to support, maintain and accommodate themselves whilst in the UK. This could include, for example, the visitor providing copies of their payslips to confirm earnings and bank statements to confirm the receipt of their income along with documents showing and evidencing their family and other ties to their country of origin. If the visitor will be visiting family members in the UK and staying with them, then a family member (or sponsor as it were) can also provide documents confirming their intention to sponsor the visitor to the UK and to provide them with adequate accommodation throughout their stay here. This could include the sponsor providing evidence of their own income and savings and the provision of accommodation such as providing the tenancy agreement or deeds to their property confirming ownership.
As the Home Office gets busier over the festive season, it is a good idea to apply early for the visa to allow for delayed processing times. On payment of an additional fee, it is possible to utilise priority services to allow for a quicker decision to be received however.
It is important to bear in mind that even if a visa is issued, then visitors can still be asked searching questions upon arrival by a Border Officer. The Border Officer can ask what the purpose of travel to the UK is and where the visitor will be staying and how they will be supporting themselves, including financially. The visitors luggage can also be checked. It can be useful for the visitor to bring with them a copy of the documentation which they presented in support of their visa application, particularly those documents evidencing their ties back home and any relevant documents provided by their sponsor in the UK.
Whilst getting documentation together can be onerous, it is very important to do so to maximise the chances of getting the visa first time round and minimising problems at Immigration Control upon arrival.
For advice on this or any other immigration issue, please do not hesitate to contact Sohan Sidhu by email at Sohan.Sidhu@ellisonssolicitors.com or by telephone on 01284 763333.