UK Visitor Visa

VISITOR VISA TO THE UK

Official List of documents for UK Visitor visa:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/out-of-country/visitors.pdf

PS: This may change from time to time, please use the link for updated documents.

Individuals can travel to the UK for the specific purpose of visiting friends and family who live in the UK .

UK family members can sponsor the applicant by providing an invitation letter to confirm the relationship, purpose of the visit, and also the support they will be providing in terms of financial assistance and/or accommodation.

Applicants in this category must prove to the UK Immigration Authorities that they can financially maintain and accommodate themselves in the UK with or without assistance from family member(s) living in the UK but without resource to public funding or employment.

The first and foremost thing that you need to keep in mind when applying for a visa for UK, is that you should have an initention to return to your home country. Have a well thought out travel plan. Date of Travel, duration of stay and reasons for travelling.

Here is a comprehensive list of Documents you would need for a sucessful application:

A) Sponsor's Documents:

1) 6 months Bank statements
2) 6 months pay slips
3) Address proof : Utility Bill e.g. Telephone bill or Electric Bill or Council tax notice)
4) Rental Agreement
5) Owner's no objection letter
6) Sponsor's High commission certified letter (e.g. Indian High commission in UK)
7) Applicants's passport copy ( Visa page and stamping page)
8) Sponsor's work permit copy
9) Employer's letter for employement proof
10) Letter from Sponsor requesting British High commission for granting visa to visitors.

Recommended but not mandatory Docs (if sponsor is employed in UK):

11) P60 form
12) NI number letter

Reason for visiting UK:

Could be many, meeting with friends, family visit. I have provided an example of a visit where one of your family members may be expecting to deliver soon:

13) NHS maternity letter or prescription exemption card
14) Proof of relations / friendship

B) Visitor's Documents:

15) Passport photo copy (all pages)
16) Proof of address ( ration card, PAN card)

Applicant's Financial Documents:

17) Bank statements (all bank accounts that you may hold, higher the account balance, higher the chances of your application being successful.)
18) Any Insurance Premium receipts and Insurance Policy
19) Stocks & Shares in hand proof ( statement from your broker or depository)
20) If Social Org member (proof of the same)
21) PAN card xerox
22) Credit Card statement
23) PPF (Public Provident Fund) statements

Reasons for returning to home country:

You may have assets, unmarried children, relatives, who are in your home country for whom you may need to return.

24) Children's proofs (passports)
25) Any other investment or asset proof (land / property)

Visit visa should be applied from the nearest place of your residence (proof would be asked for the same when you apply for the visa, as you cannot apply for visa other than the your designated visa centre.)

E.g. if you stay in Pune, you can not apply from Chennai or Delhi for UK visa.

Document Samples:

Sample of Sponsorship & Letter to the British High Commission


How to Apply for UK Visas:

Visa Application Forms

Applying from India
Visa Application Fee

A visitor visa usually takes no more than a week. The application is to be made in person, so as to provide biometric. Childern below 5 years are not needed to apply in person and can be represented by parents or gaurdian, whom they would be travelling with.

This visa entitles holders to visit the UK for up to a maximum of six (6) months, allowing them to experience the life and culture in the UK . They may also be allowed multiple entries during the six (6) month period


Once you get a visa:
Once you receive the visa, ensure you have ( if it's a short term visit visa), your travel insurance (may cost anything between Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 7,000 for a 3 month insurance of $50,000), return tickets in place.
On arrival, in UK, you will, first need to get clearnce from the immigration desk at the airport. You may be few basic questions to prove your a genuine 'visitor' and have all the necessary information that you have based your travel on. (e.g. Place of stay, known people in UK, period of stay etc.)

Tip: If your visa is of more than 6 months, you will be asked to get a medical clearnce as well before the immigration clearnce is given. Usually just a latest chest X-ray is all that you need to carry along with you and must be handy once you reach the immigration desk at the airport.
This avoids unnecessary delay in getting clearance after that long haul flight.