I moved from Australia to the UK on the finish of 2019. After I seemed into getting a piece visa, I struggled to search out clear data.
There are such a lot of differing types. Relying on what nation you might be travelling from, you might want a visa simply to go on vacation within the UK. I discovered recommendation on authorities web sites complicated, so I made a decision to ask an skilled.
David Gering-Hasthorpe is an immigration lawyer and director of Southside Immigration in Glasgow, UK. Right here’s the whole lot he advised me about making use of for visas when travelling to the UK.
Can I journey to the UK and not using a visa if I am coming from a Commonwealth nation like Australia?
“Some nations, together with Australia, have a visa-free customer scheme with the UK. Because of this if an Australian citizen desires to come back to the UK for a go to, they’ll request customer standing on the airport once they arrive, quite than making use of for a visa previous to travelling.
“The listing of nations which have visa-free journey to the UK is fully separate from the Commonwealth, although. For instance, Kenya is within the Commonwealth, however Kenyan residents have to use for a visa earlier than visiting the UK.
“You’ll be able to take a look at in case your nationality means you’ll want a visa or not on the UK authorities web site,” below the customer immigration guidelines visa nationwide listing.
Do I would like a visa to journey to the UK if I’ve kin who’re British residents?
“Principally, sure, and positively for those who’re trying to transfer right here completely.
“When you’re simply trying to come to the UK as a customer, you then would possibly be capable to enter below the visa-free customer association [outlined above]relying in your nationality.
“Even when your nation does have a visa-free customer association with the UK, although, this will typically be refused on the airport if you arrive. This could possibly be due to a historical past of overstaying your visa up to now, or if the House Workplace thinks that you simply intend to reside within the UK completely.
“Having kin within the UK is usually used as a cause why the House Workplace thinks that you simply would possibly intend to remain right here completely.”
What frequent causes would folks be denied a UK visa?
“Generally persons are denied as a result of they don’t meet the necessities. For instance, if somebody desires a go to visa, however they intend to work within the UK, then the visa can be refused.
“Loads of the time, folks meet the necessities, however don’t have proof of it. For instance, if you’d like a go to visa however you don’t have any proof of causes to return to your nation of residence, then you’ll be able to count on that utility to be refused as properly.
“Different frequent causes why somebody is likely to be turned away on the border could possibly be that they’ve beforehand damaged immigration legislation within the UK, they point out to frame employees that they don’t intend to maintain to the phrases of their visa, or they’ve a historical past of prison convictions.”
Can I keep within the UK as a vacationer for six months and not using a visa?
“The House Workplace doesn’t have strict limits on the period of time that you would be able to spend within the UK as a customer. They do have a ‘Real Customer’ requirement, although, for customer standing.
“One of many methods they assess this requirement relies on how a lot time you’ve spent within the UK as a customer lately. When you’ve spent six months or extra within the UK throughout the previous 12 months, they’ll begin to suppose that you simply’re most likely now not a ‘real customer’.”
If I needed to journey to the UK for a vacation in December, when and the place could be one of the best time to use for a visa?
“I like to recommend submitting your visa utility at the very least two months earlier than you’re planning to journey. You’ll want to use out of your nation of residence most often.”
