Types of British visas. UK visa on your own.

Today we will dwell in detail on the most important question: how to get a visa to England on your own? Alena Ropaeva, executive director of English For Life, tells.

Majority visa countries offers tourists two options: to submit documents directly to the consulate or through Visa Center. But not in the case of the British. The application is submitted by the applicant in person at one of the five official visa centers.

Today I will talk about how to issue a tourist or student visa to England alone. Please note that this article we will talk about visa for adults. If you need to apply for a visa for a minor child, please see here.

So, let's look at the whole process step by step.

Step 1: collecting a package of documents

Properly assembled and executed set of documents is the key to a successful application. It is important to understand that the task of the consular officer is to identify potential immigrants. Accordingly, you must show that: your purpose of visiting the UK is tourism or educational; you can afford it; have a close relationship with your family.

Pay special attention to copies of documents. A copy is attached to each (!) document. If you provide an original document (for example, a certificate from a bank), then a copy must be attached to it. If you provide a photocopy of the document (as in the case of a birth certificate), then it must be provided in 2 copies. Copies must be printed in good quality on A4 sheets and maintain readability even after scanning. I highly recommend making color copies.

Also note that all your certificates must be issued no earlier than a month before the date of application.

1. Personal documents:

1.1. Passport (original + copies of all, even blank, pages), valid at the time of submission of documents and for the period of the proposed trip. The passport must contain at least one blank sheet (2 pages), free from any inscriptions, stamps, stamps, visas, etc. at both sides. If the passport contains dubious marks and stamps, it must be presented full information explaining their origin

1.2. Previous passports (originals + copies of all, even blank, pages)

1.3. Proof of study and/or residence:

1.3.1. For student visa applicants: original + copy of the letter from the school confirming the applicant's enrollment in the course of study as a student. The letter must contain detailed information about the training program, the dates of the beginning and end of the course, the number of teaching hours, as well as information about the payment for the course.

2.1.3. Original + copy of a certificate from the place of work on the payment of personal income tax-2 (if possible)

2.2. If you are an entrepreneur and pay for the trip yourself

2.3.3. Copy of student card (if possible)

2.3.4. Original + copy of a letter from the sponsor confirming their intention to provide financial assistance to you. The document is drawn up in a simple written form and is certified by the signature of the sponsor ()

2.3.5. Original + copy of bank statement or certificate confirming your creditworthiness

2.3.6. Original + copy of an extract or bank account statement confirming the creditworthiness of the sponsor

2.3.7. If your sponsor is your relative, a copy of the document confirming your relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate)

2.3.8. If your sponsor is employed, the original + copy of a certificate from the employer, which must indicate the date of commencement of work in the company, the position and salary of the sponsor (). If the sponsor himself is a manager or chief accountant, then this document must be signed by other authorized persons. The phone numbers indicated in the text of the letter must be available during the working day. Also, if possible, attach the original + a copy of the certificate from the place of work on the payment of personal income tax-2

2.3.9. If your sponsor is a private entrepreneur, then 2 copies of the certificate of registration of a private entrepreneur (OGRN), 2 copies of the income tax return (possible for the previous year) with the seal of the tax office, and 2 copies of the certificate of registration with the tax authority ( TIN)

2.4. If you are working / not working and the sponsor partially pays for the trip

Immediately after payment, find the confirmation of the appointment in your personal account (item "View appointment"). It should be printed - it will be your pass to the visa application center. Pay attention to the identification number of your application in the format GWF000000000. You will need it to register on the visa application center website.

You can download and print the completed application form in your personal account (item "Print Application"). Make sure the printed version does not go off the page. On two pages of the questionnaire (usually the second and last) there are columns for the applicant's signature and the date of the visit to the visa center. Fill them out by hand.

Step 3: Translation of documents

All documents required for self-applying for a visa to England must be accompanied by translations into English language. They must contain confirmation of the accuracy of the translation of the original document, the full name of the author of the translation, his signature, contact details and date. Example:

This is accurate and complete translation of the original document from Russian into English, dd. 27 March 2017. Official translator: Ivanova Alexandra Ivanovna.
Contact details: e-mail: [email protected], phone: +70000000000

At the same time, the translator does not have to be a certified professional. You can ask friends who know English, and even, no matter how absurd it may sound, translate it yourself. The main thing is that it be of high quality and contain exactly the same information as the original documents. Read a detailed guide to translating documents.

Step 4: register on the website of the visa application center

The official visa center that cooperates directly with the British Embassy is TLScontact. His mandatory requirement is the registration on the site and the record of the applicant. This speeds up the formation process. electronic queue at the visa center. the applicant Personal Area will allow you to take advantage additional services, such as SMS notification about the readiness of a visa, delivery of a passport to your home, urgent consideration of documents.

Be extremely careful when working with the TLScontact website: its system is designed in such a way that, due to a single mistake, you will have to not only register a new account, but also fill out the questionnaire again, reschedule the submission date and issue a refund consular fee. To avoid such overlays, I advise you to familiarize yourself with: it will help you do everything right the first time and without outside help.

Step 5: consent to the processing of personal data

It is not necessary to fill out consent to the processing of personal data in advance - you can do this when submitting. However, if you want to save time visiting the visa center, you can fill it out at home. Please note that in the "date" column, you must indicate the day, month and year of the visit to the visa center.

Step 6: Application procedure

To submit documents, you need to personally come to one of the five branches of the center in Russia: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg or Rostov-on-Don.

You should apply for a visa to England on your own no later than 4 weeks and no earlier than 3 months before the trip.

Responsibly approach the visit to the visa application center: due to delay, your interview may be rescheduled. I recommend to be there 10-15 minutes before the appointed time. The application procedure itself consists of registration, submission of documents and submission of biometric data. The last step includes a photo for the visa and an electronic fingerprint scan.

At the time of writing, TLScontact Visa Application Centers do not charge application fees. The exception is the branch in Rostov-on-Don, where the filing fee will be about $80 and is paid online at the same time as the consular fee.

Terms of consideration

Most applications are reviewed within 10-15 working days, during the peak season (March-May) the probability of a delay increases. If necessary, you can use the service urgent clearance visa provided by the visa center. In this case, the period for consideration of your documents will be reduced to 5 working days.

And last but not least, advice: when preparing to submit, be sure to check the website of the visa application center for updates so as not to miss changes in the requirements for the package of documents.

I hope this article will help you get a visa to England on your own! However, if you are limited in time, do not speak English or your case requires an individual consultation, we will be happy to take care of the visa support.

I wish you good luck and unforgettable travels!

Alena Ropaeva, executive director of English For Life.

Documents for a British visa are as important as the application form itself filled out on the website of the visa center. For each type of visa, there is a strict set of supporting documents that you must attach to your visa application. The result of your application directly depends on the correctness of the collection and translation of these documents into English (all documents without exception must be translated into English).

When applying for a visa with the help of our agency, we will advise you in detail on all the nuances in the collection and execution of documents and help you in their professional certified translation. You will not have to worry about anything and you can be sure that your application for a UK visa will be considered positively.

Required Documents for UK Visa 2017

Documents about the applicant

Financial documents and proof of employment

• if the sponsor pays for the trip for you, then in this case financial documents from the sponsor are required,
• if a joint financial account or contribution is indicated, then it is necessary to provide the consent of the second owner to your disposal of the money in the account,
• For individual entrepreneurs a certificate of registration of an individual entrepreneur with the tax authorities is suitable.

Accommodation and travel details

Information about your visit to the UK

Required Documents by Type of Visa

UK Tourist Visa Documents

In addition to the above documents for a tourist visa, you will also need:

• Valid passport
• Hotel reservation
• If necessary, a sponsorship letter

Despite the infamous referendum that Britain leaves the European Union, the state's visa policy for Russians does not change, at least in 2017. A visa to the UK remains a prerequisite for visiting the country. Approval documents are submitted to the Visa Application Center operated by Teleperformance.

Britain and Schengen

Contrary to popular belief, official London is not a member of the Schengen Agreement. This means that Russians with an open Schengen have no chance of getting into the UK. In reverse order, everything is the same: a national English visa does not give the right to visit the Schengen zone.

If a trip to Europe involves visiting Britain and other European states, you will need a visa to England and a Schengen permit.

UK visa types

Traditionally, visas are classified according to the intended purpose of travel to the country. The typology is of practical importance, since it depends on the purposes and type of permit which documents must be submitted to the visa center, as well as how long you can stay on the territory of the state.

Tourist

As a rule, a tourist visa is the most popular among Russians. Permission is granted for recreation and sightseeing. More than enough time is allocated for this. Tourist visa allows you to stay in England for up to six months or up to a year. Living in Britain on a tourist visa is associated with a number of restrictions for tourists. The British authorities are quite strict with violators. They are mostly subject to deportation.

It is only allowed to travel or visit with the inhabitants of the country. There is no right to study, work, receive any income, or register a marriage.

Guestbook

In fact, in terms of terms and other characteristics, it is similar to a tourist permit. On a visitor visa, you can live with the inviting party. Residents of England who send invitations for Russians also act as guarantors that at the end of the period of permitted residence, guests will leave the United Kingdom.

transit

In 2017, for the passage of Russians through England, a visa will be required if you plan to go beyond international terminal airport. Otherwise, you will not need to issue a transit permit (and, of course, pay a consular fee).

working

This type is provided for obtaining the right to work in the UK. Documents are drawn up with the assistance of a potential employer who intends to hire a foreigner. Employment in England will require a truly high qualification and the availability of a profession in the field demanded by the English economy. This permit is valid for a year or more.

Student

The top rankings of educational institutions traditionally include English universities. Their popularity is associated with the highest quality of education and the demand for diplomas. Having received a higher education in England, one can freely find a job in almost any country in the world.

There are two types of visas for studying in the UK. Short-term gives the right to pass language courses or schools, long-term allows you to study at the country's universities.

Family

Such an English visa is available to Russians whose relatives or family members are permanent residents of the UK legally. Residents can be citizens of the Kingdom or simply have the right to reside in the country on a permanent basis. The advantage of a family visa is the opportunity to stay in Britain for a long time.

To register a marriage

Documents of this type are required for non-residents of England who intend to enter into a legal marriage with a citizen or person with permanent legal residence in Britain. The visa is valid for up to six months. After marriage, you need to apply for a family visa.

List of documents

The UK government is very attentive and distrustful of migrants. Therefore, the list of information and documents that must be provided to the visa center is very extensive, and the staff will study them quite closely.

Each purpose of the trip is confirmed by individual documents, however, there is also a general list of papers that are submitted when ordering any of the listed types of visas. These include:

• filled with everyone necessary information questionnaire (the website of the British Embassy allows you to do this online, after which the form is printed and signed by the applicant independently);
• A foreign passport, the validity of which is at least six months longer than the duration of a visa to England;
• old foreign passports, if any;
• A facsimile copy of all pages of each of the presented foreign travel identity documents;
• Photo size 3.5x4.5 cm;
• Evidence of sufficient financial well-being to travel to England (certificate from work indicating how much the applicant earns over the past six months in 2017, bank statements from accounts, tax documents and other papers that allow one to conclude that there are sufficient funds for a trip to London);
• Certificate of employment or documents on doing business on your own;
• Family status documents;
• Evidence of accommodation in the UK (hotel reservation or invitation from relatives or friends indicating the provision of accommodation for the entire period of stay in the state);
• Round trip travel documents or travel plan;
• When ordering a visa for six months or more - a certificate from the tuberculosis dispensary stating that. That the applicant is not ill.

Additionally, for each type of visa, you need to provide paperwork to the visa center. Confirming the need and purpose of travel. A list of those can be found by visiting the website of the visa center.

All certificates and letters provided by the applicant must be translated into English and signed by the interpreter, indicating the name and contact details of the interpreter. You can also translate yourself.

When submitting papers in 2017 outside of Moscow, two additional photocopies of each document are provided.

If necessary, a call for a personal interview can be received from the consulate.

Visa cost

Depends in 2017 on the type of visa granted. All of them have different validity periods, and depending on this, a consular fee is also charged.

So, to go to London you will have to pay for a permit from 86 US dollars for a transit visa to 1346 dollars for a work or business visa. WITH complete list, how much you need to pay for the consideration of an application for a visa in 2017, can be found below:

At the same time, it is worth knowing that the fee is charged for the very procedure for considering documents and applications and is not a guarantee of a visa. Thus, regardless of how much the applicant paid, in case of refusal, the money is not returned.

The site of the Teleperformance Visa Application Centers company notes that institutions may charge for services in addition to the consular fee. At the same time, in order to find out specific amounts, it is worth visiting the website of the center that is most convenient to contact.

Readiness check

The function of checking the readiness of the visa is very convenient. As a rule, the web pages of visa centers provide an opportunity to check the progress of the application and the fact of obtaining permission online.

Refusal

The main reasons for refusal are:

• Incorrectly completed application form;
• Inaccurate information;
• Doubts about the reliability of the submitted documents;
• The presence of refusals to enter the UK or EU countries;
• Recorded violation of the rules and regime of stay.

They can also refuse if the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence of a connection with the Russian Federation in the package of documents.

Attention! Due to recent changes in legislation, the legal information in this article may be out of date!

Our lawyer can advise you free of charge - write a question in the form below:

What kind of visa do you need for London? The cost of travel and work visa in England, self-registration documents.

Tourists planning to visit London often face difficulties in obtaining all required documents. Some Russians are interested in whether Schengen is suitable for visiting Britain, others ask if a visa is needed at all. These questions, in fact, are not idle, and each of them must be answered.

Answering the main question whether a visa is needed to visit the UK, it is worth saying that without a visa, entry into England is closed for Russians. It is also worth immediately disappointing the owners of the pan-European Schengen - to visit London, the Russians will need separate visa in England.

At the same time, do not be prematurely upset: a visa to London for Russians is issued quite simply, and getting it, even if on your own, is quite realistic. Especially if the purpose of your trip is simple recreation and sightseeing. It is worth starting the process of getting acquainted with the nuances that the visa application to England is fraught with, what kind of visas to Foggy Albion exist in general.

What is a visa for London?

Visas to the UK can be different: the choice depends on how long and for what purpose you are going to visit this country. Most Russian citizens planning to travel to England go there as tourists, but this is not the only possible purpose of the trip. Depending on why you are coming to the UK, you will need to apply for one of the following visas through the Visa Application Centre:

• Tourist. As noted above, tourists most often travel on such a visa. Therefore, the largest number of Russian citizens choose this type of visa to travel to the territory of the United Kingdom. The validity period is six months. The cost of registration is 80 pounds;
• Invitation (guest). Not much different from tourism. The difference is that you will need some additional documents and some you may not bring with you. To obtain this visa, you must have an invitation from relatives or friends legally residing in the UK;
• Educational. Issued to students of British universities on the basis of a certificate of admission to the University of London. Validity is limited to the academic year, and the cost of registration is still the same 80 pounds;
• Transit. Transit visa to the UK is issued upon arrival at a British airport and is usually valid for only a day. The cost of its registration is significantly lower, however, leaving transit zone forbidden;
• Business. Needed by embassy employees, businessmen and politicians, for whom entry and exit to the UK is a frequent and familiar matter.

Depending on which visa to England you have chosen, the duration of your stay in the Kingdom, the cost and time of paperwork will depend. It also depends on how often you can enter and exit the territory of the kingdom. It is also important what documents will be needed for each specific type.

Visa processing: a package of documents for Russians

Regardless of whether you apply for a visa through the visa center or through the British Embassy, ​​you will need the same documents. Depending on various circumstances, this list can be adjusted and supplemented, but it always includes the following documents:

• Questionnaire. This document is very important, because it is on the basis of the questionnaire that the embassy staff will decide whether to issue a visa to London, or to refuse it. The questionnaire can be downloaded from the embassy website;
• Photos. Two photographs, 3.5 by 4.5 cm in size, must be submitted to the visa center. The requirements for photographs are quite serious, and they must also be taken seriously so that in a hurry you do not look for the nearest photo workshop and do not take another photo;
• International passport. This is perhaps the most important document proving your identity abroad. It must be valid, otherwise entry into England and departure from there will be simply impossible for you;
• Solvency confirmation. To obtain a visa to the UK, you need to prove that you have at least 50 pounds per person for each day of your stay in the kingdom. A certificate of employment, a bank statement or cash can serve as a supporting document;
• Proof of residence. If you are traveling as a tourist, you need to prove that you have a place to stay for the duration of your stay in England. When issuing an invitation, these obligations can be assumed by relatives or friends.

In addition to these documents, other documents may be required from Russians, depending on the purpose of the trip to London. Also, do not forget to bring the receipt of payment of the consular fee to the visa center. A visa to England is not cheap, the cost of its registration is 80 pounds sterling.