How to Avoid Refusal of UK Visit Visa

Foreign nationals from certain countries desiring to enter the UK require a UK Visitor Visa for short stay. There are several categories of visitor visa allowing visa nationals to visit the UK as a tourist, visiting family, business, medical treatment and attend short academic courses for not more than 6 months.

Generally visitor visas are valid for 6 months but can be for longer periods such as 1, 2, 5 or 10 years.

However, one cannot stay in the U.K longer than 6 months at a stretch even though they may hold a visit visa for a longer period of time. A crucial criteria for a visitor visa of any kind is the “genuine intention to visit and return to their home country” and not use the visit to overstay in the UK.

Secondly, in establishing the genuine intention to visit and return to their home country, the applicant must demonstrate social, financial and family ties with their home country to assure the visa officer that you would return to your home country at the end of your visit.

You can demonstrate these ties by showing your employment in the home country, letters of support from friends and family, membership of local clubs and associations and the existence of family members in the home country and any other commitments and responsibilities which would compel you to return to your home country.

Failure to demonstrate ties with their home country and a genuine intention to visit the UK are the most common reasons for a refusal of the visit visa.

Visa applications might seem simple, and the advice given on Home Office website does make it appear so. However, the guideline notes only give a general outline, and do not go into enough detail. Even a single date, or an original of an official document missing can lead to a UK visa refusal.