Visa nationals are those individuals who need to obtain a visa every time they enter the UK. Some Commonwealth and non-visa nationals are given visas for between three to six months at their point of entry to the UK. This is granted on the basis that they are coming to the UK as a tourist and will leave at the end of the visit.
UK entry clearance and eligibility rules are complex and can change without warning.
At Wellers, our experienced solicitors are on hand to help you throughout your entry clearance process from start to finish. We are able to assist you with a visa application as much or as little as you choose.
There are a number of grounds on which an individual can apply for entry clearance to the UK, for instance,
- as a spouse
- as a student
- as a worker
- as an unmarried partner
- as a parent of a British child under 18 years old
- as a family member of an EEA national who has settled status in the UK.
Since April 2015 anyone applying outside of the UK for an over-six-month visa is required to register their biometrics at a visa application centre in their home country.
Once your visa is approved, you will receive an entry clearance stamp in your passport which would be valid for 30 days. You would be required to enter the UK within 30 days or you may be required to apply for a replacement visa.
Paying for the health service
All applicants who apply for entry clearance from outside the UK for more than six months are required to pay an immigration health surcharge fee. This is currently charged at £200 a year.
There are a small number of countries whose nationals do not require a visa to enter the UK for a short period of up to six months.
Such countries are;
- Argentina
- Australia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Hong Kong (SAR)
- Japan
- Macao (SAR)
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Korea
- United States of America
Please call Lorraine Toal on 020 8290 7956 or email lorraine.toal@wellerslawgroup.com
