Author: Kash Legal Services

Four types of visitors:

(a) Standard visitors, to undertake permitted activities Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities

(b) Marriage/civil partnership visitors, seeking to marry or give notice to do so

(c) Permitted Paid Engagement visitors, experts in their field coming for paid work for up to one month.

(d) Transit visitors, entering the UK for up to 48 hours en route to another country outside the CTA (unless the Transit Without Visa Scheme Appendix applies. Appendix Visitor: Transit Without Visa Scheme.

As an reminder, work is not permitted unless expressly allowed by Appendix Permitted Activities

UK Standard Visit Visa rules are a little more relaxed than predecessor.

(a) Now study for up to 6 months is permitted.

(b) voluntary work of up to 30 days is permitted.

(c) students aged 16+ can receive research tuition.

(d) Greater provision for academic visitors to conduct research on sabbatical.

(e) international drivers can collect as well as deliver goods/passengers.

(f) Swiss nationals do not require entry clearance as visitors.

As a reminder, work is not permitted unless expressly allowed by Appendix Permitted Activities

Further information

v Appendix V: Visitor

v Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities

v Appendix Visitor: Visa national list

v Appendix Visitor: Permit Free Festival List

v Appendix Visitor: Transit Without Visa Scheme

Common refusal reasons for UK Visitors.

(a) Inadequate or inconsistent information

(b) Failing to persuade the Home Office that they are genuine visitors will leave the UK at the end of their visit.

(c) Failure to justify (back with evidence) reasons for Visit.

(d) Lack of family links with own country, for example spouse, children, parents or relatives.

(e) Failing to satisfy they are not coming to work in the UK

(f) Inadequate, Personal financial circumstances such as applicant levels of income

(g) Lack of documentation/ justification to satisfy their contention.

A detailed letter from a representative explaining any issues of likely concern may help gaining visitor visa. Immigration staff guidance about the different visitor categories for visiting the UK and how UK Visas and Immigration makes decisions on visitor cases, Visit guidance

General principles for UK Visitors

(a) Cannot switch into a visit visa, (exception applies)

(b) All Visa nationals require entry clearance Appendix Visitor: Visa national list

(c) Oman, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait nationals, visa-free visits for up to six months are enabled via the Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme.

(d) A six-month visit visa costs £95 (different fee payable according to duration requested

(e) Non-visa nationals can travel to the UK and then seek leave to enter as a visitor at the port of entry.

(f) Non-visa nationals seeking to visit for more than six months or visiting for the purposes of marriage of civil partnership, or of giving notice of this.

(g) Non-visa nationals may apply for a visa

As a reminder, work is not permitted unless expressly allowed by Appendix Permitted Activities.

Settled and Pre settled

Check if you can get pre-settled status or settled status.

You need permission to live in the UK if you are from a country in the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

There are various options for staying in the UK depending on your circumstances.

The deadline for most people to apply for pre-settled or settled status was 30 June 2021. However, you may still be able to apply if you are one of the following.

You started living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 and you need to make a late application.

Your family member has pre-settled or settled status and you want to join them in the UK

You have a valid biometric residence permit or visa.

If you are a British or Irish citizen, you do not need permission to stay in the UK, but you may need to apply for any family members who aren’t British or Irish. They may be eligible for pre-settled or settled status.

You may also need to show that you have reasonable grounds for making the late application. If, however, you are not in any of the above situations, you will only be able to stay in the UK for up to 90 as a visitor.

Reasonable Grounds for Late Applications

If you didn’t apply by 30 June 2021, you may still be able to apply to the scheme if you think you have reasonable grounds for why you didn’t apply earlier. The Home Office provides the following. Please note this not a complete list.

(1) A medical condition prevented you from applying.

(2) You lacked the mental or physical capacity to apply.

(3) You had difficulty in accessing support to apply because of coronavirus restrictions.

(4) You have care or support needs, and you were unaware of the deadline.

(5) You are either in an abusive or controlling relationship or you have been a victim of modern slavery.

(6) Or you may have another compelling or compassionate reason which prevented you from applying.