If you need help getting a visa to visit the UK, our immigration lawyers can guide you through the process and provide legal guidance in complex cases, particularly where you have faced past refusals.
Typically, people plan to visit the UK for tourism, for example on a holiday or to see family or friends, people may wish to visit the UK for other reasons too. Anyone can apply to visit the UK, but some nationalities require prior entry clearance (a visitor visa) before travelling to the UK, even for a short period.
A visitor visa is required by a visa national who is wishing to visit the UK. The list of visa nationals can be found in paragraph VN.1 of the Immigration Rules. In contrast, a non-visa national, such as an EU national or US national, can arrive in the UK without a pre-approved visa and will be granted permission to enter as a visitor on arrival. Many UK airports have good e-gate facilities which speed up entry considerably, and are available to a wide range of nationalities including EU countries, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and Singapore.
UK visitor visas are normally valid for six months and permit multiple entries into the country.
In considering a visitor visa application, an Entry Clearance Officer on behalf of the Home Office will be assessing the application against the following requirements:
Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities detail exactly what a visitor visa holder is allowed to do during their time in the UK.
You can visit the UK as a standard visitor for purposes including tourism, seeing family or friends, volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity, passing through the UK to another country ‘in transit’, studying in certain circumstances and undertaking certain business activities.
As a holder of a standard UK visitor visa, you cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, marry or register a civil partnership, or live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits.
Our visitor visa article highlights that in recent years, visitor visa applications from certain nationalities have become notorious for their high rates of refusal and explores what an applicant can do to ensure the best chance of success in a visitor visa application. We specifically see high numbers of refusals for visitor visa applications made by citizens of countries that produce substantial refugee flows and often find that visitor visa applications made by elderly applicants, or persons financially dependent on their UK-based family members, are extremely difficult. This is essential because the Home Office distrusts that such applicants are ‘genuine visitors’- instead, there is a preconception that these applicants may try to remain in the UK after their visitor visa expires.
To ensure the best chance of success in a visit visa application – especially for what may be termed problem countries - it is vital that strong evidence of the applicant’s circumstances in their home country is provided; applicants need to create a picture of what their life at home is like and highlight the reasons that they will return to that country. In this regard, applicants must submit proof of their employment, property owned and family members in their home country. A cover letter can also be very helpful to draw the decision maker’s attention to the evidence provided and how this meets the relevant immigration rules.
Immigration law can be complex, which is why it is important to speak to an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your situation. Latitude Law's solicitors are experts in assisting you with your application to visit the UK.
We are often instructed by families who have faced numerous past refusals – legal advice and representation in such cases can certainly help. To avoid the risk of refusal as far as possible, we would recommend that legal advice is taken at the earliest opportunity - ideally, before your first attempt at a visit visa application to ensure the best chance of success, or at the latest, following a first refusal decision. Our experience in these applications allows us to consider your circumstances in detail and suggest evidence which can be provided that you may not have considered previously.
Our visitor visa services include:
We will be available to provide legal support and guidance at every stage of the application process, doing everything we can to give you the best possible chance of a successful application for temporary UK residence.
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We understand how challenging it can be to visit the UK. That is why our team of experienced solicitors, who have many years of experience in immigration law, will do everything they can to help your UK visitor visa application be successful.
We are pleased to be recognised as a leading law firm by the following independent bodies: The Times Best Law Firms 2024, Chambers & Partners 2024, Legal 500 2024 and Who'sWhoLegal 2024. These endorsements from the international legal directories demonstrate our integrity and success in dealing with difficult cases. We are also proud of our 5-star Google reviews from over 150 satisfied clients.
As the requirements for a UK visitor visa are complex, to ensure success, you should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that your supporting documentation is compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
The UK government believes that family should stay together wherever possible, which is why they offer visas for family members of British citizens or migrants who are settled in the UK. The immigration solicitors at Latitude Law can guide you through the application process and provide legal advice on complex matters, such as past refusals and appeals.
The UK welcomes highly skilled people from overseas and offers the Global Talent Visa for those endorsed in science, humanities, engineering, medicine, research, digital technology or the arts. Even if you qualify for a Global Talent Visa, previously titled the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa, it can be difficult to apply and succeed without legal support.
A Skilled Worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. It is open to individuals wanting to work in the UK who have been offered an eligible job by an employer with an approved Sponsor Licence.
Whether you’re looking to apply for the first time or aiming to renew your partner visa, Latitude Law is well placed to help you secure the right to live with your family member in the UK.
