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Standard Visitor Visa

The Standard Visitor Visa category is for persons that intend to visit the UK for specific purposes that do not fall within the prohibited categories set out by the Home Office under Appendix V of the Immigration Rules.

What is the purpose of your Standard Visitor Visa: Business or Pleasure?

Whilst you may be familiar with the common phrase asked at the airport check-in desk: “What is the purpose of your visit, business or pleasure?” However, when it comes to applying for a Standard Visitor Visa, you will need to specify the purpose of your visit when applying in order to satisfy the Home Office that the purpose of your visit is genuine and that you will leave at the end of your visit period. The different categories of Standard Visitor Visa are:

  • Tourist and Family Visit Visa
  • Business Visit Visa
  • Private Medical Treatment Visit Visa
  • Child Visit Visa
  • Marriage Visit Visa
  • Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visit Visa

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on which category of the Standard Visitor Visa you will be applying for.  You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

What are the requirements for a Standard Visitor Visa application?

In order to qualify for a Standard Visitor Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that the purpose of your visit is genuine and that you:

  • Will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
  • Will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;
  • Are genuinely seeking entry for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities;
  • Have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit without working or accessing public funds, including the cost of your onward travel or return ticket.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances.  You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

How can I meet the requirements of a Standard Visitor Visa?

Most visitors will need to make an application for a visit visa from their country of residence, before travelling. However, nationals of some countries are exempt from this requirement and referred to as Non-Visa Nationals where they can simply apply for leave to enter as a visitor at the UK border.

A Standard Visitor Visa will allow you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months. Within the period for which your Standard Visitor Visa is valid, you may enter and leave the UK multiple times, unless the Standard Visitor Visa is endorsed as a single or dual-entry visa.

Standard Visitor Visa holders may visit friends and family and/or come to the UK for a holiday. They may also carry out permitted business activities under the Business Visit Visa, undertake a maximum of 30 days incidental study and access Private Medical Treatment, providing that they satisfy the additional requirements under the Private Medical Treatment Visit Visa.

If you intend to get married or enter into a civil partnership in the UK then you should apply for a Marriage Visit Visa. If you intend to undertake a Permitted Paid Engagement then you should apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visit Visa.

Standard Visitor Visa holders are not permitted to work, receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK or undertake more than 30 days’ non-incidental study in the UK.

You must have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit without working or accessing public funds. This includes the cost of your return or onward journey, any costs relating to dependants, and the cost of planned activities.

If you have any doubts about applying for the Standard Visitor Visa, please contact our immigration lawyers for expert advice.

Making a Standard Visitor Visa application with OneLaw Chambers

At OneLaw Chambers, our immigration solicitors and barristers regularly assist with UK Standard Visitor Visa applications in order for applicants to remain and settle in the UK.  We have assisted many foreign national applicants to prepare and submit successful UK Standard Visitor Visa applications and we have represented clients from all over the world.

Whether you require expert immigration advice on the requirements of the Immigration Rules, an independent immigration assessment of your prospects of qualifying for a UK Standard Visitor Visa or professional immigration representation with preparing your UK Standard Visitor Visa immigration application, our immigration solicitors and barristers can help you.

We are committed to ensuring that our immigration solicitors and barristers prepare every immigration visa application with utmost quality and skill so that successful outcome is achieved every time. Our immigration solicitors and barristers operate in a friendly and cooperative manner to provide our clients with the best client care and service during the entire immigration application process.

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