Visa to visit UK

9hanover · Jul 15th, 2006, 22:31

How difficult (or not) would it be for an Indian resident to obtain a visa to visit friends in the UK

Nick-H · Jul 15th, 2006, 22:43

Start with the UK Visas website. It will give you a good idea of what they, as applicants, need to do and what you, as sponsor, need to do.

I'm afraid that it is just about impossible to answer your question, as so many people have different experiences.

It is certainly necessary to show that the Indian visitor can support themselves, or that they will be supported, and there should be nothing to give rise to any suspicion that once they arrive they might not leave again. Commitments such as a job in India, with employer's letter stating that they are expected to return, are a plus point.

I suspect that most applicants that satisfy that far do get visas. At the same time, I've seen people at the visa office showing great wads of papers proving property ownership in India, and seen them getting their rejections the next day.

I've also heard of groups of musicians applying for a tour where just one member of the party gets turned down.

I would go for it with optimism: but I wouldn't buy the air ticket before getting the visa

mercurie · Jul 15th, 2006, 23:39

I agree with Nick. My blood sister lives in the UK from last 8-10 years and when I wanted to visit her a couple of years ago, the British Embassy made my application and the whole process extremely cumbersome. They pounded me with at least 101 questions as to why I want to go and see my sister. After submitting all the necessary and required documents to support the evidence of our relationship, they made me wait for at least 4 weeks, before they issued me with a visa and that too when I informed them that if they cant give me the visa, they should better refuse my visa and not keep me waiting forever. This was only the first time, the next time I applied and they gave me the visa just in 3 days. This was all from Dubai of course, I dont know how easy or difficult this can be from India.

capt_mahajan · Jul 16th, 2006, 00:57

like nick says, go to the website. it isnt such a big deal, though random rejections occur, partly due to the rumour that for visas to europe, usa and the uk, an indian national is guilty until proven innocent.

Nick-H · Jul 16th, 2006, 01:14

At the Chennai UK Visa office most decisions will be given next day; yes, no or come for interview.

Mercurie: I can understand your frustration. I'm not proud of the fact that my country's employees feel the need to treat someone like a criminal just because they ewant to visit a family member!

aadil · Jul 16th, 2006, 04:14

The problem lies not in issuing the visa for visiting friends in the UK but for those few unscrupulous people who use these visas to enter the UK but not return when their time is up!!! That creates a lot of hassles for the immigration authorities and whoever is issued a visa is sort of verified by the staff before giving the visa for not overstaying or trying to illegally stay there forever!!! The same is the case for even the USA where they have one of the most people wanting to immigrate illegally. BTW, I have always got my visa on the same day without any problems and that too the last one was a five year multiple entry visa. The earlier ones were for two years but then I had not applied for the five years visa at that time or I would have got it at that time too.

Cheers,
Aadil.

Nick-H · Jul 16th, 2006, 11:49

Well, illegal immigrants in UK crerate more hassle for politicians than they do for the authorites! Our newspapers are particularly immigrant-unfriendly

.

The authorities have very little mechanism for tracking people. In a recent political scandal a Home Office minister had to admit that he didn't know how many people were in UK illegaly.

A few days later he had to admit that some of the Home Office cleaners had benn found to be illegal immigrants

My theory (everybody has different theories!) is that repeat visas are given easily for people who make regular short visits, but people who stay for longer get more closely examined the next time. Mrs N's theory is that she gets visas easily because she doesn't really want to go! (well, she was keen the first time, but once was enough

).

Nick-H · Jul 16th, 2006, 20:14

Actually, this does not have to be Off Topic, we can have it in the Passports and Visas section, even if it is the the other way around to most queries.

I'll move it there...

Jul 15th, 2006, 22:31	#1
9hanover Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: UK Posts: 83	Visa to visit UK How difficult (or not) would it be for an Indian resident to obtain a visa to visit friends in the UK

Jul 15th, 2006, 22:43	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Start with the UK Visas website. It will give you a good idea of what they, as applicants, need to do and what you, as sponsor, need to do. I'm afraid that it is just about impossible to answer your question, as so many people have different experiences. It is certainly necessary to show that the Indian visitor can support themselves, or that they will be supported, and there should be nothing to give rise to any suspicion that once they arrive they might not leave again. Commitments such as a job in India, with employer's letter stating that they are expected to return, are a plus point. I suspect that most applicants that satisfy that far do get visas. At the same time, I've seen people at the visa office showing great wads of papers proving property ownership in India, and seen them getting their rejections the next day. I've also heard of groups of musicians applying for a tour where just one member of the party gets turned down. I would go for it with optimism: but I wouldn't buy the air ticket before getting the visa __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jul 16th, 2006, 04:14	#6
aadil Aircraft Service Engineer, Astronomer & Traveller Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mumbai, India. (Lat 18.967 N, Long 72.833 E, Alt 11 m) Posts: 1,889	The problem lies not in issuing the visa for visiting friends in the UK but for those few unscrupulous people who use these visas to enter the UK but not return when their time is up!!! That creates a lot of hassles for the immigration authorities and whoever is issued a visa is sort of verified by the staff before giving the visa for not overstaying or trying to illegally stay there forever!!! The same is the case for even the USA where they have one of the most people wanting to immigrate illegally. BTW, I have always got my visa on the same day without any problems and that too the last one was a five year multiple entry visa. The earlier ones were for two years but then I had not applied for the five years visa at that time or I would have got it at that time too. Cheers, Aadil. __________________ Climb high; climb far; Your goal, the sky, Your aim, the stars!!!

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Jul 15th, 2006, 23:39	#3
mercurie Mercurie Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Posts: 73	I agree with Nick. My blood sister lives in the UK from last 8-10 years and when I wanted to visit her a couple of years ago, the British Embassy made my application and the whole process extremely cumbersome. They pounded me with at least 101 questions as to why I want to go and see my sister. After submitting all the necessary and required documents to support the evidence of our relationship, they made me wait for at least 4 weeks, before they issued me with a visa and that too when I informed them that if they cant give me the visa, they should better refuse my visa and not keep me waiting forever. This was only the first time, the next time I applied and they gave me the visa just in 3 days. This was all from Dubai of course, I dont know how easy or difficult this can be from India.

Jul 16th, 2006, 00:57	#4
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,568	like nick says, go to the website. it isnt such a big deal, though random rejections occur, partly due to the rumour that for visas to europe, usa and the uk, an indian national is guilty until proven innocent.

Jul 16th, 2006, 01:14	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	At the Chennai UK Visa office most decisions will be given next day; yes, no or come for interview. Mercurie: I can understand your frustration. I'm not proud of the fact that my country's employees feel the need to treat someone like a criminal just because they ewant to visit a family member!

Jul 16th, 2006, 11:49	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Well, illegal immigrants in UK crerate more hassle for politicians than they do for the authorites! Our newspapers are particularly immigrant-unfriendly . The authorities have very little mechanism for tracking people. In a recent political scandal a Home Office minister had to admit that he didn't know how many people were in UK illegaly. A few days later he had to admit that some of the Home Office cleaners had benn found to be illegal immigrants My theory (everybody has different theories!) is that repeat visas are given easily for people who make regular short visits, but people who stay for longer get more closely examined the next time. Mrs N's theory is that she gets visas easily because she doesn't really want to go! (well, she was keen the first time, but once was enough ).

Jul 16th, 2006, 20:14	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Actually, this does not have to be Off Topic, we can have it in the Passports and Visas section, even if it is the the other way around to most queries. I'll move it there...

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