UK visa from Sri Lanka

In order to obtain a visa for the UK, you should be able to show that:

• Intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit
• Have sufficient funds to support yourself without working or utilizing any public funds.
• Be able to pay for your return journey
• You will not overstay your visa, or any extended time period through successive visits/frequent travels.

You must NOT:

• Do any paid/unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person without a valid visa (Work visa)
• Claim public funds
• Overstay your visa
• Marry/ register a civil partnership, in order to do this you will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa.

Yes! A few important documents you will need to apply for a visit visa are

• Passport, National Identity Card (NIC), Birth Certificate and any other documents to prove your identity.
• Proof of your purpose of Visit, travel itinerary and accommodation details.
• Intended travel date and period of stay and tentative bookings.
• Confirmation proof of your address in Sri Lanka.
• If you have a sponsor, you will need your sponsor to send you the relevant documents proving their visa status and other vital details. (The documents vary depending on what level you will be sponsored)
• Your parent’s information (if available).
• Details of past travel history.
• Details of criminal, civil or immigration offenses you may have committed.
• Employment details and income.
• Proof of availability of sufficient funds to support yourself throughout your stay including your return.
• Invitation letter (if applicable).

While these are only a few of the documents you will require in order to obtain a positive decision on your visa, there are many other documents you can provide to confirm the authenticity of your visa. Providing these documents will not only help get a positive visa decision, it will also clarify any doubts the immigration officers have of your purpose of visit.

You’ve filled the online visa application and gotten it out of your way…now what?

After you have submitted your online application and made the application fee, you need to book your biometrics appointment which will be in Colombo. You will need to be there in person and answer a few questions regarding your purpose of visit and confirm/clarify any other details asked.

Following the booking of your biometrics appointment you will need to physically visit the respective office on the relevant date given to you. Being prepared with the necessary documents is an essential step in the biometrics process. You need to take all your documents to your appointment as this will ensure a smooth flow of your visa application and overall experience.

A cover letter is an inclusion of all your details needed for a Visa. It is a great way to clarify any details about your application to the immigration officers. While it highlights your purpose of visit it covers all other aspects of your application and acts in support of your document.

It should include details about yourself, about your purpose of visit, duration of your stay, your travel itinerary, proof of finances, employment details and any other ties you may have to Sri Lanka. Be sure to provide any other background information that you think would benefit your application as much as possible.

Avoiding unnecessary details and over explanations will make your cover letter appear in a negative light. By focusing on the facts and be sure to have proof (documents) for anything you mention in the cover letter. Maintain a formal tone throughout your cover letter and ensure your cover letter acts as a quick way for your visa officer to understand your situation.

A decision for a visit visa can take approximately 3-4 weeks from the date of your biometrics appointment.

If you’re in a hurry and need to obtain a visa urgently you may apply for the priority service, which will increase your application fees by an additional £500.

UKVI says that, Using the priority service usually takes up to 30 working days for Family visa applications from outside the UK if you’re applying as a:

• partner or spouse
• parent
• child
• adult coming to be cared for by a relative

Super Priority Service

This is the fastest way to get your decision.

Depending on your eligibility and circumstances, you can select the ‘super priority service’ when you apply. You’ll need to pay £1,000 in addition to the application fee for super priority service.

How quickly you get a decision depends on when you prove your identity.

If you prove your identity in person

You’ll usually get a decision:

• by the end of the next working day after your appointment, if your appointment is on a weekday
• 2 working days after your appointment, if your appointment is at the weekend or on a bank holiday

If the immigration officers require more information, this process can take a little longer than the estimate. They make need time to check your details with other government departments/ relevant authorities. You’ll be informed if this happens.

What To Do If The Visa Decision Is Delayed

You can track your visa application and it’s progress on VFS by logging in to your account. If you are not satisfied with the update, you can call them and inquire about your application and corporate with any other additional information or documents they make require.

A rejection is the last thing any applicant would like to hear. The best and easiest way to avoid having your visa rejected is to make sure that you are fully aware of common rejection reasons and avoid them.

A few common rejection reasons:

• Incomplete application
  Many applicants find it difficult to complete the certain steps of the application and leave out details. While the applicant may disregard it as they believe their documents prove it, the immigration office will not be satisfied with such applications. They will require a complete and informative application in order to be able to come to a conclusion regarding your decision. Having a complete application with your details in full and with all vital information as much as possible will give your immigration officer a lucid understanding about your intentions as well as about yourself.
• Insufficient financial evidence
  Having low funds to support yourself on your visit is a major cause for rejection. Loans and borrowings are considered as key issues as it acts as a liability and does not prove your stability. If you have taken a loan and it reflects on your bank statements, you must provide valid evidence as to the reason for obtaining the loan and it must not be for your visit. Being financially sound is a factor the immigration officers look for. This will boost their confidence in you and prove your honesty.
• Lack of clear purpose of visitMany tourists believe that simply providing an intended travel date and tentative tickets and accommodation will suffice to prove your purpose of visit. While they are important, providing your travel itinerary and any other reasons (such as visiting friends) you may wish to fulfill during your visit will give a clear picture to the immigration officers.
  Similarly, if you intend to visit the UK for purpose other than tourism, such as visiting friends or family, it is best to prove your relationship with them. Eg: If you are visiting your child who is studying in the UK on a student visa, you can provide their visa status and their birth certificate to confirm your relationship.
  The cover letter is extremely helpful in explaining your purpose of visit as you can explain the exact reason/s for your visit while using your documents as proof and giving any reasons for the visit.
• Overcoming rejection and reapplying

You can track your visa application and its progress by logging into your VFS global account.

Once a decision has been made, you will receive an SMS, requesting you to pick up your documents from the relevant office where you submitted your biometrics (In Colombo).

What To Do After I Get My Visa Approved?

When you get a positive response on your visa- an approval, you can confirm your tentative flight ticket and make the necessary payments for your travel.

My Visa Was Refused. Can I Apply For An Appeal?

Depending on your purpose of visit, yes you can apply for an appeal. However, if your purpose of visit was entirely for tourist purposes, it is recommended to wait for a certain time period to reapply rather than applying for an appeal. If your visa gets refused and if you decide on applying for an appeal for tourist purposes, it gives off a negative outlook to any immigration officer.

However, if your purpose of a standard visit visa was an urgent matter such as attending a ceremony etc your need to apply for an appeal is feasible.

Figure out the need to apply for an appeal based on your purpose of visit as overcoming rejection and applying for an appeal (as mentioned in the common rejection reasons) can be another reason for a second refusal especially for a casual visit!