You must submit your visa application in person at the UKBorder Agency
Application Centres. This is because your biometrics
details will be taken at the same time. We strongly recommend that you
visit an Application Centre by prior appointment, saving you
unnecessary waiting time.
Applications will be accepted at the Visa Application Centre if applicants:
present a signed, dated Visa Application Form (VAF);
provide the required photographs
provide a passport (or other travel documents where specified by UKVisas)
- for all applicants travelling to the UK
- which correspond to data in the VAF (name, passport number, expiry date)
- which have not expired
- which have at least one page free in the visa pages for the insertion of a
vignette
The recent High Court ruling in the UK resulting from the Highly Skilled Forum Judicial Review affects certain people who formerly had leave in the UK under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). You may be covered by this ruling if you joined HSMP under the arrangements which were in place until the scheme was suspended on 7 November 2006 and you either:
a) Applied for and were refused further leave to remain under the new extension rules which came into force on 5 December 2006, and subsequently left the UK, or
b) Left the UK after 7 November 2006 without ever applying for further leave to remain under the new rules.
A policy document which explains in detail who is affected by the ruling is available on the UK Border Agency website. Forms, guidance and information on supporting documents for those overseas who think they are affected by the ruling and who wish to apply for entry clearance to return to the UK as a highly skilled migrant are being prepared and will be available on the UK Border Agency Visa Services website. Applications will need to be made via our VAC.
If you intend to travel to the United Kingdom to work in either the food &
beverage industry, or in the healthcare industry, you will need to have a
medical examination before your visa is issued.
The basis cost of the medical examination, chest x-ray and pathology test per
applicant is:
* Rs 805 in Mumbai
* Rs 1000 in Delhi
* Rs 1000 in Chennai
* Rs 550 in Kolkata
This procedure will take an additional 12 working days, so please allow plenty
of time for your application to be processed.
The Visa Officer will consider your application. If it is likely that you
qualify for a visa, we will send your medical papers to VFS, attaching a set of
instructions about the procedure you should follow and the names of the doctors
on our panel who will medically examine you
The Visa Officer will consider your application. If it is likely that you
qualify for a visa, we will send your medical papers to VFS, attaching a set of
instructions about the procedure you should follow and the names of the doctors
on our panel who will medically examine you.
Note : We regret we cannot accept
photographs that do not meet these requirments
Photographs
Please provide your recent photograph
(not more than 6 months old). The photographs should be
in colour and: -
Taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are
distinguishable and contrast against the background;
Clear and of good quality;
Printed on normal photographic paper;
Unmounted - 45 mm x 35 mm in size;
Full face (without sunglasses and normally without a hat or other head
covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of their religious
belief or ethnic background).
Please note that if you have applied under PBS Tier 1 General
Migrant or PBS Tier 1 transitional scheme, your supporting documents will
be sent to Integra Screen for verification. This process can take up to two weeks.
The visa process will be completed only after this verification.
For all other category of visas, applicants can avail of an optional verification process
through Integra Screen. This would fast track your application.
The Integra website has more details.
The only way is the legal way You may decide to submit your application to VFS via an independent Travel
Agent, Immigration Agent or Consultant. These agents will charge for their
services. Any such charge should be reasonable.
You should be careful when dealing with agents who make unrealistic claims.
Agents cannot guarantee that they will be able to obtain a work or study visa
for you. They cannot guarantee that your application will be resolved without
an interview. They cannot guarantee the outcome of a visa application. They may
be cheating you if they make these claims.
Many agents charge exorbitant fees for their services - often many times the
actual cost of the visa. If an agent charges you anything more than a small and
reasonable service charge, they may be overcharging you or they may be
supplying you with false documents and statements. Visa officers will detect
false documents and statements, and the visa application will be refused. You
will lose all your money.
Remember the visa application is your application. You are the owner of the
information and any supporting documentation. A genuine agent will only be able
to help you to complete the form and advise as to what supporting documents you
need to include. If you are suspicious, take advice from VFS. If you consider
that you have been misled or cheated by an agent, then you should report the
matter to the Police.
Processing times
Applicants are advised to submit their visa applications in good time, but no more than 3 months in advance of their intended date of travel.
You should allow a minimum of 4 working days for your visa application to be considered. Most straightforward visitor applications are being considered in approximately this timescale by the British High Commission in New Delhi and the British Deputy High Commissions in Mumbai and Chennai. However, if secondary checks are required, this time may be extended to 15 working days and longer if additional enquiries need to be made, for example of the Home Office in the UK.
Working Holiday Maker visa applications are taking longer to process. Visa Services in India are currently clearing a backlog of applications generated as a result of the popularity of this visa category. The aim is to deal with most Working Holiday Maker applications within 12 weeks.
Settlement visa applications take approximately 12 weeks to consider.
If you are applying under the Tier 1 or Tier 1 Transitional Scheme of the Points Based System you should allow approximately 15 working days for your application to be considered. Visa Services are piloting a partnership with a commercial company, IntegraScreen (www.integrascreen.com), for the verification of documents submitted in support of visa applications in these categories. Once the application is submitted to the VFS visa application centre, the documents will be independently verified before Visa Services make a decision on the visa application. There is no additional charge for this service.
Where do I apply?
You should normally apply at the VFS visa application centre in, or closest to, the State in which you are documented as being resident. Please contact VFS if you have any doubts as to where to make your application.
