If you wish to travel to the UK as an Indian citizen, then the first thing you need to do is apply for a UK visa. Indians can apply for a UK visa via this online portal if they want to read in English or this other one if they want to read in other languages like Bengali, Hindi, Gujurati or Tamil.
As the internet influences today’s world, most of the visa-related work is done online. Any person from another country can visit the UK based on their purpose. Based on their visit’s purpose, different types of visas are available depending upon their purpose. Indian citizens can visit the UK for multiple purposes like research, work, career, tourism, or joining a family member. The online portal will guide you to fill out a visa application form, depending on your selected visa type—the default language for filling up the form is English. After filling up the form, you need to pay the visa fees online, and you need to take the printout of your completed application form. Some other information, like your biometric information, will also be needed. After payment, you will get your appointment reserved for the submission of the documents. The online facility for the visa application is very feasible. It allows you to save the application’s progress, and you can continue at a later stage.
How to apply for a UK visa for Indians
-
UK Government in English
-
Immigration Services in many languages like English, Bengali, Hindi, Gujurati or Tamil
The visa applicants can choose from nineteen different languages other than English to fill-up the form. When filling the form, the applicant needs to specify the type of UK visa they are applying for. This selection of the visa needs to be done after selecting the application form language. Applicants can apply to the one form of the visa application choosing between the following options:
Types of the UK visas available:
- Standard Visitor visa
- Marriage Visitor visa
- Permitted Paid Engagement visa
- Tier 4 – Student visa for Higher Education
- Tier 4 – Student visa for Early Education
- Tier 4 – Student visa for the other categories
- Tier 2 – visa for general purpose
- Tier 2 – Sportsperson visa
- Tier 2 – visa for Minister of Religion
- Tier 2 – visa – Long-term Staff for transfer between companies.
- Tier 2 – visa – Graduate Trainee for transfer between companies.
- Student visa for short term or short period of time
- PBS Dependant – Partner or Spouse visa
- PBS Dependant – Child visa
- Other visas, including study, work, and Parent of a Tier 4 Child
First-time travelers may find the visa process bit overwhelming. As there are certain things which you may find difficult. However, the online process has made it very much easier. The applicants can decide the exact type of visa they wanted to apply for. The website will allow you to choose between the following reasons for visiting the UK:
- Tourism, including visiting friends or family
- Work, academic visit, or business
- Study
- Transit
- Join partner or family for a long stay
- Stay with the child if they’re at school.
- To get private medical treatment.
- Get married or enter into a civil partnership.
- For official diplomatic or government business (including transit through the UK)
In India, VFS Global handles the application centers. VFS is the concerned authority for managing matters related to visas and immigration for the United Kingdom. The applicants need to apply for a UK visa through VFS Global. It manages all your administrative documents related to your passport and visa application. VFS Global is also responsible for taking up all the non-discretionary tasks for the government. The applicants seeking a UK visa need to contact any of the visa centers nearest available to them. Applicants need to have appropriate documents to submit and verify their biometrics information. The applicants need to carry the following documents along with them while heading to the visa center.
- Online application form
- Appointment letter confirmation
- Valid Passport
- All the original required documents
Visa centers in India
Here is the list of the visa centers available in India. All Indian passport holders can visit any of these centers. These centers are open and available on business days (i.e., Monday to Friday) from 8 AM to 4 PM IST. Cochin Center timing is from 8 AM to 3 PM IST.
Northern India
Delhi
Mezzanine Floor, Baba Kadak Singh Marg, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001, India
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 16:00 Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 10:00 – 18:00
Gurgaon
ILD Trade Centre, Fourth Floor, Sector 47, Sohna Road Gurgaon – 122001
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 09:00 – 16:00 Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 09:00 – 16:00
Chandigarh
SCO 62 63, Sector 8 C, near Hotel Icon and Times of India office Madhya Marg, Chandigarh 160018
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 14:00 Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 14:00
West India
Mumbai
South Express Tower, Fourth Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 02
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:00 Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 11:00 – 18:00
Mumbai
North Express Tower, Fourth Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 021
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:00 Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 11:00 – 18:00
Pune
4th Floor, E core, Marvel edge, Viman Nagar, Pune – 411014
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 14:00 Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 09:00 – 15:00
South India
Chennai
Fagun Towers, Second Floor, No 74, Ethiraj Salai, Egmore, Chennai – 600 008
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
Bangalore
Global Tech Park, O’Shaughnessy Road, Langford Town First Floor (Landmark Hockey Ground) Bengaluru Karnataka 560025
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
Hyderabad
8-2-700 3rd Floor, Srida Anushka Pride Opposite to Ratnadeep Super Market, Banjara Hills, Road No 12, Hyderabad 500034
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
Cochin
S&T Arcade, Kurisupally Road, Ravipuram, Cochin – 682016
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 15:00
East India
Kolkata
UK visa application center, Fifth floor, RENE tower, Plot No. AA-I, 1842, Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba, Kolkata 700107
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 14:00
Passport collection: Monday to Friday – 10:00 – 16:00
Thiruvananthapuram
T.C 2/2408-3 First floor, Asiatic Business Centre, Attinkuzhy, Kazhakootam, Trivandrum, Kerala 695581.
Operates once a month
Goa
Visa application center, Gera Imperium – I, Office No 301, 3rd Floor, Patto, Panjim, Goa – 403001
Second Wednesday of each month between 09:00 to 17:30 (closed on public holidays)
To find more information on your nearest visa centers, you can visit the official website of VFS Global. They also provide services to pick up documents from your home if you cannot come to any visa centers. This process is called the On-Demand Mobile visa. Here are some more details below.
On-demand mobile visa
The On-demand visa service enables you to go through the whole visa application process at home. You can also choose any other place apart from your home like your office, school campus. You can book your visit online by filling this form. The staff of VFS Global will collect all your information in a single visit. So it is preferred to get all your documents ready to make this process much smoother. They will also take your biometric information, including your photograph and fingerprints. The VFS Global staff will carry the equipment to authorize and capture your details.
This service is available for individuals and group applicants also. Families, businesses, student tour groups, and any other groups can avail of this facility. However, this is preferable for the larger groups who are looking to have their visa process done in one place. The pricing also differs from individuals to different sizes of the groups. It is recommended for large groups that each member of the group has completed their visa application form on gov.uk before we visit.
These are the pricing details according to the size of the group.
The price for one applicant on their alone is 9900 Indian Rupees.
The price for a group of 2 to 10 applicants is 7500 Indian Rupees per person.
The price for a group of 11 to 30 applicants is 6500 Indian Rupees per person.
The price for a group of more than 30 applicants is 5500 Indian Rupees per person.
Apart from the groups’ size, the pricing details may also vary in different locations as well.
When should I apply for the visa?
This is the question that develops in most of your minds when applying for a visa. There is no particular date or time period specified before which you need to apply for the visa. However, it is preferred to apply for at least three to four months in advance from the date of your travel. This visa can be procured by persons who have a work permit. This visa can also be used by the organization where the applicant operates, whether in the United Kingdom. It also requires intra-company transfers. A sponsorship certificate from the United Kingdom Government is required before applying for a visa in this category.
As sometimes, there is a rush at the visa centers, and it’ll make your application stay on the waiting list for some time. While applying, you may check for the prime seasons when the visas rush is much higher than normal. However, you can apply for the visa one month before as well. The UK visa can be applied for through the online portal by people from other countries who wish to visit the UK for research, work, career, tourism, or join a family member or partner/friend. The applicant will be required, depending on the type of visa, to fill in a particular type of visa application form in English, to pay the visa fee online, to print out a copy of the completed application form,”””’ and to reserve an appointment for the submission of documents and biometric information. The online facility enables the applicant to store the application’s progress and proceed at a later stage. You can also opt for faster services to get your visa approval through Priority and Super Priority Services. However, this will make you pay some extra money to fasten up the whole process.
Priority Services
You can also opt for the ‘priority service’ when you apply for the visa application. Firstly, you need to check your identity at a visa application center. You also need to check if the service is available in the country from which you are applying. For this facility, there will be an additional charge.
A decision on your visa application will be taken at the visa application center within 5 working days of your appointment. To see if the priority visa service is available in the country from which you are applying. This needs to be checked with your visa application center. In most countries, there is a priority visa service available.
Super Priority Services
You can opt for the ‘Super Priority service’ when you apply for the visa application. As stated in the priority services, you need to check your identity first at a visa application center. After that, you need to check that the service is available in the country you apply to. For this facility, there will be an additional charge.
UK Visas and Immigration plans to decide on your application in around 24 hours. For a Super Priority visa and contact you to let you know that your passport is ready for processing within 24 hours of your biometric details being sent. To see if the Super Priority visa service is available in the country you are applying to, check with your visa application center.
The payment process for the Priority and the Super Priority services depends upon different factors like:
- Type of visa
- Country from which you are visiting
- Tenure of the visa
Time Required for the Visa Application to get a Decision
There are different waiting tenures for different types of visas, a brief list for this is below:
- The visa approval process for the below choices may take up to three weeks after applying for your visa application (here, one week refers to the five working days).
-
Meeting your family members
-
Holiday trip
- Business meetings
-
- The approval process also takes up to three weeks or lesser. Suppose you’re traveling to any other country but traveling through the UK. This process may get faster based on the country from where you are checking in and the destination country.
- If you’re applying for a study visa, you can expect the decision within three weeks or less. Priority and Super Priority services are also available for the study visa. This study visa also covers the following types:
- Short-term study visa
- Student visa
- Child Student visa
- If you’re applying for a visa to join your family in the UK, this process may seem to be a bit longer. This process may take up to 12 weeks for visa approval (here, one week refers to 5 days). If you’re applying to live in the UK, there are different parameters that you need to take care of:
- The girlfriend, companion, or family member is British or settled in the United Kingdom.
- Depending on what country you are in, you might be able to get your visa or other services more easily-consult with your visa application center.
- You can get your decision simultaneously if you are applying as the dependent of another applicant.
- If you apply for an EEA Family Permit or a EUSS Family Permit, you can obtain a decision at the visa application center as soon as possible after your appointment.
Fees for the different types of visas
The visa fees displayed below is an estimate of the amount applicable. The final amount may vary from time to time, and it is preferred to check the final amount with the visa center.
Standard Visitor
A short-term standard visitor visa for up to 6 months, with single or multiple entries, costs 8,010 Indian Rupees.
A long-term standard visitor visa valid for up to 2 years costs 30,330 Indian Rupees.
A long-term standard visitor visa valid for up to 5 years costs 55,080 Indian Rupees.
A long-term standard visitor visa valid for up to 10 years costs 69,030 Indian Rupees.
Short-term study visa
A short-term study visa for up to 6 months costs 8,370 Indian Rupees.
A short-term study visa to study the English language costs 16,110 Indian Rupees.
Business Visitor
A business visitor visa for an academic visitor for up to 12 months and their dependants costs 16,110 Indian Rupees.
A business visitor visa for clinical attachments, a dental observation, and a PLAB / OSCE test costs 8,370 Indian Rupees.
A business visitor visa for a diplomatic courier costs 8,010 Indian Rupees.
A business visitor visa for permitted paid engagements costs 8,010 Indian Rupees.
A business visitor visa for a prospective entrepreneur costs 8,010 Indian Rupees.
Can you get a refund for your visa fees?
There are different terms and conditions for the visa payment and the refunds. The refund policy is updated on the VFS Global page. You can follow it for a refund. In general, the visa fee is only refundable if a written application has been submitted five days before the visa appointment date. After five days, your visa fees will not be refunded as per the policy. However, in some cases, this may change as well. After having successfully submitted the biometric data or the live image is registered (any one of them), the Visa fee is not refundable.
The visa application process for a minor at VFS Global VAC
The visa application process for Children is a bit different than the adult process. Children from all age groups need to attend the VFS Global visa center in person. However, there are some different procedures based on age groups. For children below the age group of five are not required to provide their biometrics data. The parents can also book an appointment in advance to avoid the hassle. The applicants below the age of eighteen need to submit all their documents. An adult must accompany them, and that person must not be a member of the VFS Global Staff. Apart from this, all the visa application process is the same for the minors as well. However, it may vary in some types of visas like student visas and some others as well.
Useful Links about UK visa
- To apply for the UK Visa: https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk
- VFS Global website: https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/visa_types.html
- For Study visa: http://www.campusuk.com/others/useful_links.php
- UK Visa & Immigration: http://www.gov.uk/visas-immigration
Leave a Reply