Apply to Visit the UK during the Festive Season

During the UK’s Festive Season you can visit London to admire the spectacular Christmas lights and Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland to enjoy open ice rinks, Christmas markets and adventure rides. You can also bask in the widely recognised 2017 January Sales where you’ll find discounts on an array of goods. If you wish to visit the UK for these purposes, or for anything else, we advise you to make an application for a visitor visa for Leisure and Tourism and you could receive a positive decision within 3 weeks. With this, you can still enjoy the above-mentioned festivities. In order to make a successful application to visit the UK there are a number of eligibility and evidential requirements that have to be met.

Successful UK Visit Visa Applications with LEXVISA Solicitors

What is a Visitor Visa for Leisure and Tourism?

A Visitor visa allows you to visit the UK for a period of up to 6 months for a temporary purpose. With this visa, you can spend time with your family and friends, visit the UK’s tourist attractions, take part in sport or creative events, or indulge in the January sales.

Most visit visas will allow you to enter the UK multiple times during the 6 month period to maximise your leisure and tourism in the UK. We will advise you as to whether it is likely that you will be granted a multiple entry visit visa.

You can make an application for to visit the UK online or by way of a paper application to a visa application centre for a fee of £87.

Requirements for Visiting the UK for Leisure and Tourism

In order to make a successful application to visit the UK, Appendix V: Visitor Rules of the Immigration Rules requires you to evidence the following within your application:

• You will leave the UK at the end of your visit
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods, through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your home
• You are seeking entry into the UK for visiting purposes only
• You will not undertake any prohibited activities whilst in the UK
• You have sufficient funds to cover your costs whilst in the UK (or you will be supported by somebody who is in the UK)

If you are going to receive financial support from somebody currently residing in the UK, that person will have to show that they have a genuine relationship with you and that they will be able to support you, by way of a written undertaking and supporting evidence. Our team of experts can assist you with drafting this undertaking and advise you regarding the relevant evidence.

If you are unable to evidence the above requirements to a satisfactory level, it is likely that your application will be refused. We advise you to seek legal advice as to what specific documents you will need to produce in order for your application to be successful.

Restrictions on UK Visit visa

Whilst you are visiting the UK, there are a number of activities that you are prohibited from carrying out. The prohibitions are as follows:

• Working in the UK
• Receiving payment from a UK source for an activity undertaken in the UK (there are exceptions to this rule)
• Studying in the UK for more than 30 days
• Accessing the National Health Service (NHS) medical treatment
• Marrying or giving notice of the intention to marry

Failure to comply with such conditions can result in the curtailment of your visa and a high chance that you will be refused entry if you make a later application to enter the UK. We would advise you to seek legal advice in order to avoid carrying out prohibited activities whilst visiting the UK.

Long-term Multiple Entry Visit Visa for Leisure and Tourism

If you know that you would like to visit the UK frequently for leisure and tourism purposes, you may wish to apply for a long-term multiple entry visit visa. With this visa, you can visit the UK multiple times within either a 2, 5 or 10 year period for a maximum of 6 months at a time.

In order to be granted a long-term multiple entry visit visa you will need to meet the above requirements and you will also need to show the following:

• You have a credible reason to continue visiting the UK
• You have stability of personal and economic circumstances
• A history of complying with immigration laws

It can be very beneficial and cost effective to apply for a long-term multiple entry visit visa if you know that you would like to visit the UK frequently. We would advise you to seek legal advice as to which visa would be the most ideal for your particular circumstances and the evidence you will require for a successful application.

Successful Application to Visit to the UK

Our expert team of lawyers have extensive knowledge of making applications for UK Visit visas. We can assist you with the preparation of your visa application and ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules. We will ensure that all key points are substantiated with documentary evidence thereby leading to a successful application and avoiding the unnecessary expense of re-submitting your application to the Home Office.

If you wish to consider your options, please call our Immigration Team so we can assess your matter and if necessary advise you of the next steps you should take in a consultation.

We are based in the legal epicentre of London, just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients.  We are minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts.

If you need professional legal advice about applying for a Visitor Visa please contact us for a case assessment on 02030110276. You can also reach us via our contact form.