How to Obtain a Visa in England
Obtaining a visa in England is no different than obtaining a visa in the rest of the United Kingdom. Once a person has entered the UK, their options for switching visas are limited by the type of visa that they used to enter the country. Certain classes of visa, such as the Visa Waiver Program and tourist visas, offer no provision for switching while remaining in the country. People who hold these visas must leave the country to apply for a different status or visa. Those who enter through the points based migration system or on spouse and fiance visas are able to switch to other visa classes without leaving the country first.
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Things You'll Need
- Current passport
- Visa Application
- Financial information for the past three months
- Maintenance funds
- UK passport sized photographs
Instructions
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1
Determine the type of visa used to enter the country. If no visa was issued or the visa is a visitor visa, the holder may not apply for a new visa while within the UK.
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2
Decide on the type of visa which will be applied for. Certain visas, such as a fiance visa, only allow the holder to apply for a specific visa after entering the UK. Other visa types may be changed to any tier of visa without a problem so long as the new requirements are met.
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3
Assess qualifications using the United Kingdom Border Agency points calculator. This online tool allows a prospective applicant to assess the strength of their application before applying; applicants must meet a specific number of points over several criteria in order to apply for a visa.
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4
Print out the appropriate application form and guidance notes from the UKBA website. These forms are for use within the UK only.
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Submit the completed application form, along with any supporting documentation and the appropriate visa fee, to the address on the appropriate guidance notes from the previous step. Applications may be submitted by courier or by regular post. The applicant will be notified of their approval or denial by letter.
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Tips & Warnings
Visitors may not change visa status from within the UK.
