Just the thought of applying for a UK visa can be very intimidating, not including the long 15 hour long flight plus, of course, going to the UK can be a bit costly. But if visiting the UK has been on your bucket list, and you have already saved up for it, then who are we to stop you from going there?
Here then is a step by step guide to the visa application process to help you get to your dream destination, and it is a lot simpler than we think it is!
* Just a note: A Schengen Visa cannot be used to enter the United Kingdom as that is good only for the rest of the European Union.
How to Apply for the UK Visa:
1. Identify Your Visa Type
Before proceeding with the actual application, you need to identify what kind of visa you will need to enter the UK. You can check here. (Enter Nationality>Purpose of Visit) to find out what type of visa you'll be needing.
This guide is just for Short Term Standard Visitor Visa. This is th etype of visa that allows visitors to:
- Go on a holiday
- Visit family and friends
- Study for up to 30 days
- Take part in sports or creative events
- Do academic research
- Receive private medical treatment
- Stay in the UK for up to 6 months
People who can provide the proof of the following are eligible for a Standard Visitor Visa:
- Temporary stay in the Uk
- Financial capacity for the entire trip
- Proof of business or activities within the Uk permitted by the Visitor Rules
For business related activities, you can check these Visitor Rules for a list of permitted activities under the Standard Visitor Visa. Make sure to understand everything before proceeding with the rest of the application.
2. Complete the online application form
After you have determined what type of visa you will be needing, you can now register here to begin your application online. After verifying your email address, you may start inputting all necessary information under the "Apply for Myself' page.Just follow the step by step process after registering an account.
Just to give you an idea of some questions you will be asked, here's some examples: (it is basically the same as the questions for applying for a US or Korean visa)
- Intended travel dates
- Accommodations and contact information in the UK
- Estimated cost of the trip
- Present home address and years of residence
- Personal information about family, hometown and birthdays
- Information of friends and family in the UK if you have
- Personal income and source of income
- Travel history for the past ten years
- Employer details including address and telephone number
- Criminal, civil, or immigration offences that you may have committed ( of course if you did not do anything then just put none!)
If there is a portion that you are not sure of, you have the option to save your progress and go back to it after a certain time. Please note that once you submit your application, there is absolutely no way of doing it again so please make sure to only put the correct information so that you can avoid having your application denied.
3. Book an appointment at VFS Global and Pay the application fee
After successfully accomplishing the online form, you will be asked to choose an appointment date at your nearest visa application center. For Filipinos, you can drop by at one of these VFS Global offices:
Manila:
VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.,
Mazzanine Floor Unit MO1, Ecoplaza Building
2305 Chino Roces Avenue extension
Makati City, Metro Manila 1231
Cebu City:
VFS Global Services Philippines Inc.,
9th Floor, Keppel Center, Unit 905
Samar Loop Corner Rosales Avenue
Cebu Business Park
Cebu City 6000F
After choosing your appointment date, you will now be required to pay the application fee. The Standard Visitor Visa costs 93GBP and can be paid with a credit card. If you are applying for a long-term visa, the fee varies depending on the amount of years.
4. Prepare the required documents
You will need to submit original documents at the VFS Global center, and you will also be required to present one set of photocopies.
Here is a list of the documents you need to present for your application:
- Passport and other travel documents
* Current passport- must have a validity of at least 6 months
- must have at least 2 blank pages for the arrival and departure stamps
* Previous passports (if any) for travel history
* Photocopies:
- Front and back of current and previous visas
- Bio page of current visa
- Valid and expired visas
- Proof of income
*Certificate of employment
* Income Tax return (Form 2316)
- Proof of Financial Capacity
* Bank certificate
* Employee contract (if any)
*Payslips from the last 6 months
- Sample Itinerary
* Provide a simple run-down of where you will be staying, activities, places that you intend to visit with corresponding dates
- Flight ticket reservation
* If you have already booked both departure and return tickets, you may also include the reservation vouchers
* If you are not sure whether your application gets approved or not, book the refundable tickets, but if you have not booked anything, then just say that you are waiting for the results first before booking your flight tickets
- Hotel reservation
* If you have hotel reservations ready, you can also provide a copy of the reservation
* If you do book, make sure your reservation is refundable
- Approved Leave Letter
* This will help prove that you are currently employed and that you intend to come back to the Philippines after your trip
- VFS Appointment Letter
* After confirming your appointment, you will be sent a confirmation email. Print this out and include it in your documents
5. Submission of requirements and biometrics on your appointment day
*Just some friendly reminders on the day of your appointment:
- Be sure to arrive at the VFS Global Center of your choice on your appointment date 15 minutes early. Entry is restricted and is done per interview time- do not mess up your application so be there early.
- Upon entering, you will be asked to put your things in a locker, including your phone. You would only need to bring with your your documents.
- Have the original documents and one set of photocopies ready to submit during your appointment
- You will also be asked if you want to avail of the SMS Service to update you of the status of your application. The fee is P150-200. Make sure you have cash with you.
- Wait for your turn to do the biometrics ( fingerprinting and photo taking)
- Dress appropriately!
6. Wait and collect your passport at VFS Global
- The whole application process takes 5-15 business days. If you want to have it expedited though, you can avail of the Priority Visa Service for a fee of P10,000, and your application will be processed within 3-5 business days.
- If you have availed of the SMS servcie, you will receive a text message informing you that your passport is ready for pick up, otherwise, you will be receiving an email.
Some useful tips:
* Gather your requirements early - it takes a few days to a few weeks to get all the documents ready, so I advise to get them ready before starting the online application.
* Do not indicate false information
- This is definitely a NO-NO! Do not underestimate the people behind the visa process. They their way of knowing whether the information you put is factual or not, so if you don't want to jeopardize your application, be honest.
Good luck and enjoy your trip!
Here then is a step by step guide to the visa application process to help you get to your dream destination, and it is a lot simpler than we think it is!
* Just a note: A Schengen Visa cannot be used to enter the United Kingdom as that is good only for the rest of the European Union.
How to Apply for the UK Visa:
1. Identify Your Visa Type
Before proceeding with the actual application, you need to identify what kind of visa you will need to enter the UK. You can check here. (Enter Nationality>Purpose of Visit) to find out what type of visa you'll be needing.
This guide is just for Short Term Standard Visitor Visa. This is th etype of visa that allows visitors to:
- Go on a holiday
- Visit family and friends
- Study for up to 30 days
- Take part in sports or creative events
- Do academic research
- Receive private medical treatment
- Stay in the UK for up to 6 months
People who can provide the proof of the following are eligible for a Standard Visitor Visa:
- Temporary stay in the Uk
- Financial capacity for the entire trip
- Proof of business or activities within the Uk permitted by the Visitor Rules
For business related activities, you can check these Visitor Rules for a list of permitted activities under the Standard Visitor Visa. Make sure to understand everything before proceeding with the rest of the application.
2. Complete the online application form
After you have determined what type of visa you will be needing, you can now register here to begin your application online. After verifying your email address, you may start inputting all necessary information under the "Apply for Myself' page.Just follow the step by step process after registering an account.
Just to give you an idea of some questions you will be asked, here's some examples: (it is basically the same as the questions for applying for a US or Korean visa)
- Intended travel dates
- Accommodations and contact information in the UK
- Estimated cost of the trip
- Present home address and years of residence
- Personal information about family, hometown and birthdays
- Information of friends and family in the UK if you have
- Personal income and source of income
- Travel history for the past ten years
- Employer details including address and telephone number
- Criminal, civil, or immigration offences that you may have committed ( of course if you did not do anything then just put none!)
If there is a portion that you are not sure of, you have the option to save your progress and go back to it after a certain time. Please note that once you submit your application, there is absolutely no way of doing it again so please make sure to only put the correct information so that you can avoid having your application denied.
3. Book an appointment at VFS Global and Pay the application fee
After successfully accomplishing the online form, you will be asked to choose an appointment date at your nearest visa application center. For Filipinos, you can drop by at one of these VFS Global offices:
Manila:
VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.,
Mazzanine Floor Unit MO1, Ecoplaza Building
2305 Chino Roces Avenue extension
Makati City, Metro Manila 1231
Cebu City:
VFS Global Services Philippines Inc.,
9th Floor, Keppel Center, Unit 905
Samar Loop Corner Rosales Avenue
Cebu Business Park
Cebu City 6000F
After choosing your appointment date, you will now be required to pay the application fee. The Standard Visitor Visa costs 93GBP and can be paid with a credit card. If you are applying for a long-term visa, the fee varies depending on the amount of years.
4. Prepare the required documents
You will need to submit original documents at the VFS Global center, and you will also be required to present one set of photocopies.
Here is a list of the documents you need to present for your application:
- Passport and other travel documents
* Current passport- must have a validity of at least 6 months
- must have at least 2 blank pages for the arrival and departure stamps
* Previous passports (if any) for travel history
* Photocopies:
- Front and back of current and previous visas
- Bio page of current visa
- Valid and expired visas
- Proof of income
*Certificate of employment
* Income Tax return (Form 2316)
- Proof of Financial Capacity
* Bank certificate
* Employee contract (if any)
*Payslips from the last 6 months
- Sample Itinerary
* Provide a simple run-down of where you will be staying, activities, places that you intend to visit with corresponding dates
- Flight ticket reservation
* If you have already booked both departure and return tickets, you may also include the reservation vouchers
* If you are not sure whether your application gets approved or not, book the refundable tickets, but if you have not booked anything, then just say that you are waiting for the results first before booking your flight tickets
- Hotel reservation
* If you have hotel reservations ready, you can also provide a copy of the reservation
* If you do book, make sure your reservation is refundable
- Approved Leave Letter
* This will help prove that you are currently employed and that you intend to come back to the Philippines after your trip
- VFS Appointment Letter
* After confirming your appointment, you will be sent a confirmation email. Print this out and include it in your documents
5. Submission of requirements and biometrics on your appointment day
*Just some friendly reminders on the day of your appointment:
- Be sure to arrive at the VFS Global Center of your choice on your appointment date 15 minutes early. Entry is restricted and is done per interview time- do not mess up your application so be there early.
- Upon entering, you will be asked to put your things in a locker, including your phone. You would only need to bring with your your documents.
- Have the original documents and one set of photocopies ready to submit during your appointment
- You will also be asked if you want to avail of the SMS Service to update you of the status of your application. The fee is P150-200. Make sure you have cash with you.
- Wait for your turn to do the biometrics ( fingerprinting and photo taking)
- Dress appropriately!
6. Wait and collect your passport at VFS Global
- The whole application process takes 5-15 business days. If you want to have it expedited though, you can avail of the Priority Visa Service for a fee of P10,000, and your application will be processed within 3-5 business days.
- If you have availed of the SMS servcie, you will receive a text message informing you that your passport is ready for pick up, otherwise, you will be receiving an email.
Some useful tips:
* Gather your requirements early - it takes a few days to a few weeks to get all the documents ready, so I advise to get them ready before starting the online application.
* Do not indicate false information
- This is definitely a NO-NO! Do not underestimate the people behind the visa process. They their way of knowing whether the information you put is factual or not, so if you don't want to jeopardize your application, be honest.
Good luck and enjoy your trip!
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