Visas

There are different types of visas for different things, from holidays to work permits, meaning it’s not as straight-forward as just applying for a visa before travelling to a new country.

Our skilled team at Hannah Solicitors are more than happy to speak with you and discuss your individual circumstances in order to provide you with the most relevant advice on what visa you need, whether you’re eligible, and how you should apply.

When applying for a visa, you should ensure you have a passport or travel document with at least one page that is blank on both sides for your visa to be entered.

Types of visa:

• Standard Visitor Visa

• Marriage Visitor Visa

• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

• Family Visas

• Spouse or Partner Visa

• Unmarried Partner Visa

• Spouse or Civil Partnership Visa/UK Marriage Visa

• Fiancé/Fiancée/Proposed Civil Partner Visa

• Short-term Study Visa

• Tier 4 General Student Visa

Standard Visitor Visas

A Standard Visitor Visa allows you to enter the UK for a visit, to spend time with friends or family, for business trips, or for medical treatment. You can apply for this visa up to three months before you are due to travel.

See Standard Visitor Visa page for details.

Documentation and requirements:

• Valid passport

• Translation of any documents not in English or Welsh

• Travel dates, accommodation details, and financial details of your trip

• Home address and dates you have resided there

• Name and birth dates of your parents

• Details of annual salary

You may also be asked to provide:

• Travel history for the past decade

• Contact details of your employer

• Personal details of your partner, including passport number

• Details of your family members in the UK

• Details of any past criminal or immigration offences

Marriage Visitor Visa

You can apply for this visa to fulfil your wish to come to the UK to marry or enter a civil partnership. You can’t apply for this visa if you qualify for British citizenship.

If you wish to convert a civil partnership into a marriage, you’ll need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa.

You can apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa up to three months before you are due to travel. The visa will allow you to stay in the UK for up to six months, but you must not intend to stay in the UK afterwards. 

You won’t be able to use this visa to bring your family with you, and you won’t be able to access public funds, work, or study for more than 30 days.

In order to apply:

• You must be over 18, in a relationship with your partner, and free to marry

• You must be able to financial support yourself for your visit

• You will need to provide a passport or travel document

• You must show evidence on your financial stability during your time in the UK

• You must prove your relationship is genuine

• You must show evidence of your accommodation and travel plans

• You will need to provide evidence of your planned nuptials

• You will need to provide a translation of any documents that aren’t in English or Welsh

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

A BRP can be issues for a number of reasons, such as when you apply to remain in the UK for ore than six months of wish to extend your visa. It is used to confirm your identity, including:

• Name

• Date of birth

• Fingerprints

• Photograph

• Immigration status

• Entitlement to public services in the UK, e.g. healthcare

Family Visas

If you wish to live with your relatives in the UK for more than six months, you will need to apply for a family visa. You can apply for a family visa in order to live with any of the following:

• Spouse or proposed spouse

• Partner

• Parent

• Child

• Relative who will act as carer

You can apply to extend a family visa, but you cannot apply if your relative in the UK is there on a temporary basis such as a work or student visa.

Spouse or Partner Visa 

This visa will enable you to legally stay in the UK as the spouse or partner of a British citizen. You will need to meet a financial requirement, which means your partner – also known as your UK sponsor – must earn an annual minimum of £18,600. If you have a dependent child, this will rise by £3,800,and will rise by £2,400 for each child after.

You must also prove your ability in speaking the English language for your visa application, which is tested by the International English Language Test System. We can let you know what the test involves, what to expect, and how to prepare.

Unmarried partner visa: 

This visa allows you to come to the UK based on you being in a genuine relationship. Your visa will allow you to stay for 33 months if you are applying from abroad, or 30 months if you are already in the UK when you apply.

Both you and your partner must be 18 or older, and your partner must be a British citizen.

Documentation and requirements:

• Proof of authenticity and long-term nature of your relationship

• Proof that you have already co-habited for a minimum of two years

• Proof of your intention to live together as a couple

• Evidence that any previous relationships have officially ended

• Evidence that you have accommodation in the UK

• Evidence of financial requirements

Spouse or Civil Partnership Visa/UK Marriage Visa:

You can apply for this visa as long as you and your spouse are aged 18 or older, having physically met, and are legally married.

You must also meet the following requirements:

• Your spouse must meet the financial requirement

• You must have appropriate accommodation

• You must show evidence that your relationship is genuine

• You must meet the English Language requirement 

Fiancé/Fiancée/Proposed Civil Partner Visa:

This visa allows you to enter the UK if you have the intention of marrying your partner, who must be either a British citizen or have settled status.

This visa will be granted for six months, and it is expected that you use this time to marry and switch to a spouse visa.

You must also meet the following requirements:

• Your spouse must meet the financial requirement

• You must have appropriate accommodation

• You must show evidence that your relationship is genuine

• You must meet the English Language requirement 

Study Visas

There are different types of study visas depending on your circumstances. If you’re coming to the UK as a visiting academic, you’ll need a Standard Visitor Visa.

Short-term Study Visa

This is used for people taking a short course in the UK, and will allow you to stay in the UK for up to six months. If you are 16 or over, and studying the English language, you can stay for up to 11 months.

This visa does now allow you to study at a state-funded school, work, or bring family members. You may apply for this visa up to three months before your intended date of travel.

Requirements:

• You will need to prove that you have been accepted onto a course at a relevant institution

• You must show that you can support yourself financially

• You must have parental permission if you are younger than 18

• You must prove your accommodation and travel arrangements

Tier 4 General Student Visa

This is the most common study visa, and allows you to study in the UK if you are 16 or above and come from outside the EEA or Switzerland.

This visa allows you to bring your partner and/or children under the age of 18 with you.

Requirements:

• You will need to prove your offer of a study place

• You will need to show that you have sufficient understanding of the English language

• You must show that you are able to support yourself financially.