Getting a visa to the UK: list of documents, application form, photo requirements

Europe

Great Britain compares favorably with many European countries with a highly developed economy and a reverent attitude to traditions. This allows us to preserve monuments of history, architecture and at the same time take a leading position in the financial sector, aviation, pharmaceutical and other industries.

Tens of thousands of tourists come to the United Kingdom every year to enjoy the view of Stonehenge, Roman fortifications, majestic palaces and medieval castles. There are attractions for all tastes, whether it's the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, the interactive museum of the history of the Beatles, Shakespeare's hometown, the whiskey museum, performances of Scottish bagpipers, Loch Ness with its elusive monster.

In addition to attractions, Great Britain attracts with a high level of education. People come here to study not only in the world-famous Oxford, Cambridge, but also in other universities, colleges and even schools.

High salaries in England and Scotland attract not only Russians, but also EU citizens from Eastern Europe. Some of them subsequently receive permanent residence, while others decide to obtain a permanent residence permit in Foggy Albion through marriage.

1. Do Russians need a UK visa in 2019

Whatever the purpose of a trip to the UK, Russians cannot do without an entry permit. Moreover, you need to get a visa in 2019 in advance and precisely to visit this country, because the Schengen visa is not valid in the UK.

2. Main types of visas

The British have developed a rather complex and not always clear system of visas. They have more than 30 different options for entry permits. It is all the more important to understand them and choose the right one, because once you enter the United Kingdom, you cannot change the purpose of the visa or use it for other purposes. Consider the most popular visas.

It takes the least time to apply for a visitor visa. Initially, it opens for 6 months. With frequent trips, you can count on the issuance of a permit that will be valid for 2, 5 or even 10 years. It is important that at each visit you can stay in Foggy Albion for a maximum of the same 6 months.

Visa to UK

A visitor visa is issued for:

recreation (tourism, visiting relatives/friends);
running a business, participating in sports/creative events;
other purposes (treatment, marriage, etc.).

For long-term (more than 6 months) residence in the UK, you must apply for an immigrant visa. It may involve an assessment of the applicant on a points system (visas for study, work, business) or be issued subject to certain conditions (family ties, etc.).

It is noteworthy that the British were able to identify separate categories of applicants for each type of visa. For example, eminent scientists and entrepreneurs are required to work on a Tier 4 visa, skilled professionals on a Tier 2 visa, and temporary workers on a Tier 5 visa.

No less types of visas in the UK and for those who want to study here:

short-term (Short term student) for language and any other courses up to 6 months;
special for learning English from 6 to 11 months;
Tier 4 for any training lasting more than six months.

Since children from 4 years old are accepted to study here, minor holders of student visas must have a guardian in Foggy Albion. This can be either a third-party person with a power of attorney from the parents, or the parents themselves. They also need to have an English visa.

Getting a transit visa (Transit) to the UK is almost as difficult as the rest. Fortunately, there is a visa concession for Russians. It is applicable if the tourist uses air or water transport, has paid tickets and a visa to the country of destination, and will stay in the United Kingdom for no more than 24 hours. Since it is impossible to leave the customs control zone, visa-free transit is possible only at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Since the decision to apply the visa concession is made on the spot by the British customs officers, if there is any doubt, it is better not to risk choosing a different route or obtaining a transit English visa.

3. How much does a UK visa cost in 2019

Since the UK, unlike most EU countries, has not switched to the euro, the cost of issuing an English visa is billed in pounds sterling (£, GBP). Even after Brexit, they are valued above the euro, and the British also valued the permission to enter their country more expensive.

Visa fee for Visitor visa:

£89 up to 6 months;
£337 for 2 years;
£612 for 5 years;
£767 for 10 years.

Visa fee for other types of visas:

from £292 for Tier 1;
from £446 for Tier 2;
£335 for Tier 4;
£235 for Tier 5;
£93 for a study course for 6 months;
£179 for an 11 month course;
34 or 62 £ for Transit.

Prices for all types of UK visas, effective from April 6, 2017, can be seen on the GOV.uk website (information in English). Immigrant visa applicants need to pay an additional "health care surcharge". Its size depends on the time of the proposed residence in Foggy Albion.

4. How to apply for a UK visa on your own

Despite the slightly confusing British visa system, it is quite possible to get permission to enter the UK. Since the personal presence for filing an application with the British is provided even for children under 5 years old, intermediaries can only help in preparing documents (if you can find a bona fide agency).

4.1 Via Visa Application Center

The UK has developed not only its own visa system, but also a clear procedure for obtaining them. Documents can be submitted only through visa centers. In Russia, the tender for the provision of services for the reception of applicants in 2014 was won by TLScontact. There are English visa centers in Moscow, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg.

You need to make an appointment with them through the website of the Visa and Immigration Control of the Kingdom, for which:

Fill out an online form;
Pay the visa fee;
Choose the date and time of visiting the VC.

After filling out the application form and paying the fee, the applicant receives a unique GWF number. It, as well as the questionnaire, payment confirmation must be printed out and submitted to the EC at the appointed time. Almost all information on the VIC website is only in English, which makes it difficult to work with it.

After completing the above steps, it is recommended to register on the TLScontact website (it is at least in Russian). This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the rules of the EC, order additional services if necessary:

£59 Premium service (submission of documents in comfortable conditions);
for 59 £ documents are submitted without an appointment;
£75 Prime Time (morning or evening appointments);
40 rub. copying documents.

At the appointed time, or rather 30 minutes earlier, you need to come to the EC with a ready-made package of documents. If you are late, you will need to re-register. Documents are handed over to the EC specialist, and then they go through the procedure for submitting biometric data (photo, fingerprints).

From March 27, 2017, the UK Visa Application Centers provide the possibility of electronic processing of the application. To do this, the CC specialist scans all accompanying documents and sends them electronically to the British Embassy/Consulate. This speeds up the processing of applications by the visa officer.

4.2 Through the consulate

Embassies/Consulates of Great Britain consider applications of Russian citizens for visas, but they do not accept them. Documents must be submitted through the TLScontact CC. At the discretion of the visa officer, the applicant may be called for an interview by email.

5. UK visa application

The application form must be completed online at GOV.uk in English. At the same time, it is important to initially correctly indicate the type of visa, enter the name and surname strictly in accordance with the data of the passport. You also need to monitor the accuracy of the displayed information and the compliance of all names (city, street, employer company) with the rules of transliteration. Any differences between personal data and documents provided later are not interpreted in favor of the applicant. At the same time, it is no longer possible to make changes after the registration of the questionnaire.

Without knowledge of English, it is almost impossible to fill out the questionnaire correctly. It will help to contact a familiar connoisseur of English, an intermediary firm or directly to TLScontact specialists. For an additional 70 GBP, the EC will provide online assistance in filling out the questionnaire, and for another 12 GBP they will help make the payment.

5.1 UK visa application form

We encourage you to use our online guide to fill out the form.

6. Documents for a UK visa: list from 2019

Documents submitted for obtaining a visa to the United Kingdom must be in English. Otherwise, a full translation into English is attached to the original document. The visa officer will take them into consideration if each translation has the full name of the translator, his contact details and the date.

There is a mandatory list of required documents:

valid and expired (if any);
Russian passport;
a photo;
(to choose from or all at once: a letter from a sponsor, an extract from a bank, a letter of reference from a place of work, etc.).

Regarding the rest of the documents, the UK immigration rules state that the visa applicant must independently select and prepare them. Most importantly, they must convince the visa officer that the applicant:

intends to visit the United Kingdom for the stated purpose;
needs exactly the stated time for its implementation;
has financial support;
will leave Foggy Albion upon the expiration of the visa.

All documents for obtaining an English visa must contain reliable information. UK visa officers are famous for their picky attitude to documents and the ability to check them. If false information is found, you can get a ban on entry into the country from 2 to 10 years.

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6.1 UK visa photo

8.2 Consulate General in St. Petersburg

On March 17, 2018, the Russian government informed the British Ambassador in Moscow about the expulsion of 23 British diplomats and closing of the Consulate General in St. Petersburg. There is no exact date for closing the consulate.

Address: Proletarian Dictatorship Square, 5
St. Petersburg, 191124

Opening hours: 09:00–17:00

8.3 Consulate General in Yekaterinburg

Address: st. Gogol, 15A
Yekaterinburg, 620075

Opening hours: 09:00–17:00

8.4 UK Visa Application Centers in Russia

The British do not spoil us with the number of visa centers. There are only 5 of them in the whole of Russia.

UK Visa Application Center in Moscow

Address: 2nd Syromyatnichesky per., 1 (BC "Delta-Plaza")
Moscow, 105120

Opening hours: 09:00–16:00

Prime Time: 08:00-08:30, 17:00-19:00

Visa center in St. Petersburg

Address: Liteiny prospect, 26
St. Petersburg, 191028

Opening hours: 09:00–16:00

Prime Time: 08:00-09:00, 17:00-19:00

Exhibition center in Yekaterinburg

Address: st. Bolshakova, 70, of. 601
Yekaterinburg, 620026

Opening hours: 09:00–16:00

Exhibition Center in Rostov-on-Don

Address: st. Suvorova, 91 (BC "League of Nations")
Rostov-on-Don, 344022

Opening hours: 09:00–16:00

Exhibition center in Novosibirsk

Address: st. Siberian, 57
Novosibirsk, 630132

Opening hours: 09:00–16:00

Finally, be sure to watch the video from the Inter TV channel about London: