Go Solo Standard Visit Visa Application to the UK

I am writing this blog for fellow Pinoys who are applying for a standard visit visa from the Philippines to the United Kingdom. I applied for this visa in 2017. 

With the previous experiences of visa denials for UK student visa, I decided to go DIY in the new application. The British Embassy Manila and VFS Global Philippines are helpful guides. 

Below are the different steps I went through in the application.

Finally reunited with mom in the UK

1. Chose a visa type.

Filipino passport holders need to apply for a visa before flying to the UK. The name of the visa I am applying is Standard Visitors visa.

The information guide states what a visitor can and cannot do under this visa. So that you can avoid violating the laws there you must observe not to do the prohibited activities.

The earliest time for the embassy to accept an application is 3 months before your intended travel. In my case, I intended to travel on December 20 so I submitted my papers on September 21. 

2. Apply for a visa at gov.uk while preparing some documents.

You can start applying for a visa online even beyond the 3 months prior to your travel. I planned to submit my papers on September 21 but I was already filling out the form online by June. You can always go back to the form when other information is available. Just keep the application reference number given at the beginning of the application. 

Below is the table showing the information and related documents provided

Information to be encoded in the application form	Documents that I provided
1. the dates to travel to the UK -state the date of intended arrival in and departure from the UK	-upon submission of documents, you are not required to show a round-trip ticket but your show money should be enough for this
2. the places you are staying in the UK -addresses in the UK where you intend to stay	-your sponsor can give a Council Tax demand notice as a proof of address
3. cost of the trip -state the approximate expenses including plane ticket, visits to famous places, hotel stay, and other adventure expenses	-your own proof of funds such as payslips (past 3 months) and bank statements -sponsors can provide payslips, proof of pension, and bank statements -total funds should at exceed the calculated cost of travel expenses
4. current home address and how long you’ve lived there -state your complete address including the years of stay and if owned or not	-provide HDMF notices, electricity bill showing the address
5. parents’ names and dates of birth -encode their names and birthdate	-not specifically required but I submitted a bio-page of their passports
6. earnings in a year -calculate your annual earnings	-latest income tax return -payslips in the past 3 months -shown in the certificate of employment
7. details of travel history for the past 10 years (as shown in your passport) -state each travel and the purpose of each	-photocopy all passport pages showing your travels -state everything even if there are many of them and even if the form will be very long
8. employer’s address and telephone number -provide complete details	-the latest certificate of employment indicating your position, current monthly salary and other compensation -the heading of certification should show the address and contact details of the employer -this is one evidence of your assurance to go back
9. partner’s name, date of birth, and passport number	-I don't have a partner :-)
10. the name and address of anyone paying for your trip -state their names	-may not be provided if your show money can cover the whole trip expenses -your financial sponsor need not be the owner of your domicile in the UK
11. the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK	-seen in the evidence of address, bio-page of their passport -an invitation letter from your sponsor can help
12. details of any criminal, civil or immigration offenses you have committed	-one should be clear of any offense

You can arrange the documents based on the checklist above or from the checklist provided by the VFS Global website.  Photocopy all documents before submitting them. There is an available photocopier at the VFS Global VAC but the operator may not be around and charges may be expensive.

This is the first page of the online application

3. Book a submission schedule.

Once done with the online application and all documents ready, book a schedule of submission at the VFS Global VAC website.

All documents should be photocopied to avoid a hassle. USe A4 size paper and make sure that photocopies are clean and clear. Do not include paper clips, binders, and other obstructing stuff.

Before going to the VAC, check the following:

1. Printout of the email confirming the details of your appointment

2. Valid passport or travel document

3. Printout of your completed visa application form

4. Documents are sorted and separated and based on the guidelines seen in VAC website

5. Checklist of documents: Note that you “will not be able to submit further documents once your application has been submitted at the visa application center"

Observe the following:

1. Attend the appointment for your visa application: no proxy.

2. Arrive at least 15 minutes earlier.

3. Bring all documents (originals and copies), sorted based on the separation guide.
4. Bring the receipt for payment of application online.

You will also undergo a fingerprinting and picture taking procedure (biometric information collection).

4. Wait for the passport release.

The gov.uk website indicates 3 weeks average processing time. At the VAC you have the option to have your passport and other documents couriered back to you with a fee. Compare the courier fee with the time and transportation expenses you may incur when you pick up the documents personally.

Some helpful tips:

1. The UK may call for an interview. I was not called but I prepared the documents just in case. After two weeks, I received a notice that my passport has been delivered to the VAC.

2. Do not provide falsified documents. The officers have all the means to detect if documents are genuine or not. If documents are not available, it is better to state at the checklist that it is not available.

3. Do your application slowly but surely. Double check all information at the online application before submitting. Be truthful with whatever information you put there.

Your visit visa may look like this

4. If a visa application is refused, make sure to have new information to present before re-applying.

When I received the passport, the visa was granted. It was 6 months. When I applied in 2017, the fee for a Standard Visitor visa is 121 USD. 

The author is a backpacker, literature appreciator, English teacher, essay writer, and an amateur blogger. He is new to the world of online blogging. He has traveled to the many parts of the Philippines. He targets to explore Mindanao in the following years.