A rejected visa or settlement application is the worst possible thing to happen to you when you desperately need an answer to get on with your life. You may make the tiniest error and many times you don’t find out about it until after you’ve been rejected. In this article, we will discuss the 3 most glaring errors you should not make in a UK visa application, including the validity, suitability, and eligibility sections. These small things will make your odds of success go sky-high.
Validity: Common Mistakes to Avoid
First, the Home Office checks to make sure that your visa application passes all the basic forms. If your application does not conform to these criteria, it will automatically be rejected as “invalid,” which is to say, it will never be accepted. To avoid this:
- Use the Correct Application Form: Use the most recent visa application form.
- Fill Out Every Box: Fill in every mandatory box on the form.
- Pay the Right Fees: Pay the right application fee unless you have a waiver of fee.
- Fees: Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge: It is a requirement for most visas.
- Valid Passport or another valid identity document — Be Sure to Give Correct Documents of Identity.
- Make Sure You Are Following the Right Process: Make sure you are doing the correct process for your visa type.
- Send All Documents As Required: If documents are missing, they can delay or reject you.
Suitability: Common Mistakes to Avoid
After the Home Office checks your application to see if it is true, they will assess your eligibility. Your application will be disqualified if you have given false statements or submitted wrong or incomplete information. These are some of the most common reasons why people get rejected in this category:
- Overstaying in the UK: If you stayed after the expiry of a previous visa and were not approved, it may affect your application.
- Criminal Record: Refusal isn’t necessary if you have a criminal record but if it’s severe then it is.
- Participation in Fraud: If you’ve participated in submitting false documents or misrepresenting your credentials, your application will not be accepted.
- Immigration Rules Violation: It could happen in a minute, for example, previous overstaying of your application.
- Being Bail On Immigration: If you’re immigration bailed, this will stop you from receiving a visa.
So, if you’re not sure if you qualify, speak to an immigration lawyer first. They can tell you if something that went wrong before could affect your application and what to do.
Eligibility: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Eligibility requirements for every UK visa are different. For instance, for the Skilled Worker visa, you need a job offer from a licensed employer in a qualified job, and for the Family visa, you need a qualified relative who is British or settled in the UK. Some common eligibility mistakes include:
- Familiarity With Eligibility Criteria: You have to meet all the eligibility criteria for the type of visa you want. And even if your application is legitimate and you’re good, if you don’t pass the qualification test, they’ll turn you down.
- Choose the Wrong Visa Type: A lot of times a person chooses the wrong visa route without knowing that there is another route, like the Self-Sponsorship route. This is where you’ll be sponsoring yourself, starting your own business in the UK, you don’t even have to find an employer.
- Failure to Show Proof of Eligibility: You must show proof you qualify. If, for instance, you have to prove that you can make a living in the UK, you’ll need to submit bank statements with proof of balance.
Be sure to read up on the eligibility criteria for your type of visa, and bring all the evidence required before applying.
As we have talked about before, a large number of visa rejections are a result of common errors that could have been made with more planning. The UK immigration laws can be quite intricate so you should never wait to see an immigration lawyer to review your application. We at Law and Visas can assist you:
- Know what your visa category is allowed to do.
- Be sure that you have filled all the sections of the application properly.
- Gather and file all of the supporting documentation.
- Do not make the usual refusal blunders.
Let us take you through the visa application process so you are in the best possible position. Get a free consultation from our team today if you are not sure about any aspect of your app.
