The United Kingdom issues different types of visit visas, according to the purpose of your journey. General visitors are adults visiting the United Kingdom for touristic purposes only. The United Kingdom also recognizes group travel and visitors entering the county for business and special reasons, marriage, private medical treatments and studies.
Business visitors consist of entertainers and sportspeople. Unaccompanied minors, people in transit, student visitors, prospective students and parents of academic visitors are categorized as special visitors. While business and special visitors can visit for up to 12 months, those holding transit visas are allowed just 48 hours.
To obtain a U.K. general visitor visa, you must be at least 18 years of age and legally living in your country of residence. Additionally, you must supply satisfactory evidence to support your case and highlight your intentions to leave the country at the end of your visiting period. The U.K. Border Agency also specifies that you provide proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and your dependents, if any, without the need to work or rely on public funds while you are visiting the United Kingdom. You must apply for and obtain your visa prior to entering the United Kingdom from your local British Embassy, British Consulate or British High Commission.
If you are visiting for studies or marriage, you must obtain entry clearance-permission to enter the United Kingdom. However, if you visiting as a parent of an academic visitor, then you do not normally need to have entry clearance prior to entering the United Kingdom unless you intend to stay for more than 6 months. You will also need permission to enter the United Kingdom as another type of visitor if you are a visa national. The U.K. Border Agency website has extensive information on whom the United Kingdom regards as a visa national.
As well as providing evidence of your financial standing, you will be required to supply a letter from your employer granting you leave of absence--if you're employed--or one from your school or college if you are still a student. If being sponsored by a member of your family or a friend from the United Kingdom, you will need to provide a sponsorship letter along with the sponsor's bank statements and proof of income. You will also need to show proof of travel plans and any social or family ties you may have to return to.
Certain types of visitors are required to register with the U.K. police once in the country. If required, you must present yourself, within 1 week of arriving in the United Kingdom, at your local police station or the Overseas Visitors Records Office if visiting the metropolitan area of London.
