Great Britain: a visa is needed, Schengen is not suitable for Russians

The UK is one of the most visited countries in Europe and the world. The sights of this island kingdom annually attract about 30 million people to the country. And if in 2019 you decided to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the famous double-decker red buses with your own eyes, you should start collecting documents, because Russians need a visa to visit this country. Is the Schengen right for you? Unfortunately, no - you need a visa to England. Well, as a result, traveling around Europe with such a visa will not work. If you are going to visit other countries, in addition to an English visa, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa. But there is good news - a visa can be done without the help of agencies. However, you need to be extremely careful, because obtaining an English visa is considered one of the most time-consuming processes of this kind.

So, in order to independently apply for a visa to London, you have to go through the following steps:

1. Filling out the questionnaire;
2. Preparation of documents;
3. Submission of documents;
4. Obtaining a visa.

However, not everything is as simple as it seems. There are many nuances and subtleties that you need to know. Well, let's start in order.

Filling out the questionnaire

Those wishing to obtain a visa should start by filling out an application on the website visa4uk.fco.gov.uk. You can look at the proposed form. Moreover, the official website of the visa center offers to help. This clear instruction in Russian will explain what exactly needs to be indicated in the questionnaire.

It is very important to remember that the information provided in the application must be absolutely accurate - any discrepancy with reality can lead to disastrous consequences. After you have filled out the electronic questionnaire, you will receive a confirmation letter by e-mail containing a unique number. This letter should be saved or even printed, because by this number you can track your application. You also need to print the completed application form. Make sure that all parts of the questionnaire are printed, and then sign it on the last page.

Photo

In order to get a visa, you first need to take care of the photo. You need one photo, color, 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters, of good quality, printed on photographic paper. The person must look directly into the camera, be without a hat or glasses, and face must be open. The background is only cream or light gray. (A detailed description of the photo in English can be found here: //www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports Here you can also see examples of "correct" and "incorrect" photos.)

List of documents

The first step will be the preparation of the necessary documents. The following list includes all the basic documents that are suitable for obtaining a tourist visa. Well, additional documents for different types of visas can be found below. So, to apply for a visa you will need:

• Passport valid for at least six months from the date of application. This passport must have at least two free pages.
• Photocopy of the first page of the passport.
• Old passports. They are needed to demonstrate the history of their movements.
• A printed and signed application form.
• One color photograph.
• Confirmation of marital status. Here you can provide a certificate of marriage, divorce, civil partnership or even the death of a spouse.
• Certificate from the place of work or study. Be sure to indicate your position and salary, as well as the fact that your workplace is assigned to you, and you will return to duty after the visit. If you have recently moved to a new job, you must also provide a certificate from a previous employer.
• Confirmation of having enough money to pay for the visit. This category should include such documents as a bank statement (detailing a three-month period), a tax certificate, a salary certificate for the last six months. You can also provide evidence of your property.
• Detailed information about accommodation and tickets. This should include printed air tickets, a letter confirming your hotel reservation, a letter from the agent who sold you the trip, or a letter from a friend you are going to live with.
• Birth certificates of children.
• Medical insurance policy or insurance. This item, although not mandatory, can help you get the desired visa.
• Receipt of the paid consular fee. The standard visa fee is now £80, or $136. Detailed information on the cost of visas can be found below.

Types of visas

The main list of documents for a visa to England can be supplemented, depending on which visa you need. So, let's look at the main types of visas to England, the documents that must be presented, and the nuances associated with staying in the country:

Tourist visa

If you decide to walk around London or visit friends in Liverpool, then your choice is a tourist visa. With this visa, you will be able to stay in the country for up to 6 months, but you will not be able to work, study, register a marriage, or undergo a private course of treatment. To obtain this visa, you will need only the documents indicated in the main list.

Visitor visa

A guest visa, by and large, is no different from a tourist visa - all the same six months of stay, but you will need to add several documents. If you are applying for a visa to England by invitation, then you need to attach this very invitation, the details of the person inviting you (copy of the first page of the passport), as well as documents establishing his financial situation - bank statements, taxes, salary certificates. If the person inviting you is not a citizen of England, then you should take care of confirming your immigration status. To do this, you need to provide a copy of the passport page with a visa or immigration stamp, as well as a certificate from HomeOffice, which would confirm the right of residence.

Child visa

If you are going to take representatives of the younger generation with you, take care of the correct issuance of a visa for the child. The set of documents for persons under 18 years of age is completely the same as the original list - just select all available documents. Children who come to the country on such a visa can not only stay in England for up to 6 months - all this time they can study and take short courses without presenting additional documents. If the child is traveling on their own, then you need to attach a certified permission to leave from the parents.

student visa

If you are attracted to the educational institutions of the United Kingdom, then you need to apply for a study visa. This is quite difficult to do, since you will have to present these additional documents:

1. Passport (copies of all pages should be made), as well as the photographs described above.
2. Evidence that you have been accepted by the educational institution. To do this, you will need to show the CAS (confirmation of acceptance for studies) number. This special number can be found on the admission letter. In addition, it will be necessary to show all the documents that were used to receive this letter (the list of documents depends on the higher institution). By the way, copies cannot be sent - the Visa Application Center requires only originals (there are exceptions to this rule, but again they depend on the educational institution).
3. Certificate of Proficiency in English. This rule does not apply to all students, and you should carefully read the information about the chosen course or program.
4. Confirmation that you have enough money to study and live. Here you need to provide certificates stating that tuition (and sometimes accommodation) has already been partially or fully paid; papers showing receipt of a scholarship; as well as bank statements that will prove that you can survive in England. (Fundamental details can be found here: //www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/evidence/money).

As a reminder, getting a student visa is a very individual process, and the requirements often depend on your program, your subject, and your institution. Therefore, before submitting documents, it is worth inspecting the website of the university or college, or even contacting representatives in England.

Work Visa

Just like in the case of a student visa, obtaining a business visa is fraught with many nuances. The procedure for applying for a work visa depends on what kind of work you are, what qualifications you have, how long you are going to stay in the country and how much money you will earn. All these details can be found here: //www.ukba.homoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/, and the following list will list the documents for professionals wishing to come to England at the invitation of an employer:

• Standard documents confirming the identification of your identity - passports and their copies, as well as a photograph (information can be found above).
• A certificate confirming knowledge of the English language (or a diploma from a higher educational institution on completion of the program in English).
• Sponsorship certificate. This is not a paper and not a certificate, but a unique number for your application, which will be sent by the employer. In addition, information about the place of work and the employer will be attached. Please note that this certificate is valid for three months.
• Evidence of solvency. Here you will need to show an account statement that will cover the 90 days prior to filing. In addition, you can show access to your electronic account.

Visa for family members

Applying for a wife or husband visa depends on whether your partner is an English citizen or not. If the partner has citizenship or a permanent residence permit, then the following documents must be submitted:

1. Passport and 2 photographs;
2. A document confirming your age and the age of your partner (passports or birth certificates);
3. Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate;
4. Proof that at the time of the wedding you had no previous registered marriages;
5. Proof that you know each other (this is necessary to avoid fictitious marriages);
6. English proficiency certificate;
7. Proof that you can support yourself (financial documents can be found in the general list).

Such a visa will give you the opportunity to stay in the country for up to 33 months. After the expiration date, you can apply for a visa extension. Visa information for partner immigrants can be found here //www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/partners-families/migrant-workers-students.

Visa for marriage registration

If you are going to be legally married in the UK, you need to apply for a fiance/groom visa. With this visa, it is possible to stay in the country for up to 6 months, and after the marriage, you can apply for a visa for family members. The documents that you will need do not differ from those indicated in the main list.

Transit visa

If your plans are to visit England in transit (that is, no more than 48 hours), then you must definitely arrange transit - air or ground. Air transit means that you will be at an airport in England (without leaving the customs control zone), and ground transit means that you will pass through England on your way to another state. To obtain a transit visa, you need to submit documents from the main list, plus tickets indicating the need for transit.

Important Document Information

• No matter what kind of visa you want to get, all documents must be translated into English! For absolute certainty, the translation can be certified by a notary (although the visa center does not require this). Without fail, the translation must contain the following information:
  1. Translator's confirmation that the translation corresponds to the original text;
  2. date of transfer;
  3. Signature and name of the translator;
  4. Translator's contact information.
• All certificates are valid for a month, so it’s not worth delaying the submission of documents.
• Above all, don't forget to make a copy of each document and translation!

Visa cost

You must pay a consular fee for issuing a visa. The amount of payment often depends not on the type of visa, but on the length of stay. So, for a short-stay visa with a permitted stay of up to 6 months you need to pay £80, and it doesn't matter if you're going to work, study, go sightseeing or get married.

For a child, too, will have to pay 80 pounds. For a visa that allows you to stay in the UK for up to 2 years, you will pay £278, up to 5 years - £511, and for the longest-term visa for 10 years - £737. A transit visa costs less, only £54. For reference, the approximate rate of the pound to the dollar is 1.6. If you decide to apply for a visa through an agency, then in addition to the consular fee, you will have to pay a commission, which will be approximately 200 euros, or about 10,000 rubles.

Submission of documents

After you have all the necessary papers in your hands, you can contact the Visa Application Center to submit documents and submit biometric data. To do this, you need to select the time of the visit (you can do this on the very site where you filled out the questionnaire), and then just come with all the documents. Moreover, everyone (except children under 5 years old) must submit documents in person - neither intermediaries nor agents will help you with this. Children under 16 must be accompanied by their parents. Biometric data is your fingerprints (taken electronically, so don't be afraid of ink stains), as well as your photo. This data will be attached to the submitted application and will be kept by the embassy for 10 years.

You can apply in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk.

• The address of the Visa Application Center in Moscow is Bolshoy Savvvinsky Lane, 18.

• In St. Petersburg, documents can be submitted at Bolshoy Sampsonievsky Prospekt 4.

• In Yekaterinburg - Gogol street 36, tenth floor, office 1002.

Visa Application Centers are open from Monday to Friday, from 8.00 to 15.00.

There is also a telephone number for a single reference center for visa issues +7 (809) 333-82-32. You can call on working days from 9.00 to 19.00.

Production time

The website of the Visa Application Center provides information on the period for issuing visas. Your application will be considered from 15 to 60 business days. And although 90% of applications are considered within the first three weeks, no one guarantees you that you will be among the lucky ones. That is why the British Visa Application Center strongly recommends not to buy tickets without the possibility of changing the date, and also not to confirm hotel reservations before obtaining a visa.

Urgent visa

For those who wish to obtain an urgent visa, a special priority service has been created. For a fee of 7,500 rubles, the embassy undertakes to urgently consider your application - in just 3 working days. This service is available only for those who apply for a short-term tourist, work, student, visitor, family visa. There is one more prerequisite - you can use this service only if you have legally entered the territory of England within the last five years. It should be borne in mind that paying for such a service is not at all a guarantee of obtaining a visa.

Documents receiving

The decision to issue you a visa will be sent by e-mail sent to the e-mail specified in the application form. You need to pick up documents within 30 days, either by appearing on your own or by ordering delivery by courier. The price of such a service varies from 600 to 1500 rubles - depending on the place of residence. You can receive documents in person at the Visa Application Centers from 9.00 to 16.00 on weekdays.

Refusal of a visa

As mentioned above, there is no guarantee that the desired visa will be issued. If the visa was still not given, then the first thing to do is to carefully read the decision of the British Center - the letter will contain the reasons for the refusal of a visa. Such a decision may be related to the history of your movements, the submitted documentation and the order of consideration. The same letter will tell you if you can file an appeal and how to do it. Moreover, they will even tell you where to go.

If you suddenly get the impression that obtaining a visa to England is an extremely time-consuming process that is not accessible to everyone, then just think about the fact that every day a fairly large number of people become owners of the coveted stamp in their passport. And that means you can do it too. You just need to follow the rules described above.

Video: instructions for obtaining a visa to the UK

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Aah Said:

The Russian Federation and Belarus are the only European countries whose citizens are prohibited from visa-free entry to the European Union and England.
The Russians openly spit in the face, but they don't even understand it.

Angelina Said:

For example, I never thought that you need to get a separate visa to England, and that Schengen does not work. After reading the list of documents required for obtaining a visa, I was horrified and began to look for an agency ...

• Said):

  I just received an English visa, I'm extremely happy! Well, what can I say, now they have changed the visa center, and with the issuance of visas, it's just a mess! Deadlines stretched, hassle, a lot of people. I was very afraid that we would not have time for the trip (we are going at the end of June), since the minimum consideration period is already forty days! But thank God, everything worked out. So I advise you to apply much in advance!

Anton Said:

Every year I get a British visa. There are several nuances that I would like to voice: I received a visa 15-20 days after the submission of documents, thus I was among the 90% of the lucky ones :))
In fact, it is better to submit documents in advance, namely 2 months in advance, since there may not be a free electronic record. A particularly difficult situation with electronic recording can arise during the summer holiday and winter holiday seasons, when groups of children and tourists leave for the UK. I also want to note that the embassy always reserves the right to change the type of visa, so if it is important for someone, then the documents need to be checked on the spot. And the last thing - in St. Petersburg, you can get to the visa center only at the time strictly appointed by electronic appointment, so it's better not to be late.

Elena Said:

A year ago, I applied for a UK visa for myself and a friend. Since I had previously been refused (done through an agency), I was terribly worried that this time they would not give it again. But now I decided to do everything myself. I dug through hundreds of forums and sites with recommendations. She herself booked hostels and plane tickets in advance, painted the travel route in detail, attached everything that was possible. The pile of documents came out very impressive. The procedure for submitting documents was very fast - it took only half an hour. Then 15 days of waiting and exactly on the 15th day I received a message that the visa is ready. With shaking hands I opened the package with my passport and here it is - MY VISA! I want to say that all agency sites essentially instill in us uncertainty. That we won't be able to, that we'll do something wrong, that there will be a refusal most likely. But it's not. If you are set to receive, then you will do everything better than some complete stranger who looks at you like a bag of money. Yes, now there are offices that are interested in the result, but they are few. Dare! Getting a visa to the UK is very easy!

Said):

It is worth clarifying that since April 1, the addresses of visa centers throughout Russia have changed in all five cities. This is due to the fact that now another contractor is dealing with visas. The questionnaire has also changed a little, a Russian translation of the questions has appeared. I actually applied for a visa through the UKBA, but I don’t think that anything has seriously changed since then))) If anyone is interested, I didn’t hand over a document on the ownership of real estate or a car, because I simply don’t have them, so you shouldn’t take a steam bath regarding the notarized translation, I wrote by hand at the bottom of each sheet with a pen translated by Kristina R****ya +79188****. It was my first trip abroad and I received a visa, although everyone is afraid that it is unreal