What are the types of UK visas that I can apply for?

The United Kingdom has long been a strong magnet for migrants and travelers alike through the ages. Great Britain has had a strong historical connection, brought on by colonization, with many countries around the world, and these unofficial ties continue to endure to this day. Apart from this, the UK exerts a strong influence in the arena of arts, culture, education, lifestyle and many other areas. These are attractive to many people, and hence, the country figures on the wish list of many a migrant and tourist alike.

However, before you decide to make a trip to the UK, you must first understand the 

UK visa application formalities. There are several types of UK visas – picking the right one depends on the duration of your visit and purpose of stay. Broadly, you can consider the following categories of UK visas:

Work visas:  General (currently closed), Investor, Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur, Skilled talent, Post Graduate work (currently closed)

Work permit or Certificate of Sponsorship: General, Company transfers (from one location to UK-based one)

Other work categories: Youth mobility scheme, creative participation and sporting visas, Government authorized exchange, charity worker, religious worker, international agreement.

Study visas: Student visas, student visitor (limited duration in terms of days or weeks), Doctoral extension scheme

Family visas: Visas obtained by way of ties with spouse, fiancé, dependent citizen, unmarried partners and ancestry.

UK Tourist visa: Standard (not similar to business, academic, family and general visa), permitted paid engagement (for those invited to UK for lectures and speaking assignments, for example), short term study.

Getting your UK tourist visa is easy if you follow the procedures and file your paperwork diligently. You must have a valid passport and bank statements to prove that you can finance your trip to the UK comfortably. At least one page in your passport must be blank (last page is not considered) on both sides while applying for the UK visa.

The UK visa application formalities also include furnishing information on your travel dates and itinerary, your place of stay in UK, your overall travel expenses, permanent residential address, details of parents’ address and contact numbers, your annual income, details of persons accompanying you on the trip, details of trip sponsor (if any) and details of relatives or friends based in the UK. 

4 things you need to know about living in the UK

It is said that if you want fun and warmth, you can go anywhere in the world but if you’re looking for whimsy, just go to the UK. The country is a curious dichotomy of tradition and modernity, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find the level of discipline and reverence for history that the average British person exhibits, anywhere else in the world. This is one of the few countries where the rural economy thrives as well as its urban counterpart, and where wholesome outdoor exercise and a simple country life sit cheek by jowl with a pulsing, exciting city life.

But don’t take our word for it – just get a UK visa and take a trip around UK to experience this wonderful country yourself. We leave you with just four of the many interesting facets about life in the UK, so that you know what to expect on your travels.

1. The food is great and wholesome. Though the Brits do not favour the use of spices in their food all that much, the fare is still tasty and fulfilling. In fact, the pubs and restaurants in England offer some of the most excellent food that you will find anywhere in the world, and they also stock the best wines and spirits. Many single people in the UK routinely meet at pubs with friends and proceed to have dinner there before turning in for the night. There are also many nightclubs and discos, and the nightlife is quite exciting.
   
   
2. You could lose your job but still pay rent. The Government of the UK follows a welfare system that takes care of all nationals in every possible way. Chief among these is that the Government pays the rent on your home if you are faced with a salary cut or if you are laid off by your workplace. Even those living in tony UK neighbourhoods can avail of aid for rent. However, this aid does not take care of mortgage payments and home loans.
   
   
3. The country is known for its arts. The UK is home to some of the modern world’s best known writers, musicians and actors, and the country is replete with the highest quality of theatre, cinema and television shows. You can regularly go to the opera, indulge your love of classical music and great literature, and take a trip across scenic moors in the country to find the homes and birthplaces of some of the country’s best playwrights and actors.
   
   
4. The UK has the smartest cabbies in the world. On your tourist trails in the UK, you may have noticed how intelligently the cabbies navigate busy junctions and get you to your destination in the least possible time. Their mental acuity comes from an exhaustive six-month testing and preparatory process for taxi drivers, which covers everything from etiquette to road directions and memorising all the routes they ply on. Only about a fourth of applicants get through the exams and receive their license. Cabbies in the UK are under oath to never swindle customers and to take the shortest routes to the end destination.

Plus, your UK visa application should be processed without interminable delays – the visa application offices are known to be prompt with paperwork.