Office Address

Global Immigration Solutions
Hiltongrove Business Centre
Hatherley Mews
London
E17 4QP
Telephone: 08707 602 641

FACT SHEETS

 

Visitors

The UK Immigration Rules allow people from overseas to come to the UK on a visit of up to six months, on holiday, for tourism, for private medical treatment, to conduct meetings and attend seminars, or to see family and friends.

All visitors must satisfy the UK authorities that they will leave the UK at the end of their visit, and that whilst they are in the UK they will not work, set up a business or provide goods and services. Visitors must also satisfy the UK authorities that they have sufficient funds to be able to maintain and accommodate themselves for the duration of their stay in the UK without needing access to ‘public funds’, that is, welfare assistance from the UK government.

The UK authorities categorise everyone seeking to enter the UK as a ‘visa national’ or a ‘non-visa national’, depending upon what passport they hold. Non-visa nationals do not need prior entry clearance before travelling to the UK on a visit; however, visa nationals must apply in their country of usual residence for a visa before they travel.

Click here for a list of visa national countries.

A visa will only be granted if the Entry Clearance Officer is satisfied that you will not breach any of the conditions of your visa, in particular the prohibition on working and the requirement to leave the UK at the end of the visit.

The granting of a visa, especially if this is your first trip abroad, is by no means a formality, and young, single people with no strong ties in their home country, or citizens of certain countries which are regarded by the UK authorities as being more likely to overstay permission to remain in the UK, will find it hardest to get entry clearance. There is no right of appeal against the refusal of a visa, unless your intended visit was to see close family.

Our Services

Making an initial application for entry clearance (a visa)

The quality of an initial application can make the difference between the success and failure of that application. When you instruct us we will:

  • Give you an assessment of the merits of your case and advise you on the best course of action
  • Inform you of the legal requirements which you will have to meet for your application to be successful
  • Explain how the legal requirements will be interpreted by the UK authorities, based on the internal instructions given to their caseworkers
  • Complete the application form on your behalf based on the information you give us
  • Give you detailed advice about the supporting evidence that will need to be submitted along with your application
  • Submit your application form along with all evidence and with legal representations on your behalf.  In the legal representations we will set out the particulars of your case and circumstances, details of the Immigration Rules under which you are asking for your application to be considered, and show how you meet the requirements of the law, or, if you do not meet the requirements, explain any compelling and compassionate circumstances and present your case in the best possible light to explain in legal terms why your application should be successful.
  • Liaise with the appropriate authorities until a decision on your application is received

Appealing against a refusal

If your visa is refused you will only have the right to appeal against that refusal if your visit was to see close family.  An appeal must be lodged within 28 days of the refusal, and the appeal form must give detailed reasons for the appeal (called ‘grounds of appeal’) if the appeal is to be valid.  All appeals, even those against the refusal of entry clearance abroad, are heard by an Immigration Judge sitting at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the UK.  

We offer two levels of service:

Grounds of appeal
We will review your papers (initial application and supporting documents, refusal letter) and will draft detailed grounds of appeal giving legal reasons as to why your application should not have been refused, for you to submit with your appeal. We may need further information, either face-to-face or over the telephone/email, from you to enable us to do this. We have no responsibility towards you other than drafting the grounds of appeal within the strict time limits given by the UK authorities.

Representation
As well as drafting grounds of appeal we will submit your appeal to the Tribunal within the given time limit, liaise with you and any witnesses you may have who will speak for you at your hearing, liaise with the UK authorities on your behalf, and represent you before the Immigration Judge when your appeal is heard, using legal arguments, case law and the government’s own immigration rules and policies to present your case in the best possible light.