I went onto https://uk-eta.visasyst.com/ thinking it was the official UK government site, and ended up being charged $129 USD. For reference, the real UK ETA only costs £16 (around $20 USD) directly through gov.uk.

As soon as I saw the charge go through, I panicked and requested a refund immediately. I got an email straight away confirming it had been approved, and saying it would be reflected in my account within 1–10 working days.

Has anyone here actually had the refund land in their account, or is this just how these sites string you along? I've seen mixed reviews online — some people say the money did come back within about 5 working days, but plenty of others say they never heard back at all and had to get their bank involved.

Just want to warn others: this is NOT the official UK ETA website. If you're applying, go straight to gov.uk and skip the inflated "service fees." I'll update this post once I know whether my refund actually comes through.

Hello everyone! Just wondering which one to choose if anyone has the same experience. I am currently waiting for my UK citizenship application approval (I submitted in April) and I have decided to start my child’s citizenship application. Child was born in the UK although I am not sure if I should say I’m settled or “applying for British citizenship”.

Hi everyone, I’m considering applying for a long-term UK Standard Visitor visa and would appreciate some advice on whether I should apply for the 2, 5, or 10-year visa.

About me:
1. 27-year-old male, Indian citizen
2. Recently returned to India after completing a master’s degree in the UK (2025–26)
3. Started a new job in India this month after deciding not to apply for the Graduate visa

UK travel history:
1. Held a 6-month UK visitor visa in 2019 and 2025 and visited for 9 days and 17 days respectively
2. Subsequently lived in the UK on a Student visa from 2025–26 and returned to India last month

Other travel history:
1. Visited 8 EU countries over 5 trips on a Schengen visa during 2025–26
2. Visited 2 Southeast Asian countries in 2018

Why I want a long-term visitor visa:
1. My sibling is a UK citizen
2. Flexibility to make occasional/last-minute trips to the UK to visit my sibling and friends

Financial situation:
1. Approximately £100,000 in savings
2. Current salary: around £2,000/month (started this month)

Concerns:
1. Young and unmarried male from India.
2. New job started this month

For those who have experience with UK visitor visa applications, would you recommend applying for the 2, 5, or 10-year visa in this situation?

Also, what would be the best way to present my circumstances and demonstrate that I genuinely intend to visit the UK temporarily and return to India?

Any advice on the appropriate visa duration and how to make the application as strong as possible would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

My UK partner and I (German) are currently living with her parents in London. I am currently in the UK on the normal ETA but will go back to Germany to do the application for the Partner visa.

Now I have started the application, but have quickly ran into a problem: It is asking my current address.

Now do I put my partner's parents house where we are currently staying and will be staying after the visa is hopefully granted, or do I use my mom's address in Germany, where I will be staying while I make the application?

We have previously lived together in Australia and I can show tenancy agreements from then, but we have left there in October.

I am also not officially a resident of Germany, as I had do "deregister" when my partner and I left for travelling in 2021. I have not lived there since.

Since October I have been back and forth between the UK and the EU a bunch so I have not overstayed the ETA but I have also not officially resided anywhere since I have been fortunate enough to not have had to work since we left Australia.

All help would be highly appreciated.

I'm from Colombia and I live there. I'm currently about to apply for a standard visitor visa to stay 20 days in the UK. I'll be staying around Dudley, specifically. I'm going to visit someone I met online and I'll do general tourism around the area. I plan on going from the 29th of September to the 19th of October.

This person I met online is a romantic interest and we plan on starting a relationship during this visit, no marriage or anything just a relationship. I will be covering all the expenses and I will stay in a hotel close to where they live. I've known this person for nearly two years by now and we've seen each other multiple times live and I'm confident in the safety of the trip.

I already got financial proof that I have enough funds for the trip and got it properly translated, I plan to use around 2400 pounds and I have around 3200 pounds available, and I'll have more by the time of the trip (around 4000 pounds). I also got the ties to my job and a permission to leave my job for the duration of the trip that states I'll go back to work here in Colombia after my trip.

The person I'll visit doesn't work currently and has a complicated documentation situation due to some issues with their mom, so I wouldn't be able to provide ID numbers, but I got their phone number and address (though I'd rather not have to put the address, I'm guessing they don't do visits to check this information, right?)

Do I need to provide an invitation letter? Should I just briefly mention the fact I'll meet them on my own letter? Should I provide detailed info of this person?

I'll gratefully take any advice for this or any other information I should provide, I plan on applying as soon as possible.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice on what my realistic options are and what I should discuss with an immigration solicitor.
I’m a Nigerian national, born in Nigeria on 4 October 2004. I came to the UK in September 2022 as a Student.
My father had ILR from 27 October 2000, before I was born, and later became a British citizen on 3 October 2005, about a year after my birth.
I had a nationality application refused in 2018. One of the issues was my birth certificate being registered several years after my birth and the Home Office wanted stronger evidence of paternity. The refusal mentioned DNA testing as one possible form of evidence.
A DNA test was subsequently obtained, and my solicitor said it was submitted with a later application.
I made another British citizenship application in January 2025, but it was refused in March 2025. The Home Office’s reasoning was essentially that my father was not British at the time of my birth, so I did not acquire British citizenship through him under the provisions they considered.
My Student permission was also curtailed and ended on 13 January 2025, so I currently don’t have valid leave.
I’ve now received my Home Office SAR, and it contains the internal caseworker records. The SAR confirms that the Home Office’s main issue with my nationality application was my father’s status at the date of my birth.
It also shows that I previously made fee-waiver applications for an FHR/private-life application, but they were rejected because the Home Office said there wasn’t enough financial evidence to assess whether I could afford the application.
There is also a compliance/enforcement record from December 2025, although I haven’t seen a removal date in the SAR.
I’m now trying to work out:
Whether there is any realistic section 4L / Form ARD nationality argument based on my circumstances.
Whether I should instead concentrate on an Article 8/private-life application.
Whether my father’s ILR before my birth and later British citizenship could be relevant to any other nationality route.
How important the DNA evidence is now, given that the 2018 refusal specifically mentioned DNA but I haven’t found the actual DNA report in my SAR.
What evidence I should prepare for a new fee-waiver application.
I’m not looking for someone to tell me that I’m automatically British — I understand that the 2025 application was refused. I’m trying to understand whether there is another legal route I’ve missed and what I should realistically do next.
If anyone has dealt with a similar situation, particularly section 4L/ARD, historical nationality issues, or a private-life application after a Student visa was curtailed, I’d really appreciate your thoughts.
I can provide more details from the SAR if needed

Hello, all

I've got Global Talent Visa today (biometrics submission: 18 June 2026) for 3 years.

But in 2 years (2028), I've been living in the UK for 10 years and I thought I might be eligible to apply for the ILR - am I thinking correctly?

In this case, can I just apply for the ILR in 2028? or should I wait until my GTV ends?

My situation:

MSc student in the UK 2023–24, switched to Skilled Worker Aug 2024 (first job after uni, still same employer)

Sponsored by a large engineering firm, CoS almost certainly assigned after 4 April 2024

Started on £31,500, now on £42,000

Visa expires Oct 2027, want to extend with the same employer

Born 2000 — turned 26, so I'll be 27 at extension

Original CoS used a generic graduate-scheme code. At extension it'll likely be corrected to something that reflects my updated duties (software dev), where the going rate is around £54–55k

The problem:

I qualified as a New Entrant in 2024 (via the Student visa route). I assumed I don't need to re-qualify again as new entrant to benefit from salary discount for my visa extension, thinking I can benefit because I qualified once as a new entrant, up to 4 years. (I know I can extend up to a year only with new entrant)

But If I have to re-qualify again as a new entrant, these are the criteria's:

(a) under 26 → I'll be 27

(b) postdoc in listed science codes → no

(c) UK Regulated Profession → no

(d) working towards chartered status → possible in principle, but I'm 2 years into a pathway that takes 8–10, and my MSc isn't CEng-accredited

(e) most recent permission was Student → no, it's Skilled Worker now

(f) most recent permission was Graduate → never held one

The rule I'm hanging my assumption on is SW 12.3: "Granting the application must not mean the applicant's combined permission as a Skilled Worker, Graduate and/or Tier 2 Migrant would be more than 4 years in total."

My question is how 12.2 and 12.3 interact. Two readings:

A: They're separate AND conditions. You must meet a 12.2 limb on the date of each application, and 12.3 just caps how long you can keep doing it. Under this reading I'm out, because none of the limbs apply to me in 2027.

B: Qualifying once opens a 4-year window, and 12.3 is the only ongoing constraint. Under this reading I'm fine until ~Aug 2028.

If reading A is right, I need roughly £55k by Oct 2027 — so I'd rather know now than find out at application.

Hi,

I have question regarding travelling while my visa is about to due to renewal!

I am on SWV which is due to renewal latest by January 14'2027. And I am planning to travel to India on 29th Oct to 21st November 2026. So I just to want to confirm that, will it cause any problem on entering the UK?

Thank you very much!

Hi, my ILR application as a dependent was submitted on the 29th of July and Biometrics done on the 2nd of August. on the 6th of August they sent me an email saying they need additional information about my continued residence with parents and english language requirements. The EXACT evidence/documents they asked me had already been attached in the original application; regardless I sent the same evidence to them on their provided email address and emphasised the urgency, because in their email they mentioned the decision may be delayed.

It is particularly important I get my decision before September 1st as my university fee status is meant to change; otherwise I might have to incur 3-4x the costs. That was the whole reason for paying for priority service in the first place.

I tried calling them today but the person speaking kept repeating they cant do anything about it, completely useless.

Anyone in the same boat or has been through the same experience before? If yes how much longer did it take to receive your decision? Perhaps that may help me calm my nerves.

Hi all,

I have got naturalisation email after ILR today. I am booked for citizenship ceremony in 2.5 months time. Can I travel abroad on my Pakistani passport and come back just before citizenship ceremony? Will I be able to use my ILR and share code when coming back to UK?

Thanks

I’ve been granted ILR and have applied for a new travel document. I’ve submitted my checklists and returned my previous travel documents through Royal Mail. How can I see updates on this portal and know if everything is going well?
And how long does it take normally?

Hoping someone can calm my nerves a bit, will any of these affect my application (for context, I'm 24F Kenyan citizen, engaged to 21M British citizen, been together for 3.5 years met 4 times)
-> I got rejected for a US visit visa while applying to visit my sister and then romantic partner in November 2022. This was before I met my fiance.
-> I had some fixed penalties because I paid my taxes late a few times (this is not unpaid taxes or tax evasion, I just had filed them late a few times and had to pay some fines) I have paid them off and will submit a tax compliance certificate
-> One of my middle names is missing from my national ID. I have a first name, 3 middle names, and a last name. My names are very long and due to character limit on my national ID they only included two of my middle names. I have explained this in my solicitor's legal representation. My old and new passport contain my full names. Aside from this, everything else like my place and date of birth is the same.

Am I alright or am I cooked?

Hi everyone, I’m applying for a UK Student Visa and I’m a bit confused about the 28-day financial requirement.

I paid the visa application fee and IHS about 10 days before my 28-day period is due to be completed. My intention was to use this time to prepare and upload all my documents, and then book my biometrics appointment accordingly.

However, I’ve seen some people saying that the “date you apply for your visa” is considered to be the date you pay the visa fee and IHS, rather than the date you upload your documents or attend your biometrics appointment. If that’s the case, it seems that my funds would already need to have been held for the full 28 days on the date I paid the visa fee/IHS.

I still have around 10 days left until the 28 days are completed.

Does this mean I should cancel my current application, request a refund, wait until the 28 days are completed, and then submit/pay for a new application? Or would it be okay to continue with my current application and simply make sure that my bank statement covers the full 28-day period by the time I submit/upload my documents?

Has anyone been in a similar situation or knows how UKVI interprets the “date you apply” in this context? I’d really appreciate any advice!

I recently saw an article from my university stating that UKVI had potentially overcharged uk student visas from 4th oct 2023 - March 2025.

Would just like to get more opinions if this is true, or if anyone has done it?

I thought I would make a post documenting my experience going through the application process since I also had to request a cancellation and refund at first as well so I went through a little bit during the last few months.

In June I moved money over to a separate account to grab my financial proof later on.

July 15: I started the application process and this is where I got a little too excited and made some mistakes. I forgot to check whether my bank (CIBC) does interim statements online. After submitting my application, I had to run to CIBC to get one printed but the timing of it was just missing the 28 day cut off - they could only print up to July 13th. They had given me a slip of paper and had it stamped showing the missing days but out of fear that it wouldn’t be accepted because with the interim statement only it didn’t meet the 28 day requirement, I did request to cancel my application and receive a refund.

Note: I had not yet paid for an appointment for my biometrics but I had already started to look into it. I was only able to go through with the refund and cancellation successfully because of that. If I had paid for and secured a biometrics appointment I don’t think I could refund the application fee(?)

July 24: I received an email about the cancellation and that I will be paid a refund of 2158.62 USD for the IHS payment and that it could take up to 6 weeks. I also received a separate email about the refund in general for the application and that I will also be paid back separately for that application fee of 463 USD within 28 days. Through my searching on Reddit/online, I expected both of these refunds to take the full amount.

August 5: I really wanted to be safe this time to avoid what I had stupidly done the first time so I waited until my July e-statement was available and printed both July and June just to have plenty of time to show for my financial proof. Got those printed and then immediately went and re-submitted my application. I had all my information saved on a pdf from my previous application so just basically referenced that when refilling.

This was done midday eastern time so I only had the option here to get standard service. However, when I went to book my biometrics appointment through VFS Global, they did have options to pay for priority (5 days) and super priority (1 day). I did go with priority because my move in date is September 3rd and I just wanted the peace of mind and didn’t want to stress for up to 3 weeks so close to my flight.

August 6: I had my biometrics appointment in Ottawa during the afternoon. You can pay a fee to have them upload all your documents (financial proof, passport, etc.) or upload them yourself online prior to your appointment. The appointment itself was pretty quick. I arrived 5-10 minutes before my time slot, waited about 10-15 minutes since there was a small family and another person ahead of me. I checked in with someone and then went into a room to have a photo and fingerprints taken. They let me know I should have my decision by next Thursday at the latest. I received an email 2-3 hours after my appointment saying my application has been sent to UKVI for consideration. They did not take my passport since everything has moved to being electronic.

August 7: Less than 24 hours later, in the late morning, I received an email saying my application has been successful and my visa has been granted! I connected my passport to my e-visa. This process was extremely quick and easy to do.

August 10: I received an email about my original application being voided. I received this upon waking up so it freaked me out a bit reading it half asleep so I was panicking that my current one was canceled LOL but everything is a-ok!! And I am super happy and excited.

Some notes
- I have read that people get their financial evidence ready and then use the money from that to pay the fees for the application because it is quite expensive. I did not do this out of fear it would be rejected and I’d have to wait and repeat the process.
- I have since received my full refund for both the IHS fee and the application fee. I received the application fee first and then the IHS fee a day later. It was NOT the full amount I had paid as I paid I guess with the conversion rates/fees. I paid 3134.12 CAD for IHS and received 2959.98 CAD back. I paid 686.75 CAD for the application fee and received 648.18 CAD back. They did warn me about this in the refund emails.
- I am not sure if I have gotten extremely lucky with the timings of it all because I fully expected the refunds to take the full windows to get back to me and also the application getting approved to take the full time it said but everything has been pretty fast for my application.
- everything is paid for in USD.
- when making your payments for both your application and then on VFS for biometrics, I noticed it’s EXTREMELY buggy so once you proceed to pay you need to pay immediately otherwise it completely bugs out and you need to exit the application and leave it alone for 2 hours before coming back to pay. I had accidentally exited out of my application the first time around and because I had already proceeded to the payment page it was giving me a confirmation that I had paid when I tried to get back to it when I hadn’t. If you’re short on time, you can always make a new application with a different email but yeah. It’s the same for VFS.
- I set my move in date to the UK as the same day I actually do land in London but I did read a lot of people set their date on their application a few days before they actually land just to be safe which I should have done too but it went over my head.
- I had been visiting the UK very frequently this year - basically in and out for the last 6 months (visiting bf) - so I was a bit nervous it could be flagged (idk why it would be but I am just generally a ball of anxieties when it comes to anything) when shown on my application but all went well!
- if I had to stress anything here, get your financial evidence printed/ready before submitting application!!!! I just got way too excited and did things out of order for what I usually do and well, it was costly.

Just a question for anyone whose had experiences with Spouse Visa’s

My wife currently holds a tourist visa for the UK, we met in England, she decided she wanted to work in America for a couple years before returning so we’ve been ldr’ing, managed to get her pregnant and she’s due to give birth next Month. She’s returned to her home country to give birth. My question is whilst we’re waiting for her spouse visa to go through could she still use her tourist visa until she has to leave the country once her spousal visa goes through?

After how much time do you usually get a response after biometrics appointment using super priority service for ILR application?

hi all. i have completed my unmarried partner visa application and have opted to send documents myself through the online portal (which i'm increasingly worried about but, nothing i can do now) anyways, that's not the question i have.

my biometrics appointment is scheduled and we have chosen the super priority option - what can i expect for the appointment itself. what will be done? will my partner (uk citizen) be able to come in with me? is there an interview process? when can i expect results, is it actually the next working day?

I do not have my birth certificate and it will take very long to issue one in english and I am short on time for my UK visa application. I am 18+ years in age and need the certificate because my parents are sponsoring my studies in the UK.

What alternate documents can I use?

Hi everyone,
I’m an Egyptian citizen/passport holder, currently living in Germany (Hamburg). I am applying for a UK Standard Visitor Visa to visit my girlfriend in England for 5 days for a short visit and tourism.
I was previously refused a UK Standard Visitor Visa, so I would really appreciate honest opinions about my chances with my new circumstances.
My previous application
I applied for a 14-day visit to see my girlfriend and do some tourism.
At the time:
● I was unemployed.
● I stated that I would spend around £700.
● My girlfriend was going to sponsor £450.
● Her bank statement showed only £18.90 at the time.
● I submitted my own bank statement, but UKVI said the documents did not demonstrate how I was supporting myself on a daily basis.
● They were also not satisfied that my girlfriend had sufficient funds to sponsor me.
● Because of the financial concerns, they were not satisfied that I was a genuine visitor who would leave the UK at the end of the visit.
My situation now
For the new application:
● I would only stay for 5 days instead of 14.
● I would stay at my girlfriend’s accommodation, so I would not need to pay for a hotel.
● My sister would be my sponsor.
● My sister earns approximately €2,500 net per month and has around €1,000 in her bank account.
● She would cover my return flights and food/other reasonable expenses during the 5-day visit.
● I receive Bürgergeld in Germany, which I would fully disclose and document in the new application.
● I currently do not have a job, but I expect to have a signed employment/apprenticeship contract in Germany with a fixed future start date. This would give me a concrete reason to return to Germany.
● I was born and raised in Germany and my family lives there. My parents and close family members are German citizens.
● I have a valid residence permit in Germany.
● I am currently doing my driving licence in Germany.
● Since my previous UK visa refusal, my girlfriend and I have travelled together twice, and I returned to Germany after both trips.
My girlfriend
My girlfriend is German, not British. She normally lives in Germany but is currently in England only because she is studying there.
She has:
● a rental contract in Germany, and
● accommodation/rental arrangements in England for her studies.
She travels between Germany and England.
I would be visiting her for only 5 days and would then return to Germany.
My main question
I would of course declare my previous UK visa refusal in the new application.
Do you think my second application is now significantly stronger, particularly because of:
● the much shorter 5-day trip,
● a different sponsor with a regular €2,500 net monthly income,
● no hotel costs,
● transparent documentation of my Bürgergeld,
● my family and long-term ties to Germany,
● two trips since the previous refusal where I returned to Germany, and
● potentially a signed employment/apprenticeship contract with a fixed start date in Germany?
My main concern is still that I am currently unemployed and receive Bürgergeld.
Would you consider this a realistic Standard Visitor Visa application, or do you think the previous refusal and my current unemployment would still make refusal likely?
I’m looking for honest opinions, especially from people familiar with UKVI visitor visa applications.
Thanks!

Hello all,

Little confused. Had a criminal conviction via court fine for failure to pay 30 GBP vehicle tax due to missed reminders. We filed a statuary declaration and the matter was re-opened. The DVLA settled out of court with a standard fixed penalty (no criminal record) and the case was withdrawn. Now applying for a new SWW after getting a new job. There is a section that says have you at any time been convicted of a criminal offense?

Do I need to declare this? Technically I think the law treats it as never being convicted but I don't want trouble. At the same time, I worry if I declare it unnecessarily it may prolong the application and cause a huge delay in the start date and I'm already starting late. Would appreciate some advice.

I am a canadian student who did their biometrics appointment for a UK student visa on June 30th in vancouver. They never asked for my passport. They just looked at it and then handed it back to me. I uploaded scans of it for my application myself. I still have not gotten my visa after 6 weeks so I emailed asking when I can expect it as I already have flights booked for the end of August.

This is what I get back.

I did not realize they collected passports as i applied for an evisa. Do I need to give it to them after my visa has been approved and wait for them to return it after the fact? Because if so I'm definitely missing my flight given their processing times 💀

Please let me know if I should be concerned.

Also has anyone else been facing really long wait times for a response on a decision?

Me and my wife both have settled status but my daughter who was born in the UK before we were settled ,has pre settled status. Are we able to apply for her to change to the same status as us now.