A Vietnamese Expat's Painful Journey to Secure a UK Visa: Tips & Costs
Navigating the Nuances: A Vietnamese Expat's Journey for a UK Visa
Embarking on the quest for a UK visa from abroad can be a labyrinthine experience, as one Vietnamese expat discovered. This account shares the intricate steps and valuable lessons learned throughout the application process.
Step 1: The Online Application Gauntlet
The initial phase involves meticulously filling out the application form on the official UK government website: [visas-immigration.service.gov.uk](https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExN3JhU3VEd1d6bFVFWTlTcQEenmSY4xFVmUml0emEWQullmJUigI3MiQOSSRQfNUT-E8sl6PF-R8dmJkghNA_aem_3gYOLMgOBN5IePc9MU38vQ). Essential personal documents required include:
- A full color scan of your passport, covering all pages.
- Scanned identification from your country of residence (e.g., residence card, or Vietnamese ID if applying from Vietnam).
- A marriage certificate if applying with your spouse, necessitating a sponsor letter, financial commitment declaration, and proof of the sponsor's financial standing.
- Bank statements covering the last three months.
- An employment contract and payslips, if available, are highly beneficial (though bank statements are often deemed sufficient).
All submitted documents must be color scans. Crucially, any documents not originally in English require certified translations. A critical system glitch can render documents with electronic signatures invalid, often flagging them as containing viruses. The workaround involves opening these files in your web browser and then re-saving them as PDFs through the browser. This process was a lifesaver for this applicant. File size is also a constraint; each document should not exceed 5MB. When scanning multi-page documents like passports, careful consideration of resolution settings during the scanning process is vital. Purchasing software like Adobe can help reduce file sizes if your scanner lacks this capability. Be prepared for the challenge of recalling and documenting your travel history for the past 10 years. The advice given is to meticulously list all entries stamped in your current passport; this provides a solid foundation for your application. Regarding savings accounts, over-declaration is unnecessary. If your salary and bank statements clearly demonstrate sufficient funds for your trip, elaborating on savings might not be required. For accommodation and itinerary details, remember that even if you plan a shorter stay, a visa for the minimum duration (typically 6 months for short-stay tourist visas) will be issued.
Step 2: The Biometric Fingerprint Appointment
UK visa applications are processed through a VFS Global center, not directly with the embassy. You'll select your preferred VFS center during the application submission. Be aware that VFS centers offer a range of optional paid services, from booking your fingerprint appointment and receiving application status updates via SMS to having your passport couriered home or collecting it outside of regular hours. An additional fee of over 90 EUR per person may apply if you wish to retain your passport during the processing period. In this specific instance, the applicant's passport needed to be sent from Budapest to Serbia for visa stamping, adding another week to the waiting time. Opting for a direct flight to Serbia to have the visa stamped in person proved more efficient, especially as it coincided with the end of a month-long trip in Norway. The writer shares this experience to assist others in their UK visa preparations and choices. The overall cost for this two-person application amounted to approximately 50 million Vietnamese Dong. It is suggested that applying from Vietnam might be more cost-effective, possibly due to direct fingerprinting and local visa stamping, although this remains unconfirmed by the applicant. Your insights on this would be valuable. Shared by Trịnh Nam Thái.
