UK Visas

How UK Visas Work

After determining which type of UK visa you are eligible for, South Africans have to complete an internet based application. This is how UK Visa applications are done.

Gone are the days of paper based visa applications. Internet applications eliminate time consuming data capturing and the man power to do so.

Visa 4 UK.FCO.GOV.UK is the website where South Africans must upload their visa applications. During this process applicants answer the same questions from the old paper based applications. At the end of the internet application, applicants book an appointment at their local Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) centre.

VFS (Visa Facilitation Service) have been appointed by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) as their preferred courier service. It is important for South Africans to note that VFS agents (who handle the receipt of application) have no bearing in the decision of the application. Further to this, the VFS agents are known to give inaccurate advice in visa applications (having no legislation understanding). Please take their advice with a pinch of salt.

Move Up - UK Immigration Specialists focus on Entry Clearance applications (meaning that Move up focus on assisting South Africans in South Africa in their first time submissions). The UK visa fees that the British government have implemented are non refundable and Move Up offer the industry know how to obtain first time approvals.

Yes, the Brits have complicated a simple transaction. Fortunately Move Up have kindly put this website together to point you in the right direction. If you find that more information is required, please contact Move Up for more friendly visa advice.

UK Visas are a form of travelling permission documents granted by a representing Embassy (in this case the British Embassy in Pretoria). Taking this "travel permission" into consideration, one can better understand why this system is in place.

UKBA (United Kingdom Border Agency) are empowered by the British Government to uphold the UK immigration law. Taking into consideration that now in 2011 the Co-Alition government is lead by the Conservative party (who are anti non-EU citizens taking UK jobs), the UKBA are responsible for implementing the consistent changes.

All one needs to know about what the current visa legislation entails can be found on the UKBA website. For assistance in getting more visa "Know How", Move Up are here to help by providing third party representation. Move Up work on a full refund case fee basis that in the unlikely event of not being awarded the visa first time round, the Move Up case fee will be refunded in full.

Now the next step, for any Embassy, is to determine what your travelling intent is and from there they can grant permission (subject to you meeting their qualifying criteria). Are you looking at visiting, working or studying?

If you are looking at only visiting the UK, for holiday or tourism purposes, then you are most likely going to apply for a 6 month General Tourism visa.

If you are looking at working or settling abroad, you will need to address your birth rights (to see if you have any parents or grandparents born in the UK).

If birth rights are not an option, then you could assess your marriage (or even unmarried) rights if your partner has EU citizenship (British or citizenship from the participating EEA countries).

Still not sure which visa to apply for?

Looking for more answers on how to get a UK Visa, well you have come to the right place if you are a South African passport holder.

Try Move Up's free online assessment to determine which visa best suits your needs. In only 4 questions, we will be able to identify which UK visa best meets your needs.

Looking to find out more above what the visa entails, click on our visa explanation page. Looking for solutions to technical applications, try contacting Move Up

Call 021 671 3319

For general information email: info@moveup.co.za
For technical queries email: guru@moveup.co.za

For needed face to face consultations, operating on appointment basis only, Move Up office is located opposite Cavendish shopping centre, Cape Town at the following address:

205A Vineyard Centre,
c/o Dreyer and Vineyard St,
Claremont,
7737

Office hours are Mon - Fri (8am-5pm). Closed on public holidays.

Please Note: Move Up are currently Cape Town based and provide visa assistance for South Africans both nationally and internationally. In 2012 alone we have helped South Africans in all 9 provinces as well as South Africans in USA, Canada, New Zealand, Zambia and Australia.

This means even if you are not in Cape Town, we can definitely help in your UK visa application. No matter where in the world you are.