Visa Application

[tcofran]

Can anyone please here on the mighty MyBB please assist?

I have a colleague with a Portuguese passport and his wife has an RSA passport. The couple would like to visit the UK but are confused with the processes to be followed. The RSA passport would require a visa of which a visitors passport has been completed however previous attempts, about 7-8 years ago, the wife, then only girlfriend, applied for an unmarried visa to stay in the UK which was rejected, too little support documents of living together and so forth.

An attempt straight after the rejection lead to the “girlfriend” applying for a visitor’s visa which was rejected as presumed to be a flight risk due to the previous application.

The current situation is that they, as husband as wife, would like to visit relatives in the UK and are hesitant to purchase their flight tickets even though they can pre-book the ticket and submit the visa rejection and be reimbursed. But the clauses within the pre-booking states that if the applicant has previously been rejected to enter the UK the ticket will not be refunded.

In entirety the couple would like to do the visa application, but are afraid that once approved their flight tickets have doubled or on the other had are also afraid that the flight tickets are to be submitted as evidence/supporting documentation and buying the tickets and thereafter being rejected would result in a major loss which could not be afforded.

Thanks in advance

 

[tcofran]

Anyone ?

 

[bwana]

You don't buy the ticket before the visa, you get a travel agent to draw up an itinerary.

 

[Pitbull]

Can anyone please here on the mighty MyBB please assist?

I have a colleague with a Portuguese passport and his wife has an RSA passport. The couple would like to visit the UK but are confused with the processes to be followed. The RSA passport would require a visa of which a visitors passport has been completed however previous attempts, about 7-8 years ago, the wife, then only girlfriend, applied for an unmarried visa to stay in the UK which was rejected, too little support documents of living together and so forth.

An attempt straight after the rejection lead to the “girlfriend” applying for a visitor’s visa which was rejected as presumed to be a flight risk due to the previous application.

The current situation is that they, as husband as wife, would like to visit relatives in the UK and are hesitant to purchase their flight tickets even though they can pre-book the ticket and submit the visa rejection and be reimbursed. But the clauses within the pre-booking states that if the applicant has previously been rejected to enter the UK the ticket will not be refunded.

In entirety the couple would like to do the visa application, but are afraid that once approved their flight tickets have doubled or on the other had are also afraid that the flight tickets are to be submitted as evidence/supporting documentation and buying the tickets and thereafter being rejected would result in a major loss which could not be afforded.

Thanks in advance

They will have to go in to the embassy. Speak to someone, better doing it that route.

The UK one is a bitt different though, I know they have a Visa section completely away from the Embassy. So that could cause a bit of confusion.

 

[EADC]

You don't buy the ticket before the visa, you get a travel agent to draw up an itinerary.

I had to have my flights booked for my Schengen, do they accept travel agent itinerary as booked?

 

[newby_investor]

Turkish Airlines used to have the option that you could "book" a flight and then you have a couple of weeks to pay for it. I've used that to apply for visas in the past, though I've never been rejected so I usually just carry on through with it, no hassles.

 

[Frequent visitor]

They will have to go in to the embassy. Speak to someone, better doing it that route.

The UK one is a bitt different though, I know they have a Visa section completely away from the Embassy. So that could cause a bit of confusion.

Technically it is the British High Commision that deals with diplomatic matters, not an Embassy. Visas are dealt with by the British Consulate, who have now built a chinese wall between themselves and the public, including myself, a British resdient and subject.
They have dispensed with the services of a company said to be linked to the Guptas, who now act for the SA Home Affairs.
I apologise for your difficulty: I find the whole situation tedious, as I have a wife who is an SA citizen. I am ashamed of my country's approach to these matters. Our real Immigration problem was due to Tony Blair, who on the expansion of the EU opted to let the new entrants have full access to EU privileges immediately, unlike other members of the EU. So quite a lot came here, and as EU citizens had to be treated like UK citizens, so if unemployed could claim benefits. Which they did. This was followed by a press outcry in the gutter press, and in turn by a knee jerk reaction from the Home Office, headed up after 2010 by the present UK Prime Minister. She makes Campbell look good, quite an achievement.

You can go to Ireland without a visa, and the Emirates flight is cheaper (probably Air Passenger Tax). Ireland is part of the Common Passport Area. But it would be a mistake to assume there are no controls at all on going from there to Northern Ireland and on to the rest of the UK. The Portuguese citizen should have no problem of course.

 

[phant1m]

I learnt the hard way to speak to someone is almost impossible, or someone who can give value to the conversation and help out.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

You don't buy the ticket before the visa, you get a travel agent to draw up an itinerary.

I don't recall having bought ticket (before visa) for any schengen countries except for Greece. I just checked the Greece visa form I had saved that time - it mentions "Original return air ticket plus a copy is required attached to EACH applicants form. " under Tourist visa requirements section. This was 5-6 years ago - things probably changed.

 

[bwana]

I had to have my flights booked for my Schengen, do they accept travel agent itinerary as booked?

I don't recall having bought ticket (before visa) for any schengen countries except for Greece. I just checked the Greece visa form I had saved that time - it mentions "Original return air ticket plus a copy is required attached to EACH applicants form. " under Tourist visa requirements section. This was 5-6 years ago - things probably changed.

The UK isn't a Schengen country.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

The UK isn't a Schengen country.

for not reading first post.

 

[EADC]

The UK isn't a Schengen country.

Yes I am aware, that's why I am asking will the UK accept just an itinerary and not booked tickets.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Yes I am aware, that's why I am asking will the UK accept just an itinerary and not booked tickets.

Been to UK many times. Just use MS word / Excel- i will try to find template that I use.

 

[EADC]

Been to UK many times. Just use MS word - i will try to find template that I used.

It's more out of curiosity than anything.

 

[f2wohf]

Technically it is the British High Commision that deals with diplomatic matters, not an Embassy. Visas are dealt with by the British Consulate, who have now built a chinese wall between themselves and the public, including myself, a British resdient and subject.
They have dispensed with the services of a company said to be linked to the Guptas, who now act for the SA Home Affairs.
I apologise for your difficulty: I find the whole situation tedious, as I have a wife who is an SA citizen. I am ashamed of my country's approach to these matters. Our real Immigration problem was due to Tony Blair, who on the expansion of the EU opted to let the new entrants have full access to EU privileges immediately, unlike other members of the EU. So quite a lot came here, and as EU citizens had to be treated like UK citizens, so if unemployed could claim benefits. Which they did. This was followed by a press outcry in the gutter press, and in turn by a knee jerk reaction from the Home Office, headed up after 2010 by the present UK Prime Minister. She makes Campbell look good, quite an achievement.

You can go to Ireland without a visa, and the Emirates flight is cheaper (probably Air Passenger Tax). Ireland is part of the Common Passport Area. But it would be a mistake to assume there are no controls at all on going from there to Northern Ireland and on to the rest of the UK. The Portuguese citizen should have no problem of course.

VFS is not linked to the Guptas, a stupid journalist got confused as the holding company of VFS SA is called something like Westdawn 137 while the Gupta company is called something like Westdawn 278 (typical shelf company names) and the rumor started from his mistake and sticked around.

I did check on CIPC at the time and definitely not Gupta linked.

The french consulate also uses VFS but only for visas, services for citizens are done by the consulate itself.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

It's more out of curiosity than anything.

ah - ok.

 

[EADC]

ah - ok.

Yeah just checked it's not required to consider your Visa. That is interesting.

 

[phil77]

Can anyone please here on the mighty MyBB please assist?

I have a colleague with a Portuguese passport and his wife has an RSA passport. The couple would like to visit the UK but are confused with the processes to be followed. The RSA passport would require a visa of which a visitors passport has been completed however previous attempts, about 7-8 years ago, the wife, then only girlfriend, applied for an unmarried visa to stay in the UK which was rejected, too little support documents of living together and so forth.

An attempt straight after the rejection lead to the “girlfriend” applying for a visitor’s visa which was rejected as presumed to be a flight risk due to the previous application.

The current situation is that they, as husband as wife, would like to visit relatives in the UK and are hesitant to purchase their flight tickets even though they can pre-book the ticket and submit the visa rejection and be reimbursed. But the clauses within the pre-booking states that if the applicant has previously been rejected to enter the UK the ticket will not be refunded.

In entirety the couple would like to do the visa application, but are afraid that once approved their flight tickets have doubled or on the other had are also afraid that the flight tickets are to be submitted as evidence/supporting documentation and buying the tickets and thereafter being rejected would result in a major loss which could not be afforded.

Thanks in advance

From past experience, an airplane ticket is not necessary. What they need to see is that you will come back after the trip. This will be in the form of proof of employment, payslips, mortgage statements, leave letter from employer etc..

My application was rejected about 4 times before I finally got the visa. After the first time visa I haven't been refused the visa again. They also say each application is accessed in isolation to the others, I'm not sure how true that is.

 

[Frequent visitor]

VFS is not linked to the Guptas, a stupid journalist got confused as the holding company of VFS SA is called something like Westdawn 137 while the Gupta company is called something like Westdawn 278 (typical shelf company names) and the rumor started from his mistake and sticked around.

I did check on CIPC at the time and definitely not Gupta linked.

The french consulate also uses VFS but only for visas, services for citizens are done by the consulate itself.

I stand corrected, thank you. That is not the first time the press has goofed. Bad show, what?

I love your franglais!

Yes I am aware, that's why I am asking will the UK accept just an itinerary and not booked tickets.

If you go for a multiple entry longer term visa you do not need to provide an itinerary, for obvious reasons.


In the case of Schengen visas (we go in from the UK of course) I provided a ferry booking and bookings on Booking.com for the initial visit. I had to cancel (fortunately the bookings were refundable) and told the Dutch Embassy by email of the change. They seemed quite unconcerned.
We found the French a bit unhelpful (this was some years ago) so withdrew from the proposed trip. We were going touring by caravan on a 'follow your nose' basis, but they wanted a detailed itinerary. The next time we used the Dutch Embassy, which was nearer and most helpful. No fee as I am an EU citizen.

 

[Frequent visitor]

I learnt the hard way to speak to someone is almost impossible, or someone who can give value to the conversation and help out.

There is an Immigration service located in the UK that you can telephone. They charge for the call, and do not go beyond what is available in the official websites, so is useless. There was supposed to be a call facility in Cape Town you could ring, but I never got an answer.
Teeth gnashingly infuriating!