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How to submit
an application for UK visa?
If you wish to apply online please visit the
visa4uk website where you will be given guidance on how to complete the
application. You will require an E-mail address. This is for security reasons
and to enable us to contact you about your on-line application. We will also
ask you to print your on-line Visa Application form as part of this process, so
you will need to print from your computer. At present we are unable to accept
on-line payments.
Once you have submitted your on-line application you will be required to
provide a copy of your on-line application form, your original passport,
supporting documents and the appropriate fees. Current visa costs are listed
here.
Please note that you cannot use the visas4uk website to apply for a visa to
visit countries other than the UK and UK Overseas Territories.
If you are unable to apply online you will need to fill in a visa application
form. The form is free of charge. We strongly recommend that you download the
Visa Application Form from the UKvisas website and complete it before
bringing it into the Application Centre together with any documentation
recommended for your visa category (see the document
checklist section). You should also provide a recent photograph
of yourself.
URGENT VISA APPLICATIONS
If you are
applying under Tier One General of the Points Based System (Highly
Skilled Migrants) full details, including Administrative Review, are available
on the UK Border Agency website.
Please click on the links below for information on the below categories:
INF 21 PBS General Migrant
INF 22 PBS Investor
INF 23 PBS Entrepreneur
INF 24 PBS Post Study Work
The recent High Court ruling in the UK resulting from the Highly Skilled Forum
Judicial Review affects certain people who formerly had leave in the UK under
the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). You may be covered by this ruling
if you joined HSMP under the arrangements which were in place until the scheme
was suspended on 7 November 2006 and you either:
a) applied for and were refused further leave to remain under the new extension
rules which came into force on 5 December 2006, and subsequently left the UK,
or
b) left the UK after 7 November 2006 without ever applying for further leave to
remain under the new rules.
A policy document which explains in detail who is affected by the ruling
is available on the UK Border Agency website. Forms, guidance and information on
supporting documents for those overseas who think they are affected by the
ruling and who wish to apply for entry clearance to return to the UK as
a highly skilled migrant are being prepared and will be available on the UK
Border Agency Visa Services website. Applications will need to be made via our
VAC.
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Who needs to submit the application?
All applicants for UK visas, irrespective of nationality, will have to go in
person to the Visa Application Centre to have their finger scans and digital
photograph taken. There is no charge for this service in addition to the visa
fee.
The application cannot be processed if an applicant refuses to provide
biometric data. Finger scans will be collected from each applicant using an
electronic scanner. No ink, liquid or chemical will be used. A digital
photograph will be taken at the same time and the whole procedure should take
no more than five minutes to complete.
All applicants should ensure that their fingertips are free from any forms of
decoration (henna, for example), abrasions or other markings, and that any
facial cuts and bruises have healed or disappeared prior to providing their
biometric data as these may affect their ability to provide acceptable finger
scans and photographs. Digital photographs cannot be taken with applicants
wearing head coverings that hide the face, dark glasses, face or neck
coverings. Visa applications cannot be processed until applicants are able to
provide acceptable finger scans and photographs.
VFS will then be responsible for safe forwarding of the applications they
process to the Visa Section of the High Commission, for consideration in the
normal way. The Visa Section of the High Commission will return passports and
supporting documents to VFS after a decision has been made, for delivery back
to applicants.
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Do I need a medical?
Due to the standard of health care here in Singapore we do not insist on a
formal medical check before an entry clearance is issued. However, Paragraph 36
of the UK Immigration Rules states that on arrival in the UK any person who
intends to remain for more than 6 months should normally be referred to the
Port Medical Inspector for a medical examination (queues can be long ).
Additionally, an ECO has discretion to refer any other person for an
examination if necessary.
If you intend to stay more than 6 months you may therefore wish to have a
medical check-up shortly before you travel and carry the examination results
and a chest X-ray with you.
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Address, opening hours and contact details for the UK Visa
Application Centre
| Address |
Helpline Number |
Email |
138 Robinson Road
#07-01/02 The Corporate Office Singapore 068906
|
+(65) - 62277828
0800 - 1500 hrs
|
info@vfs-uk-sg.com |
| |
| Days |
Application Submission Timings |
Passport Collection Time |
| Monday to Friday excluding High Commission holidays (see below) |
0800 to 1500 Hrs.
|
Between 1000 to 1500 Hrs |
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Holidays List
2008
The British High Commission, Singapore and the UK Visa Application Centre
will remain closed on the following holidays in year 2008:
| S. NO. |
HOLIDAYS
|
DATE
|
DAY
|
| 1 |
New Year's Day |
1 January 2008 |
Tuesday |
| 2 |
Chinese New Year |
7 February 2008 |
Thursday |
|
8 February 2008 |
Friday |
| 3 |
Good Friday |
21 March 2008 |
Friday |
| 4 |
Easter Monday |
24 March 2008 |
Monday |
| 5 |
Labour Day
|
1 May 2008 |
Thursday |
| 6 |
Vesak Day
|
19 May 2008 |
Monday |
| 7 |
In lieu of National Day |
11 August 2008 |
Monday |
| 8 |
Hari Raya Puasa |
1 October 2008 |
Wednesday |
| 9 |
Deepavali |
27 October 2008 |
Monday |
| 10 |
Hari Raya Haji |
8 December 2008 |
Monday |
| 11 |
Christmas Privilege
Holiday |
24 December 2008 |
Wednesday |
| 12 |
Christmas Day
|
25 December 2008 |
Thursday |
| 13 |
Boxing Day |
26 December 2008 |
Friday |
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How long will it take for your application to be processed?
CURRENT
UK
VISA PROCESSING TIMES IN
SINGAPORE
The following are the
current average processing times in working days (i.e. excluding
weekends and public holidays) for different categories of
applications. The time is measured from the day an application is
submitted up until when it is ready for collection at the Visa
Application Centre (or passed to a courier where
applicable).
STRAIGHTFORWARD*,
NON-SETTLEMENT APPLICATIONS
(TOURISTS / BUSINESS VISITS /
STUDENTS / RETURNING RESIDENTS)
15 WORKING
DAYS
(*Straightforward
= Visa Officer is satisfied no interview or further documents required)
NON-SETTLEMENT APPLICATIONS NEEDING
FURTHER ENQUIRIES (e.g. Interview / documents)
(Visitors, students, returning
residents, those applying to work in the
UK
and their dependants)
30
WORKING
DAYS
SETTLEMENT
APPLICATIONS
(Spouses, civil partners and other
family members applying
to settle in the
UK
)
12 weeks
Please note that the
purpose of this notice is to give customers an indication of the
likely time it will take to process their visa application. These are only
average processing times, applications may in some
instances be ready for collection either before or after the time
periods specified above.
WE
STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT APPLICANTS APPLY WELL IN ADVANCE,
ESPECIALLY AT PEAK TIMES, AND THAT APPLICATIONS ARE PROPERLY
COMPLETED WITH FULL SUPPORTING EVIDENCE AS INDICATED IN OUR
CHECKLISTS.
Please use the VFS
tracking systems to monitor the progress of your application and
to check when your passport is ready for collection
(www.vfs-uk-sg.com).
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Do I have to be interviewed by an Entry Clearance Officer at the
British High Commission?
Issue or refusal of a visa is based on the assessment of your application
by an Entry Clearance Officer at the High Commission. Most decisions are based
on the information provided in the application form and the supporting
documentation you present. However, the Entry Clearance Officer may decide to
interview you if he or she needs more information before making a decision on
your application. If so, you will be contacted with an interview time.
Interviews are carried out in English but, if told in advance, the High
Commission may be able to provide interpreters in Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. If
you need an interpreter, please say so when you are contacted.
For information about disabled access, please click here.
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