Is this the right website?
UK Border Agency offices deal with the issue of visas
to foreign nationals who want to come to the UK. Once
the foreign national has entered the UK, all visa enquiries
should be directed to: Border
and Immigration Agency
Biometric visas: Frequently Asked Questions
for applicants
As a genuine visitor to the United Kingdom (UK)
why am I required to have my fingers scanned and have
a digital photo taken to get a visa?
All UK visa applicants are required to provide both
finger scans and a digital photo as part of the application
process. These finger scans and digital photos are your
biometric data. Biometric data collection is part of
the British Government's 5-year Strategy for managing
asylum and immigration control in the UK.
By collecting biometric data from all visa applicants
we will be able to:
• better protect you from identity fraud;
• ensure that your biometric identity is secure;
• strengthen the control of the UK borders; and
• make the UK an even safer place to visit.
What benefits do I get for providing my biometric
data?
Providing your biometric data gives you the following
benefits:
• We can easily identify you as the person we know.
The biometric visa represents our long-term commitment
to you as a valued customer.
• We will not mistake you for another person with
the same or similar name.
• It helps to keep you and your family safe from
crime and terrorism by making sure that you are secure
while you travel to the UK, and while you are in the
UK.
• It helps protect you and your family from identity
theft.
• In the longer term, we will use your biometric
data to help speed your entry at UK ports and airports.
I am a regular visitor to the UK. Will I have to
give my biometric data each time I apply for a visa?
Yes, each time you apply for a UK visa you will need
to have your fingers scanned and photograph taken. If
you are a regular traveller to the UK you may wish to
consider applying for a longer-term (2, 5 or 10 year)
visa.
Will there be an extra charge for providing my
biometric data?
No. We will not charge you for providing your finger
scans and a digital photo.
How long does it take to provide my biometric data?
Because the procedure is simple and discreet, it should
take us less than 5 minutes.
Will I be able to provide my finger scans if any
of my fingers are missing, injured or decorated?
If any of your fingers are missing, you can still provide
scans of your remaining fingers. We will make a note
of this. If you have cut or damaged your fingertips,
or you have applied any form of temporary decoration
(for example, henna) you will not be able to provide
your finger scans. You should apply when the injury
has healed or the temporary decoration has faded.
What will happen if I refuse to have my fingers
scanned or my photograph taken?
We will not accept your visa application. We will only
accept and process this when you have provided your
completed application form (with supporting documents),
the visa fee, your finger scans and a digital photo.
Will my children need to have their fingers scanned
and photos taken?
If your children are aged 5 or over, they will need
to have their fingers scanned and photo taken. If your
children are aged between 5 and 16 years of age, a responsible
adult must accompany them while their finger scans are
taken. Children under 5 will not have to provide their
finger scans but we will need to have a photograph of
them.
What will happen if my religious beliefs do not
allow me to have my fingers scanned or my photograph
taken?
We do not believe that finger scanning or taking of
photographs conflicts with any religious practices or
beliefs. We have facilities available for discreet biometric
enrolment if you need this.
Who has access to my biometric data?
We will treat all biometric data we collect from you
in confidence. Unauthorised persons will not be able
to access your biometric data and the data will not
be used inappropriately. Foreign Governments or organisations
do not have open access to the biometric data that we
collect from you. We may share your biometric data with
foreign Governments and organisations, but only in accordance
with all relevant UK legislation, including the Data
Protection Act (DPA) 1998. They must make a request
for the data to the UK Government, and the UK Government
will only share your data if this complies with the
DPA and other relevant legislation.
How long will you keep my biometric data?
We will keep your biometric data for ten years from
the date that we took your finger scans and digital
photo. After 10 years, your data will be destroyed.
Is the equipment you use to collect my finger scans
safe?
Yes. The machine we use to collect finger scans complies
with all relevant UK and international safety standards.
The machine does not use ink, liquids or chemicals.
Can I pick up germs from the machine?
You are no more likely to pick up germs from the machine
than from any daily contact you may have with any surface,
for example, a door handle or counter top.
Are there restrictions on what I can wear for the
digital photograph?
Yes. Your face must be clearly visible. You will not
be able to wear anything that obscures your face.
What if I have an injury on my face?
If you have cuts, bruises, or a temporary swelling on
your face, we cannot take your photograph. You should
apply when the cuts and bruises have healed or the swelling
has completely gone.
Commercial Partners and visa application
centres
What is a "Commercial Partner"?
We have signed contracts with 2 companies, Computer
Science Corporation and VFS Global Ltd. These companies
are our commercial partners and they will provide a
range of visa application support services for us worldwide.
What is a "visa application centre"?
A visa application centre is an office run by our commercial
partners where visa applicants will have to go in person
to submit their application and provide their biometric
data. You may also collect your documents from the visa
application centre at the end of the process. Visa application
centres are located in major cities for your convenience
and ease of access.
In addition our commercial partners will operate other
facilities which provide a more limited range of visa
application support services.
How does this affect me?
Except in exceptional circumstances, UK visa applications
will not be accepted at the UK Border Agency at the
British High Commission so you will have to go to a
visa application centre instead to do this. You can
go to any of the visa application centre offices you
choose to process your application. The UK Border Agency
website will give information about where the visa application
centres are located.
When applying for a UK visa you must now also provide
your biometric data. Your application will not be accepted
without the biometric data.
You can submit your application either on line, by post,
or in person but you must attend a biometric collection
point in person to provide your biometric data.
Will I be charged more for my visa by going to
a visa application centre?
No. The cost of standard services provided by visa application
centres is included in the visa fee. The visa fee is
set by the British Government and cannot be changed
by the visa application centre. The visa application
centre may provide additional services for which they
will make an additional charge - for example if you
want them to return your documents directly to your
home or office. You should contact the visa application
centre to find out whether they offer additional services
and what the charges for these might be. It is your
choice whether or not you use any of these additional
services - you do not have to use them. Full details
of services are available from individual visa application
centre websites.
What if I can't get to a visa application centre?
Can I still come to the UK Border Agency at the British
High Commission?
If there are circumstances that make it difficult for
you to attend a visa application centre, you should
contact the visa application centre and discuss your
circumstances.
If the new process will not take much longer, why
do we have to go to a designated collection point?
We have to collect everyone's biometric data and we
do not have the space at the UK Border Agency to do
so. Our commercial partner will have offices in convenient
locations and will have longer public opening hours
than are possible at the UK Border Agency. Some may
operate an appointment system to make the process quicker
and more convenient.
Will my visa still come from the UK Border Agency?
Yes. Once you have submitted your application and provided
your biometric data at a visa application centre, your
application will be sent to the UK Border Agency for
consideration. Your paperwork may be returned to the
visa application centre for you to collect or you can
arrange for the documents to be returned to you.
Do the visa application centres have a say in
the visa decision of my visa application?
No. The visa application centre is our agent and performs
only the pre-decision functions such as checking your
application form, taking your biometric data and collecting
the fee. They deliver your application to the UK Border
Agency where a United Kingdom visa officer will make
the decision on your application, exactly as now. The
staff at the visa application centre cannot issue, refuse
or influence the decision in any way.
Will staff at the visa application centres have
access to my biometric data?
Once they have taken your finger scans and digital photograph
the information is immediately stored on a database
which cannot be accessed by the visa application centre
staff.
What if I am not happy with the service at the
visa application centre?
If you are unhappy with the way you have been treated,
you should make a formal complaint to the visa application
centre supervisor. You should ask for details of their
complaints procedure and follow the steps that it sets
out.
Payment
How do I pay my visa fee under the new arrangements?
With effect from 22 April 2007 all visa fees will need
to be paid at the designated branches of BRAC bank Ltd.
Applicants will be asked to complete a quadruplicate
receipt, which will be provided by BRAC bank Ltd. Upon
receipt of payment 3 copies will be returned to the
applicant. The receipt is then activated on the next
working day and will be valid for 30 days. Applicants
will then be able to submit their applications containing
the 3 BRAC bank receipts to a visa application centre.
Why do I have to pay my visa fee at BRAC bank?
Why can't I pay at the visa application centre when
I submit my application? The UK has introduced a global
policy that fees should not be collected at application
centre, in order to ensure the security of monies.
Can I apply at the UK Border Agency?
Your first point of contact should be one of our Visa
Application Centres in Dhaka or Sylhet. The page 'Where
do I apply' provides details of these. If they are unable
to help you then you should contact the UK Border Agency.
Why do I need to go to a VFS office to apply?
We believe that VFS provide a professional service to
all our applicants. Nobody needs to queue on the street
outside the UK Border Agency anymore. Customer feedback
has shown that applicants in both Dhaka and Sylhet are
happy with the level of service provided by VFS.
Do I have to apply in person?
If you are a first time traveller to the United Kingdom,
you must submit your visa application in person.
If you are not a first time traveller to the UK, and
have travelled to the UK in the last 3 years, you may
be able to apply through a third party and may be eligible
to use our visa express facility. The visa application
centres will be able to advise you about this.
How long does it take to get a visa?
Any visa axpress application should be ready in 2 working
days (though we reserve the right to interview some
applicants). The target time for resolving other applications,
set by UK Border Agency, is 15 working days for non-settlement
applications and 3 months for the majority of settlement
cases. We aim to better those target times. The exception
to these timescales is working holidaymaker applications,
which may take significantly longer to resolve.
My application was refused. Can I appeal?
If your application is refused you will be given a written
notice explaining the reasons for the decision. Please
note: The visa office in Dhaka will normally give
a copy of the notice of refusal to you alone. A copy
will only be sent to your sponsor or representative
if you provide written authority for us to do so. You
may of course send a copy of the notice directly to
your sponsor or representative yourself.
Certain categories of visa applicants who have been
refused are eligible to appeal. If you have a right
of appeal you will be given an appeal form and notes
explaining how you or your representative may lodge
the appeal.
New appeal procedures have come into force in April
2005. Appeals are now considered by the Asylum and Immigration
Tribunal (AIT). You may send your appeal either directly
to the AIT or to the Visa Section. You must not send
your appeal to both locations. Should your appeal be
sent to this office, the appeal will be simply forwarded
to the AIT.
For further information on refusals and appeal procedures
please see the AIT website: www.iaa.gov.uk
I won my appeal. When will I get my visa?
We can only act on the result of an appeal adjudication
when we receive official notification of the result
of your hearing. You should allow 6 weeks for this to
reach us. If you have not heard after six weeks, and
you or your representative has already received notification
of out outcome of your appeal please e-mail the British
High Commission Dhaka at: appealenquiries.dhaka@fco.gov.uk.
Your email should be headed appeal won and include
your application and appeal reference numbers. Please
do not fax or post your copy of the determination; we
cannot do anything with it until we get official confirmation.
You will be saving the time and cost of sending the
documents, we will be able to keep the amount of paper
on our office under control. An email is much better;
with an email we can make our checks quickly and electronically..
I am a student. How can I make sure I will get
my visa in time?
Apply in good time. Students applying to remain in the
UK over 6 months will require a health certificate having
been screened for Tuberculosis (TB), prior to submission
of their application; See our page Health
Screening - Questions and Answers for applicants
for further information. At peak application times for
student applications (for example - before the autumn
and calendar year intakes) we will prioritise student
applications, but in general they will be dealt with
on a first come, first served basis.
The UK Border Agency at the British High Commission
supports the British Council's PASS programme. Students
who have used PASS are entitled to apply for their visa
under a fast track "student express" scheme, significantly
reducing the time it takes to resolve the application.
For more details of PASS contact the British Council
at:
Can I work whilst in the UK?
This link will take you to the required information:
Working
in the UK
Can I apply as a civil partner?
Civil partnerships are a new legal relationship which
can be registered by 2 people of the same sex and give
couples legal recognition for their relationship.
Same-sex couples who register a civil partnership will
have parity of treatment in a wide range of legal matters
with those opposite-sex couples who enter into a civil
marriage.
Immigration Rules and other provisions have been amended
to introduce a new category of "civil partner". Civil
partners will be afforded the same provisions in the
Rules that currently exist for spouses of persons present
in the United Kingdom in both permanent and temporary
categories.
Please use the visa application form (VAF1 non-settlement)
or visa application form (VAF2 settlement) which can
be found on our visa Application
forms and guidance page of the UK Border Agency
Visa Services website. This page also contains further
related information under the 'spouses' link.
Knowledge of Language and 'Life in the UK':
Spouses/Civil Partners/Unmarried or Same Sex Partners
As of 2 April 2007, all foreign national spouses,
civil partners and unmarried/same sex partners who currently
qualify for indefinite leave to enter the UK will also
be required to demonstrate knowledge of language and
'life in the UK' before being granted indefinite leave
to enter. All those applying in the UK for indefinite
leave to remain on the basis of marriage or similar
long-term relationship also have to satisfy this requirement.
Applicants that have not satisfied the knowledge of
language and 'life in the UK' requirement (whether applying
overseas or in the UK) will be eligible for leave to
remain as the spouse or partner of a person with the
right of abode or indefinite leave to enter or remain
in the UK. These arrangements are explained in more
detail below.
Why can I no longer be granted settlement on entry
(indefinite leave to enter) as the spouse, civil partner
, unmarried or same sex partner of someone with right
of abode or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the
UK?
The Government believes strongly that those who wish
to settle in the UK should be encouraged to play a full
part in their wider community. All adults, aged 18-65,
who apply for settlement on or after 2 April 2007 will
need to demonstrate knowledge of language and of 'life
in the UK' in addition to meeting the usual requirements
of the immigration rules for settlement. This includes
foreign national spouses, civil partners and unmarried
or same sex partners who currently qualify for settlement
on entry (indefinite leave to enter).
Under the new rules, those applicants who currently
qualify for indefinite leave to enter (pre 2 April 2007)
as the spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex
partner of someone with right of abode or indefinite
leave to enter or remain in the UK, will be granted
two years leave to enter. During this time they can,
at any point, satisfy the knowledge of language and
'life in the UK' requirement. If successful, they can
then apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
My spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex
partner has right of abode or indefinite leave to enter
and remain in the UK. We have been married and living
overseas for a period of over 4 years and satisfied
the criteria for settlement in the UK. Why do I need
to complete a 2 years probationary period in the UK
before being granted settlement?
This is not a probationary period. You can apply for
indefinite leave to remain at any point during those
2 years, provided that you have demonstrated knowledge
of language and 'life in the UK'. The same provision
applies to those already in the UK and seeking indefinite
leave to remain but who have not satisfied the knowledge
of language and 'life in the UK' requirement.
If I have already satisfied the knowledge of language
and 'life in the UK' requirement (for example, on a
previous visit to the UK), can I then be granted settlement
on entry (indefinite leave to enter)?
Yes, provided that you meet all of the other requirements
of the immigration rules for indefinite leave to enter
as the spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex
partner of someone with right of abode, indefinite leave
to enter and remain in the UK.
Is it possible to take the test overseas?
There are no facilities to take the 'Life in the UK
Test' overseas, but it can be taken at any time in the
UK, for instance, on the occasion of a visit to family
or relatives before coming here permanently.
Why should I have to pay for 2 applications, 1
overseas and 1 in the UK?
A second application is only necessary where all the
requirements for immediate settlement are not met. This
is true of applicants who are already in the UK as spouses
or partners as well as those who are being admitted
on that basis. The Government's view is that permission
to live permanently in the UK should be seen as a privilege
and the end of a process that entails both an awareness
of the responsibilities involved and the ability to
participate in life in the UK, and not something that
is granted automatically irrespective of these considerations.
I am a fluent English speaker; will I need to provide
proof of my knowledge of language before being granted
settlement?
Yes. You will only be required to take the 'Life in
the UK Test'. If you pass this test you will not need
to produce additional proof of your knowledge of English.
This is because to pass the test you will need to be
competent in English.
If you do not have the required level of English, you
will need to gain an approved English for Speakers of
Other Languages (ESOL) qualification through attending
an ESOL course which includes citizenship materials.
Former Members of HM Forces and their Dependants
I am a former member of HM Forces; can I still be granted
settlement on entry?
Yes. Provided that you meet all of the other requirements
in the immigration rules for indefinite leave to enter
the UK as a former member of HM Forces, you are not
required to satisfy the knowledge of language and 'life
in the UK' requirement.
Why are former members of HM Forces exempt from
the new rules, when others (for example - spouses) are
not?
Service in the Armed Forces has long been recognised
as a unique way of acquiring and demonstrating the obligations
and responsibilities of a permanent attachment to the
UK.
I wish to study in the UK. Which sort of visa
should I apply for?
Student visitors
You should apply for this visa if:
•
You are over 18 years
•
You wish to take a short course of study lasting
less than 6 months.
•
You do not wish to work during your stay
•
You will not need to extend your stay in the
UK.
•
Your course is for less than 15 hours per week
or is in the evening or at weekends. The training
provider must be on the DIUS Register of Education
Providers
You should not choose this if:
•
You are taking a sandwich course or any short
course with a work placement element.
Student
You should apply for this visa if:
•
You wish to take part time employment during
your studies
•
You may need to extend your stay in the UK
•
You are undertaking a short term English course
before going on to long term studies in the UK.
Give details of both courses in your application.
Child visitor
You should apply for this visa if:
•
You are a child under the age of 18 travelling
to the UK for a short course of study lasting
less than 6 months.
•
Please note there is a requirement to demonstrate
that adequate arrangements have been made for
care in the UK. This means that you must give
the name and address of the person you will stay
with. You must also submit the necessary signed
consent forms from both parents, and the name
and passport number of who is accompanying you
to the UK.
