2023 Is For UK Visitor Boom!
2023 is expected to be the best year to visit Great Britain.
Why?
The UK Tourism officials forecast 35.1 million visits in 2023 (86% of the pre-covid level and 18% more than 2022).
Planning to explore the Multi-Layered British History but worried about visa approval?
Look at the statistics…..
In the year ending June 2022, the United Kingdom government issued approx. 2 million visas. As this covid 19 pandemic hugely impacts the tourism economy of the United Kingdom, the government wants to help them recover.
The UKVI is issuing more visas with this aim, and the visa approval ratio is higher than ever. But one thing is for sure; you gotta have a crystal clear idea about the process of getting a UK Visa from Bangladesh.
And today, we’re going to talk about those things.
What Can You Do With the UK Visitor Visa?
If you want to explore the United Kingdom for tourism, medical treatment, business, or visiting friends and family members, the UK Standard Visitor Visa is perfect for you. The UK Visitor Visa also permits other temporary reasons, including short-term study.
Here is what you can do as a tourist:
- You can sightsee and take a relaxing holiday
- Meet your friends and family
- You can work as a volunteer for up to 30 days
- You can take airport transit
- Join business meetings and conferences
- You can sign contracts and agreements with UK business
- Join any school exchange program
- Participate in recreational courses for up to 30 days
- You can join in fairs, seminars, and symposiums
- If you are sick, you can take medical treatments
So you now want to know how to apply for a UK visitor visa? 5 simple steps to follow…
Step 1: Fill out the UK visa Form Online
The first step in applying for your UK visa is to fill out the visa form online.
Before you apply, ensure you have all essential personal documents and information ready. This includes your passports, proof of travel history, bank statements, tax assessment copies, and details regarding where you will stay.
You can complete the online visa form in one attempt. Hence, you can also leave the form and come back later to work on it.
Most importantly…….
Get ready your credit card for payment, as all UK visa fees need to be paid online now. Unfortunately, VFS Global Dhaka no longer accepts any cash payments for UK visitor visas.
Step 2: Collect the documents for submission
After you submit your visa application online, the UKVI automatically generates a document checklist based on your circumstances. These are the mandatory UK visa from Bangladesh required documents you should submit.
But to strengthen your application, you should submit some additional documents like:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity.
- Old Passports
- Visa Photograph
- Tour plan/itinerary
- Cover letter
- Personal Bank Statements
- Personal ITR Certificate
- Civil documents/ Marriage Certificates/ Baby Birth Certificates
- Financial Proof/ FDR/ Sanchaypatro
- Title deeds/ Details of Asset
- Airline Ticket Itinerary
- Hotel Reservation
For Business Purpose Visit:
- Invitation Letter from a UK Registered Company/Organization
- Forwarding Letter from your company
- Office ID Card/ Business card
- Incorporation Certificate
- Company Memorandum
- Company Bank Statements
- Company ITR Certificate
Extra Documents for Family Visit Visa:
- Invitation Letter from Your Family member
- Forwarding Letter from your employer
- Relation with Invitee/ Proof of relationship
- Resident proof of Host
- Invitee’s Photo ID Card and Utility Copy
- Invitee’s Bank Statements
If You Are a Student:
- Proof of studentship
Step 3: Submit Your Biometrics at VFS Global
Once the visa application is submitted, and the visa fee is paid, you need to schedule a biometric appointment with VFS Global.
Wanna know how they work?
The UKVI online portal will redirect you to VFS global website and log you in automatically with your existing credentials. You can then schedule an appointment in any of your convenient locations, be it Dhaka or Sylhet.
After you schedule your appointment, print the appointment copy. You need to bring it with you on the day.
So, how can you submit all your required documents?
There are 2 ways to do so:
- You can scan all the documents and upload them to the VFS website
- You can bring the documents to VFS Global. The VFS staff will collect the documents, scan and send them to UKVI. You need to pay an additional scanning fee of BDT 1200.
We always recommend that you scan the documents yourself and upload them. VKVI starts processing your application after the biometric is given. Your processing time officially starts from here.
Step 4: Wait for Visa Approval
According to the UK government’s website, it takes up to 3 weeks for a United Kingdom Visitor visa decision. However, the actual processing time varies depending on factors such as how busy the UKVI is.
Sometimes the visa processing time depends on your circumstances as well. If your application is not straightforward, it requires extra time for the evaluation.
We process hundreds of applications from Bangladesh. It takes approx. 3-6 weeks for a decision.
Is there any way you can get your application status?
Unfortunately, no. There is no way of vfs global Dhaka UK visa tracking. But you can email UKVI with your queries, and they will let you know your application’s stage.
You can call the UKVI hotline as well. But these options will cost you money. An email query costs £2.74, while the cost of the call depends on the length of your discussion.
Step 5: Get Passport Delivery from VFS Global Dhaka
Once your United Kingdom Visa has been approved by the UK government, you will receive a notification. The email will confirm that a decision has been made, and you will receive further instructions from VFS Global Dhaka.
Wondering what happens if you get refused?
Well, they will email you a refusal letter with the reasons if they refuse you. If you do not receive a refusal letter in your email, you can expect that your visa application has been successful.
After the UKVI email, you will receive another email from VFS Global Dhaka. The email will contain the details of your passport collection schedule and location. You will need to bring proof of identity and the passport collection receipt (the one you received from VFS during your biometrics procedure).
How much is a UK visa from Bangladesh?
The cost of a United Kingdom (UK) visa from Bangladesh depends on the type and length of the visa you are applying for. Here are the govt fee details:
- Short-term (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry) – BDT 13085
- Longer-term (valid for up to 2 years) – BDT 49198
- Longer-term (valid for up to 5 years) – BDT 87667
- Longer-term (valid for up to 10 years) – BDT 109519
- Visiting academic – more than 6 months up to 12 months – BDT 26169
- Marriage visitor visa – BDT 13085
- Permitted paid engagement visa – BDT 13085
- Private medical treatment – more than six months up to 11 months – BDT 26169
- Short-term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months – BDT 26169
The fee is subject to change based on currency conversion.
The Super Priority and Premium Services are more expensive and will incur an additional fee along with the standard visa fee. All fees must be paid online through the UKVI website before your appointment at the VFS Global Dhaka.
Besides the government visa fee, there are some fees charged by VFS global if you opt for additional services for them. If you need consultancy from any reputed agency, this will cost you an additional 12,000-25,000 BDT.
UK Visa Consultant in Bangladesh
Visa Processing Center is an experienced UK visa consultant in Bangladesh, having applied hundreds of applications (if not thousands)
At the Visa Processing Center, we made it easy for you to apply and get your visa application approved. Once you confirm the visa processing with us, we will start analyzing your documents. We assign a specialized visa processing expert to ensure the entire process runs effortlessly. Our experts try to minimize the risk of refusal.
Here is how we work:
First, we analyze your profile and relevant information, including your travel and professional history. Then prepare your financial details to develop the most effective strategy to obtain a UK visa successfully.
We are a top-rated, experienced visa consultancy company for UK visas in Bangladesh. To ensure you have the best visa approval possibilities, our premium visa consultancy service provides you with a 360-degree approach.
For consultancy booking, contact us now.
British High Commission Address in Bangladesh
British High Commission, Dhaka
United Nations Rd. Baridhara, PO Box: 6079, Dhaka 1212, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Phone: +880 2 55668700, Consular Fax: +880 2 9843437
Email: press.dhaka@fco.gov.uk, consular.bangladesh@fco.gov.uk
UK Visa Biometric Center in Bangladesh
VFS United Kingdom, Delta Life Tower, Dhaka
4th Floor, Plot #37, Road #45, 90 Gulshan North, Commercial Area, Dhaka.
VFS Helpline: (+88) 02 9895 894 (Sunday to Thursday 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Application Submit Timing/Working Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Passport collection, and additional document submission: Sunday to Thursday, 9:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I get a UK visa from Bangladesh?
To get a United Kingdom visa from Bangladesh, you must submit your application online and give biometrics at the UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Dhaka.
The visa fee needs to be paid through the UKVI website.
Once all necessary documents have been submitted and accepted, a decision will be made by the UK government on whether or not your visa has been approved. Decision time is approx. 3-6 weeks.
Is UK visit visa open for Bangladeshi?
Yes, UK visits visa is open to Bangladeshi citizens who wish to travel to the United Kingdom. To apply, applicants must fill out the online UK visa application form and make an appointment at the VFS Global Dhaka for biometrics submission.
How can I get UK visa quickly? How long does it take to get UK visa from Bangladesh?
The processing time for a UK visa from Bangladesh varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Generally, the Standard Visitor Visa takes up to 3-6 weeks. In some cases, you may be able to get your visa decision within 3-5 working days if you pay for a priority service fee.
What is the guarantee of visa approval if I take the Visa Processing Center service?
We help you with the visa application process at the Visa Processing Center. However, whether your visa will be approved or not solely depends on the embassy. We are unable to influence this outcome.
We process your visa in a way that complies with government regulations. We also analyze all your documents and prepare the application so that they represent you well. Thus, the chances of your visa approval are higher when you opt for our visa processing service.
What about multiple-visa? Can I get a multiple-entry visa for UK?
The multiple-entry visa allows a stay in the United Kingdom for up to 6 months. If you need to travel to the United Kingdom frequently, the UK government has made it easy by providing Long-Term Standard Visitor Visas that last for 2, 5, or 10 years.