Wife got a 6 month holiday visa about 3 years ago.

Then when we applied again, we got a 2 year holiday visa.

This visa is due to expire next month. We intend going to UK in October.

So my questions are:

1/ Are we better applying for the new visa now-before current one expires- or should we just wait till a month before we intend to travel? Or does it make any difference?

2/ Can someone supply link to application form.

3/ Has anything changed since we applied 2 years ago?

4/ And will we automatically be granted another 2 year visa? (If successful with application) 

Thanks in advance.

If you can show that there are good reasons for regular visits to the UK then a 5 year visa would be better value. A good travel history should make things straight forward but as always prepare the application as carefully as you did the previous ones.

You will get the visa applied for. a shorter one or be refused depending on the decision maker. There is also a ten year visa available. There are no refunds if the visa duration given is shorter than applied for.

 

https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa

 

Not much has changed except the cost continues to creep up!

The visa can be post dated by up to three months.

"Fees

A Standard Visitor visa costs £93.

The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:

• 2 years - £350
• 5 years - £636
• 10 years - £798"

So you save the government time and money  (let's not talk about the profits they make on some vida categories) by not applying for a new visa multiple times a year for a few years in a row but just ask for 1 visa valid for some years. As a thank you of saving you and them hassle and money you don't pay less or the same but more... 

 

The same fee for all visa durations and getting the one the ECO finds the most suitable based on perceived 'need factor' and 'risk factors' would sound much more logical.

13 minutes ago, Donutz said:

"Fees

A Standard Visitor visa costs £93.

The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:

• 2 years - £350
• 5 years - £636
• 10 years - £798"

So you save the government time and money  (let's not talk about the profits they make on some vida categories) by not applying for a new visa multiple times a year for a few years in a row but just ask for 1 visa valid for some years. As a thank you of saving you and them hassle and money you don't pay less or the same but more... 

 

The same fee for all visa durations and getting the one the ECO finds the most suitable based on perceived 'need factor' and 'risk factors' would sound much more logical.

And to use previous personal and biometric data, ie photo and dabs, would make less work for the ECO, but less money for VFS.

3 hours ago, Donutz said:

"Fees

A Standard Visitor visa costs £93.

The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:

• 2 years - £350
• 5 years - £636
• 10 years - £798"

Payable in USD at an exchange rate very favourable to the Home Office!

 

3 hours ago, wgdanson said:

And to use previous personal and biometric data, ie photo and dabs, would make less work for the ECO, but less money for VFS.

Taking 'dabs' and other biometrics are part of the application process and are not charged for; the cost of obtaining them is included in the visa application fee.

 

Are photos still required? I though they took them digitally nowadays, with the cost again being included in the visa fee. 

 

Fingerprints don't change; but appearances do; especially as we get older. (Unless you have a portrait in your attic!) This is why GB, and most other countries, photocard driving licences have to be renewed periodically.

 

The reason biometrics and photos are taken every time is the same reason why Thais, for example, have to have their biometrics taken every time they renew their passport, the reason why even though the UK doesn't have full biometric passports you still have to supply a photograph when you renew your British passport. Most other counties are I believe the same both for passport and visa purposes.

 

Having one's photo and biometrics taken is hardly arduous, and is not a lengthy process. I don't understand why you have such a bee in your bonnet about it. 

 

The reason for it is to prevent the crime of personation, or identity theft if you prefer. To put it simply, to ensure, as much as possible, that the person applying this time is the same person that applied last time and not someone else using another's identity and good record to obtain a visa for some nefarious purpose.

10 hours ago, hackjam said:

/ Are we better applying for the new visa now-before current one expires- or should we just wait till a month before we intend to travel? Or does it make any difference?

NO problem applying for another visit visa when your wife already has one that hasn’t expired. My then girlfriend had two visit visas that overlapped by 12 days. Her first expired on the 12th December and my family wanted her to visit for Christmas so the new two year visit visa started on the 1st December.

11 hours ago, 7by7 said:

Taking 'dabs' and other biometrics are part of the application process and are not charged for; the cost of obtaining them is included in the visa application fee.

Of course they are charged for IN THE APPLICATION FEE. A bit like ads on telly saying 'including FREE shipping'. The customer is the one paying for it.

On ‎5‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 5:34 AM, wgdanson said:

On ‎5‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 6:26 PM, 7by7 said:

Taking 'dabs' and other biometrics are part of the application process and are not charged for; the cost of obtaining them is included in the visa application fee

Of course they are charged for IN THE APPLICATION FEE. A bit like ads on telly saying 'including FREE shipping'. The customer is the one paying for it.

 

Do you honestly think that the fee for second or subsequent applicants would be less than that for first time applicants if they didn't have their biometrics taken with those subsequent applications?

 

BTW, obviously VFS's fee, and that of the other outsourcing companies used by UKVI, is included in the cost of processing an application. But a 6 months standard visitor application fee, £93, is one of the very few fees which is actually less than the published unit cost of processing, £130 (source). 

 

I notice you have refused to comment on the reasons for taking biometrics etc. with each application. Does this mean you now accept those reasons are valid?

 

Do you now accept that this simple step in the effort to eliminate personation, identity theft and fraud is worthwhile?