UK tourist visa, how long before do you apply?

[MROLL320]

A friend is on the verge of starting the process of getting his TGf her 2nd tourist visa... 

 

I was led to believe that 90 days before was the limit on submitting the application? But a 'bar stool expert' is telling us it's all changed now? 

 

Anybody any information or experiences lately? 

 

Thanks. And happy new year! 

 

 

[sungod]

Correct, 3 months max in advance of travel for standard visitor visa.

 

 

[overherebc]

VFS office in BKK say you shouldn't apply more than 90 days prior.

[theoldgit]

Yes, as others has said your "barstool expert" is incorrect, a Standard Visa application still cannot be made earlier than three months before the intended date of trave.

 

 The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

 

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

 

Without wishing to be pedantic, your friend cannot get his girlfriend a visa, only she can do so, I suspect they're fully aware of that.

[FracturedRabbit]

You can of course state an intended date of travel to be earlier than you actually intend to fly; provided you don't want to utilise the full six months via validity. Gives you some breathing space for buying tickets etc,

[sandyf]

On 12/31/2019 at 2:17 PM, overherebc said:

VFS office in BKK say you shouldn't apply more than 90 days prior.

It is not really up to VFS. The application is done in stages and it can certainly be created and completed prior to the 3 month point. There is then the Declaration, Appointment and Payment to be made and one of those stages may have a time restriction, you would only find out by trial and error.

[overherebc]

9 minutes ago, sandyf said:

It is not really up to VFS. The application is done in stages and it can certainly be created and completed prior to the 3 month point. There is then the Declaration, Appointment and Payment to be made and one of those stages may have a time restriction, you would only find out by trial and error.

Shouldn't and shall not mean two very different things. 

You fill in the application and collect your supporting doc's as far in advance as you want. You then scan them or take them to VFS who will scan them for you ( 460 baht ). VFS then forward the electronic file to the visa section who decide yes or no. VFS say you 'shouldn't' submit more than 3 months prior to date of travel.

They will forward earlier if you really want to, you can add a document on the lines of submission is a bit early as we have plans for travel during the period preceeding the holiday blah blah blah.

[Jip99]

On 12/31/2019 at 2:17 PM, overherebc said:

VFS office in BKK say you shouldn't apply more than 90 days prior.

 

 

As you know, VfS are only agents for UKVI.

 

The gov.uk says:-

 

How long it will take

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

ExampleYou can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.

 

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

[sandyf]

4 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Shouldn't and shall not mean two very different things. 

You fill in the application and collect your supporting doc's as far in advance as you want. You then scan them or take them to VFS who will scan them for you ( 460 baht ). VFS then forward the electronic file to the visa section who decide yes or no. VFS say you 'shouldn't' submit more than 3 months prior to date of travel.

They will forward earlier if you really want to, you can add a document on the lines of submission is a bit early as we have plans for travel during the period preceeding the holiday blah blah blah.

I am quite aware of how it works thank you, but as I said it is not up to VFS, you do not go there unless you already have an appointment, which you must make before you pay for the application.

[saengd]

3 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

As you know, VfS are only agents for UKVI.

 

The gov.uk says:-

 

How long it will take

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

ExampleYou can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.

 

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

Which can be seriously unhelpful when the turn around time turns out to be six weeks (as happened to us two years ago) and you can't really make flight/hotel reservations until the visa is issued.

[sandyf]

8 minutes ago, saengd said:

Which can be seriously unhelpful when the turn around time turns out to be six weeks (as happened to us two years ago) and you can't really make flight/hotel reservations until the visa is issued.

Quite. One year I had to do 3 visas prior to travel, UK, Canada and Germany, made things tight.

I have always booked and paid for all flights,accommodation and insurance before making the application, and then stated quite clearly in the sponsor letter that these expenses had already been met. Returning together on the same flight goes a long way but it would be a personal decision.

[Jip99]

11 minutes ago, saengd said:

Which can be seriously unhelpful when the turn around time turns out to be six weeks (as happened to us two years ago) and you can't really make flight/hotel reservations until the visa is issued.

 

 

15 working days is the turnaround time.

 

Delays beyond that are rare and only occurred when the process moved to India. 

 

 

Nothing to stop you booking flights (although UKVI advise against doing so) if you are confident of your application. 

[overherebc]

18 minutes ago, sandyf said:

I am quite aware of how it works thank you, but as I said it is not up to VFS, you do not go there unless you already have an appointment, which you must make before you pay for the application.

I am also very aware of how it works.

[Jip99]

2 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Quite. One year I had to do 3 visas prior to travel, UK, Canada and Germany, made things tight.

I have always booked and paid for all flights,accommodation and insurance before making the application, and then stated quite clearly in the sponsor letter that these expenses had already been met. Returning together on the same flight goes a long way but it would be a personal decision.

 

 

Returning together makes no difference other than being an example of the nature of the relationship...ie living together in Thailand.

 

I wouldn't promote it as a factor in 'reasons to return'.

[saengd]

3 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

15 working days is the turnaround time.

 

Delays beyond that are rare and only occurred when the process moved to India. 

 

 

Nothing to stop you booking flights (although UKVI advise against doing so) if you are confident of your application. 

It was during that move that we had problems.

[Jip99]

1 minute ago, saengd said:

It was during that move that we had problems.

 

 

If it is any consolation, you were not alone....????.... me too!

[Rimmer]

Off topic troll rant and a reply removed

[theoldgit]

The the OP asked when an application for a UK visa can be submitted, he now has a definitive answer, both from the GOV.UK website and confirmation from VFS, the handling agents, so I think this thread can now be closed.