return flight reservation required as supporting document for UK visit visa application?

[billybatson]

Re : UK General vist visa application. My girlfriend in Thailand thinks (or she has been told) she needs to present a return flight reservation (to UK) to the visa application centre, as part of the supporting documents. I've told her theres no way I'm paying for the flight before the visa has been granted, but she says if we book a flight at a travel agency, we maybe don't have to pay at the time but can reserve (this part I don't believe) or we can pay for ticket but we will have 7 days to cancel and get a refund if the visa isn't granted.

Is this right? I don't see this mentioned anywhere on the UK border agency site or in the visa guidelines.

It'not practical anyway because it takes up to 3 weeks to get a decision on the visa.

I've just tried to phone the VFS call centre to get an answer but they're closed now for the day. I'll try again tomorrow.

Can someone here confirm (hopefully) that is is not a requirement ?

[vulcan903]

Its not a requirement for a Visa application. The UKBA advise not to book until you have a visa granted.

What you have to be careful is when your GF is flying to the UK some airlines want to see a return ticket as they are liable as a carrier to return your GF if the UK BA don't land her when she arrives.

I had it last year with Jet Airways and they worried us all the way from Delhi to LHR. When I got to UKBA I explained there might be an issue and the guys said its not a requirement to land in the UK. A visa in a valid passport is enough to land. He was really helpful and suggested I go and pull her out of the non EU Q and he would land here there and then.

I could not find her in time and waited by the non EU area and when she got to the UKBA dealing with her he called me over and said it would be good to have a return ticket. I said I had bought a one way ticket as the prices of flights via a Thailand IP address seem very expensive and that I planned to buy her ticket here in the UK which was cheaper.

I stressed she will return within the Visa time and he landed her.

I suggest if you can and if its her first visit you go and get here and bring her back as my GF had never gone through an airport experince before and was nervious on her own.

I am taking a gamble this year and have direct BA refundable flights booked for her though she only submitted her documents (all 70 pages of it!) last Friday. The air fare was just too good to pass by and its refundable for a $60 charge.

Edited March 24, 2014 by vulcan903

[billybatson]

Of course she'll have a return ticket. She's only coming for 2 weeks. I'm paying for her flight - it will be a return flight - she'll have an e-ticket stating her outbound and return details.

But my point is, she shouldn't need this in advance of getting the visa. That just doesn't make any sense to me and sounds like bad advice she's been given.

[vulcan903]

Section 3 Genreal Vist Visa - Thailand (taken from the gov website)

Details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans - you should not pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa.

[bubsj1]

It is possible to make a flight reservation! However these reservations normally have to be paid within a time limit, depending on the airline. Do not pay for a ticket before she has the visa in her passport!!!

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[TobiasML]

As far as I know you will need to present a reservation. Every travel agency will give you a reservation without the need to purchase right away. Usually they will tell you the latest issuing date and or you will forfeit the reservation. Usually this is not possible if you book online. Did that a lot of times to reserve but changed on the issuing date for one or the other reason.

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[theoldgit]

Of course she'll have a return ticket. She's only coming for 2 weeks. I'm paying for her flight - it will be a return flight - she'll have an e-ticket stating her outbound and return details.

But my point is, she shouldn't need this in advance of getting the visa. That just doesn't make any sense to me and sounds like bad advice she's been given.

You are absolutely correct, the UKVI specifically advise against purchasing a non refundable ticket before the visa is issued.

Likewise having a return ticket on arrival at the UK Border isn't a requirement, though it makes it easier for the Immigration Officer landing the passenger if one is available. A passenger must be prepared to provide evidence that they have the means to leave the UK.

[NanLaew]

As far as I know you will need to present a reservation. Every travel agency will give you a reservation without the need to purchase right away. Usually they will tell you the latest issuing date and or you will forfeit the reservation. Usually this is not possible if you book online. Did that a lot of times to reserve but changed on the issuing date for one or the other reason.

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Incorrect! I have obtained 3 UK visit visas for my Thai wife and never submitted a reservation or a confirmed ticket with any of the successful applications. In my covering letter, I suggested what carrier we would 'probably use' but there was no reservation made.

As vulcan and others have stated herein, the OFFICIAL advice is NOT to purchase any travel ahead of the application. It is in their posted advice and a well known FAQ.

You need to tell you girlfriend to chill as she is NOT quoting official guidelines. Most probably she is getting advice from someone similarly clueless as to what is actually needed.

[billybatson]

She's getting advice from a family member who's lived in Europe (but not in UK). I suspect her sister/cousin is getting confused - rules are different for each type of visa and for different countries. There may be a face-saving issue with this as well. My GF probably doesn't want me to tell her sister that she's wrong.

What I might do (if she continues to dig her heels in on this) is let her book a ticket with one of these local travel agencies (in Thailand), providing there is no payment up front, and it is easy to cancel the reservation - i.e no obligation. Then, after we get the visa, I will of course NOT use the travel agency to book the ticket (because it will cost far more than I will would by paying it myself online), and instead do it myself. I can then cancel this nonsense reservation with the travel agency (or let it expire). That sounds like a plan to me. But of course I'd much prefer if she would just listen to me in the first place

[theoldgit]

For Schengen Visas you do have to show flight tickets before before a visa is issued, though even then, strictly speaking there is no requirement to submit the ticket with the application.

[billybatson]

Thanks TheOldGit, I think that's probably where she's getting the mis-information. I will point her in the direction of the official UK guidlines (is there a Thai version tho?) and I will also phone the VFS call centre tomorrow for confirmation. She can then phone them herself if she still doesn't believe me.

[Thongkorn]

I thought the Boarder agency say, you should not purchase a ticket before your Visa application.

[thepool]

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Of course she'll have a return ticket. She's only coming for 2 weeks. I'm paying for her flight - it will be a return flight - she'll have an e-ticket stating her outbound and return details.

But my point is, she shouldn't need this in advance of getting the visa. That just doesn't make any sense to me and sounds like bad advice she's been given.

Is she asking for a ticket or the money to buy a ticket ?

NB

No ticket is required for the visa application in fact the official advice is not to purchase a ticket in advance of the visa being granted.

Edited March 24, 2014 by thepool

[billybatson]

She sent me this snapshot from the gov.uk site (see img below) where she's circled one section. Its in Thai so I have no idea what it says. Can anyone translate?

[thepool]

just have a look here

https://www.gov.uk/general-visit-visa

[billybatson]

I've looked all over the guidelines

here : https://www.gov.uk/general-visit-visa/documents-you-must-provide

and here : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitor-visa-guide-to-supporting-documents

and the 7 page PDF download (guide to supporting documents).

As others on here have confirmed, there is no requirement to show the airline ticket at this stage.

But my GF probably needs to see this written or stated in Thai, so I'll ask her to phone the VFS call centre (they have Thai and English speakers) and hopefully they'll confirm what we all know already.

[7by7]

My wife says that the circled part says that if you have booked tickets etc. you may wish to include confirmation of this. It does not say that you have to.

[billybatson]

Thanks for the translation. Just confirms again that it really is unnecessary at this application stage. I phoned the VFS office this morning and they said it's something you can do (sounds like its something some applicants do) but is not a requirement and will have "no influence" on the visa decision.

However, I will carry on with the pretence for the sake of my GF (who will not contemplate that her sister might be misinformed) and just reserve a return ticket with a travel agency, and get her to print out the reservation (which only last for 7 days and will be null and void long before the visa decision is made anyway).

[crane555]

Hi

I reserved a flight for £30 with BA to show the flight I was going to book. Unfortunately the time I had to pay the balance elapsed before the visa was granted and it cost me the £30. I'm sure you will agree that is a fraction of the over all cost and much better than paying for the flight and loosing the whole lot!

Anyway from what I understand it's not a requirement but I wanted to show that I had already planed the return trip just to show our intention of following the rules. We got our visa first time with no issues. I hope you have the same good fortune.

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