UK General/Family Visit Visa. What happens to passport during application?

[CaptainWindsock]

My Thai girlfriend will shortly be applying for a Visit Visa to the UK. I hear the application process could take up to 3 weeks so what happens to her passport during this time? I ask this because we also want to take a trip to Vietnam and obviously couldn't do that if the Embassy is sitting on her passport all that time.

[Upnotover]

The embassy has it.

[ulike]

Pay for the premium service. Its worth it.

[Upnotover]

Pay for the premium service. Its worth it.

Yes, if she is eligible, i.e. has travelled in the previous 5 years to the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or to a country in the Schengen Area.

[7by7]

As said, the embassy retain the applicant's passport until the decision is made; when it is returned to the applicant, hopefully with a visa in it.

If the applicant asks for the passport back before this then the application is treated as withdrawn, with no refund of the fee.

Unless the applicant can show that they have an urgent, compassionate reason to travel abroad.

Priority visa service; costs an extra £100 and, as said above, she has to be eligible.

Edited June 17, 2014 by 7by7

[CaptainWindsock]

Thanks for the info. She would not be eligible for priority service so it looks like 2 round trips to Bangkok. Am I right in thinking that you have to apply online, wait for an appointment, then take your documents to the embassy, then wait up to 3 weeks and then go and collect them?

Do you have any say when the appointment might be. Or offer dates when you would not be available?

[jimn]

Thanks for the info. She would not be eligible for priority service so it looks like 2 round trips to Bangkok. Am I right in thinking that you have to apply online, wait for an appointment, then take your documents to the embassy, then wait up to 3 weeks and then go and collect them?

Do you have any say when the appointment might be. Or offer dates when you would not be available?

Hi

You apply here https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/

After you have completed your application, the website directs you book the appointment online and you pick a date suitable to you. You take the documents to VFS here http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/thailand/applicationcentre.html not the Embassy.

Yes it will take about 3 weeks and yes you can go and collect them or choose to have them couriered back to you see here http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/thailand/user_pay_services.html#4

cheers

Jim

[7by7]

Firstly, my apologies.

My previous answer re keeping one's passport is now out of date with respect to visit visa applicants.

Passport Pass Back Service

Our Passport Pass Back service enables you to retain your passport whilst your visa is being processed and is perfect for customers who may need to travel during this time or apply for another country’s visa. You cannot request this service after your visa application has been submitted. You can pay for this service online before you attend your appointment at the visa application centre or when you visit the visa application centre. The fee for the service is £50.

You can choose this service if you are a visit visa applicant.

You will need to return your passport to the visa application centre within 10 working days of lodging your application.

You must supply a clear photocopy of your entire passport*

* A copy of the entire passport in either colour or black and white, on white paper min 60gsm, photocopied 600dpi minimum, actual size without any reduction or magnification, and orientated in landscape.

The application is submitted online and at the same time the applicant can make an appointment from the dates and times available to attend the VAC and have their biometrics taken and hand in their supporting documents.

They will need to print out the form and sign the print out to take as well.

See How to apply.

At the same time they can request to have their passport etc. couriered back to them; for a fee.

Edit: jimn types faster than I do!

Edited June 17, 2014 by 7by7

[jimn]

Ha only because I was looking at the topic when the question was asked

[mikebell]

Surely a Thai doesn't need a passport for Vietnam?

[theoldgit]

Surely a Thai doesn't need a passport for Vietnam?

Yes they do, but not a visa.