Practical Advice About Submitting Supporting Documents for UK Visitor Visa

[crazydrummerpauly]

Hi. There are a lot of confusing reports flying around recently about the way VFS are handling applicants supporting-documents folders. Some people have reported that 1) random documents are being pulled out of folders, causing arguments about what is to be sent forward to the embassy or not; and 2) that ring-binders are being refused and papers pulled out and piled up in a disorganised way. Can anyone shed some light on these events please. And above all, if anyone feels they've put together the best possible folder, please give details of exactly what was used in terms of containing the pile of docs/photos etc without using a large ring-binder. Lastly, have members/applicants successfully insisted that ALL the documents presented must go forward to the embassy and therefore over-ruled the VFS clerk ?

Edited July 20, 2014 by crazydrummerpauly

[7by7]

I, or more accurately people I have sponsored, have never had any of the problems you have described.

I don't know exactly how applications are forwarded to the embassy from VFS, but I imagine it is in some sort of envelope and that ring binders would be too large to fit. I have always put supporting documents into simple card folders, each one labelled according to category, finances, communication, etc., and referenced in the supporting letter.

This has only ever been for visit visas as my wife and daughter applied for their settlement visas direct to the embassy before the current system.

Under the terms of their contract with UKVI, VFS staff may advise applicants that a document is not necessary but must send all documents submitted if the applicant so requests. Tell your applicant not to listen and to insist they send the application as submitted.

[crazydrummerpauly]

I, or more accurately people I have sponsored, have never had any of the problems you have described.

I don't know exactly how applications are forwarded to the embassy from VFS, but I imagine it is in some sort of envelope and that ring binders would be too large to fit. I have always put supporting documents into simple card folders, each one labelled according to category, finances, communication, etc., and referenced in the supporting letter.

This has only ever been for visit visas as my wife and daughter applied for their settlement visas direct to the embassy before the current system.

Under the terms of their contract with UKVI, VFS staff may advise applicants that a document is not necessary but must send all documents submitted if the applicant so requests. Tell your applicant not to listen and to insist they send the application as submitted.

Thanks 7x7 - the using of individual small folders for each section was the way my thinking was going - the only worry is that those individual folders might get separated from each other - hence the ring-binder. Sounds like a very large envelope to put them all in might be an idea. And your last paragraph is very helpful - it was how i was advising my applicant but i was worried that i might be giving bad advice. Thanks. Been with my Thai lady for over 5 years but she has never been out of S-East Asia in her life - hoping this October will be the first time ! (Just 3 weeks out of one of her teacher's two annual holidays)

[bobrussell]

My advice is to consider the poor ECO! He or she has to wade through reams of documents, some of which are of little or no importance to an application. They will be far more impressed by an application which makes it easy to get the important stuff!

We used thin, clear plastic A4 document wallets held together with treasury tags for the originals and a pile of loose photocopies at the back for them to retain if they wanted. The ring binder without the ring!

Lightweight, very cheap and makes each page easy to see!

It is your application so have the lot submitted but only after careful checking. Is it needed or not?