Uk Visas Immigration
You are advised not to book any travel before you apply or before a decision is made on your application. Youll only be refunded if we have not started processing your application.
When your applications waiting time starts and ends
The waiting time starts once youve submitted your application online and ends when you get a letter or an email with a decision.
As part of the application process, youll need to either:
- book and attend your appointment to submit your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre, Service and Support Centre (SSC) or Post Office (if applicable)
- verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. Well tell you if you can use this
You can stay in the UK until youve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.
Switch to or extend a Student visa
You should usually get a decision within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend a Student or Child Student visa.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - youll be told if you can when you apply.
Switch to or extend a family visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend as a:
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Extend a relative wholl provide long-term care visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend as a relative wholl provide long-term care.
Extend a Parent of a Child Student visa
You should usually get a decision within 8 weeks once youve applied online and youre applying to extend a Parent of a Child Student visa.
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Switch to or extend a work visa
You usually should get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend or switch to any of the following work visas:
- Global Talent
- Innovator
- Intra-company
- Skilled worker
- Entrepreneur
- Investor
- Minister of Religion
- Sportsperson
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Switch to a Start-up visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once youve applied online to switch to a Start-up visa.
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Extend a Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa
You should get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend a Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa.
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Extend a Representative of an Overseas Business visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend a Representative of an Overseas Business visa.
Switch to or extend a Health and Care Worker visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend a Health and Care Worker visa.
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Switch to or extend a Temporary Worker visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to switch to or extend in any of the following temporary work visas:
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Extend a Charity Worker visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend a Charity Worker visa.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - youll be told if you can when you apply.
Extend a Religious Worker visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend a Religious Worker visa.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - youll be told if you can when you apply.
Extend a Standard Visitor visa
You should usually get a decision within 8 weeks once once youve applied online to extend a visitor visa as a:
- a patient receiving medical treatment
- an academic and you still meet the eligibility requirements
- a graduate doing a clinical attachment or retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Commonwealth citizens
Extend an Ancestry visa
You should usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks once youve applied online to extend a UK Ancestry visa.
When you apply, youll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision.
Windrush Scheme
If youre applying under the Windrush Scheme read the guidance and the latest correspondence on the work of the Home Office in relatio