How can I apply for a UK visa?
To apply for a UK visa, you need to meet the financial requirements, even if someone is inviting you and covering your travel costs. You need to be employed and your salary needs to be paid into a bank account. You should also have savings in line with your income.
How long does the visa process take?
Depending on the type of visa, the process takes 3-4 weeks from the date you give your fingerprints. Fingerprint appointments are 5 days after the online application is submitted.
How much does the UK visa process cost?
The official visa fees are published on the UK government’s official website and differ according to the length of the visa. The visa fee is paid by the applicant using his or her own card. The official fees are: 6-month visa – 250 euros, 2-year visa – 671 euros, 5-year visa – 1130 euros, 10-year visa – 1400 euros. Our office’s service fee depends on the case, the volume of documents and the type of visa, and is set after an initial meeting during the consultation.
Can I apply for a UK visa if I live and work outside Albania?
Yes, you can apply from the country where you live and work if you hold a residence permit there. The process is online and is handled entirely by our office once you send us your documents, and you can give your fingerprints in the country where you live and work.
Should I apply on my own or together with my family? Which is better?
Every application is assessed on your personal and financial circumstances, and applying together with your family is not a deciding factor in whether the visa is granted or refused.
How long can I stay in the UK if I have a visa?
A visitor visa allows you to travel to visit your family members, for tourism or for medical reasons. It is important to keep to the length of stay you declared in your application. Although the permitted length of stay is set by the visa, if you stay longer, or appear to be living in the UK for long periods during the validity of the visa, your next application may not be successful, because the Immigration Officer may argue that you are spending more time in the UK and may call into question the real reasons for your travel.
I am employed and pay social insurance. What are my chances of getting a visa?
Regular employment and paying social insurance contributions are not the main criteria for a successful application. In principle, the decision is based on your monthly income and how sufficient it is, your ties to Albania, and your wider financial and family circumstances.
If I have a sponsor in the UK, how easy is it to get a visa?
Even if you have a sponsor (guarantor) in the UK who can cover your travel and accommodation costs in the UK, the deciding factor is your personal circumstances. You need to be employed or self-employed, and you need to show that your personal situation is favourable and suitable and does not make you an immigration risk to Great Britain. In addition, you need to provide evidence of your connection with your sponsor and that you have met, or, if you are related, show the nature of your relationship through family certificates.
I have a business in Albania and I am the sole owner. Can I apply using only the business bank account?
Although the source of your income and the related documents are very important in showing your financial circumstances, not having personal bank accounts may result in your application being refused, because the Immigration Officer needs to be satisfied that you have funds available that you can access as an individual and not as a business.
Is it easier to get a UK visa if you have a US visa?
A UK visa application stands on its own and is based on your own supporting documents, so a US visa does not affect it directly. However, it certainly forms part of your positive profile in this case.
