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UK Visa Appointment

TeamAckoMar 5, 2024

The United Kingdom is one of the most important destinations on the globe. Business, jobs, education and tourism are among the key attractions for visitors. Irrespective of the purpose of your visit, you would need a visa to enter the UK. There are different visas you can get, depending on the purpose of your visit.

However, to complete your visa application process and get successful approval, you first need to attend an interview held by the visa authorities. For this, you first need to book an appointment for a UK visa and get yourself verified.

Let us dive deeper into this article to learn the key details about booking a UK visa appointment.

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Contents

What is the Purpose of the UK Visa Appointment?
What are the Documents Required for UK Visa Appointment?
How to Schedule a UK Visa Appointment?
Can I Reschedule My UK Visa Appointment?
Which are the Locations Available in India for UK Visa Appointment?
Final Words
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Purpose of the UK Visa Appointment?

A UK visa appointment will help you get the visa that suits your needs. The UK offers different visas depending on the duration of the stay and the purpose of the visit.

Specifically, the UK visa appointment is necessary to submit your biometrics and photograph to verify your identity.

Explore More: Travel Insurance for UK

What are the Documents Required for UK Visa Appointment?

The necessary documents for UK visa slot booking will depend on the type of visa you seek. Here are the required documents for different visas.

Skilled Worker Visa

A skilled worker will need the following documents for UK visa appointment booking.

A valid passport that proves your nationality. It should also have a blank page.
The reference number on your certificate of sponsorship. Your employer should give it to you. Otherwise, you’ll have to ask for it.
Name of your employer and their sponsor licence number. This information will be visible on the certificate of sponsorship.
Proof of English skills

You must prove that you can read, write, speak and understand English at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

The following can serve as proof of having sufficient English skills.

Clearing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) conducted by an approved provider
GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English.
A degree that was taught in English. If the degree was achieved abroad, then you’ll have to apply via Ecctis (previously UK NARIC) to prove that your qualification equals a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD.
Job description and annual salary
Job’s occupation code
Financial statements that prove that you can afford the expenses in the UK. Usually, you’ll have to prove that you have at least Rs. 1,34,983 when you arrive in the UK. This should suffice for a month.

You may not need to submit your financial statements if your certificate of sponsorship proves your financial merit.

If your partner or children are applying with you, you’ll have to show proof of your relationship with them.
TB test results.
Your employer could ask you to prepare an ATAS certificate if your job requires researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher.
A criminal record certificate if you work in sectors such as education, healthcare, therapy, and social services.
You must provide a certificate from each country you have ever lived in. This requirement can be further broken down into two segments.
If you’re 28 or older, you’ll need a certificate from any country you’ve stayed in over the last 10 years.
In case you are over the age of 28, you’ll have to show a certificate from every country you’ve resided in during the last 10 years.

Health and Care Worker Visa

The following documents would be required for a UK visa schedule appointment for a Health and Care Worker visa.

A valid passport with a blank page.
The reference number that is provided on your certificate of sponsorship. You’ll have to ask for it from your employer if you don’t have it.
Name of your employer and their sponsor licence number. This information should be provided on the certificate of sponsorship.
Proof of English skills
Job description and annual salary
Job’s occupation code
Financial statements that prove you’ll have at least Rs. 1,34,983 when you arrive in the UK. You must have had this amount available with you for 28 days consecutively. Day 28 must be during 31 days of applying for the visa.
Proof of relationship with children and partner. This is required only if they are applying with you.
TB test results.
Criminal record certificate. You won’t need it if you are a biological scientist, biochemist, or physical scientist.

India Young Professionals Scheme Visa

The following documents would be necessary for UK visa appointment confirmation.

A valid passport with a blank page.
Your bank statements should show that you have at least Rs. 2,69,930 in your bank account.
Educational qualifications
TB test results.
A report from the police as a clearance certificate.
A certified translation of documents which are not in English or Welsh.

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

The following documents will be necessary for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

A valid passport with a blank page.
Financial statements showing you have at least Rs. 2,69,930 in savings.
TB test results.

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)

Here are the documents you would need for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa.

Valid passport as proof of your nationality. It must have a blank page.
The reference number on your certificate of sponsorship. Your employer is responsible for providing this. Otherwise, you can ask for it.
Name of your employer and their sponsor licence number. This information will be visible on the certificate of sponsorship.
Proof of English skills
Job description and annual salary
Occupation code for your job.
Financial statements that show you can afford the expenses in the UK. You should at least have Rs. 1,34,983 when you arrive in the UK. You’ll also have to pay Rs. 66,581 as a health surcharge per year.
If your partner or children are also applying, you’ll have to show proof of your relationship with them.
TB test results.
You may have to prove that you have worked for your employer outside of the UK.
In case you earn less than Rs. 78,84,497 per year, you’ll have to show that you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK for a minimum of 12 months.

Standard Visitor Visa

You must submit the following documents for a UK visit visa appointment booking.

A valid passport with a blank page.
Flight details, including date of arrival and departure.
Details of the places where you will stay in the UK.
Financial statements to prove that you can afford the expenses in the UK.
Criminal clearance certificate.
Translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh. It should include the date of the translation as well as the translator’s name and signature.
You may also have to submit documents that show the purpose of your visit to the UK.
Children under 18 will also have to provide a birth certificate.
Your parents should provide a signed letter approving your travel plans.
TB test results.

Student Visa

These are the necessary documents for a student visa.

Passport with a blank page.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the course provider.
You must prove that you can afford the expenses in the UK and pay for your course.
Proof of consent from parents if you are under the age of 18.
You will have to prove your relationship with your parents if you are below the age of 18.
TB test results.

Innovator Founder Visa

You will have to submit the following documents for an Innovator Founder visa.

Passport with a blank page.
Financial statements to show that you have at least Rs. 1,34,983 as savings.
Proof of English language skills.
TB test results

Photograph Requirements for UK Visa Appointment

The official website of the UK government provides the following specifications for the photograph you submit.

Photograph must have been taken in the previous month.
Dimensions of the photo should be 45 mm x 35 mm.
Height of your image in the photo should be between 29 mm to 34 mm.
Photo must be printed on white photographic paper, and it should have no creases or tears.
The photo must not have been edited.
It must be a close-up of your head and shoulders.
The photo should have a white background.
You should not have a ‘red eye’.
In the photo, you should have a neutral expression, and your mouth should be closed.
You should look straight into the camera.
No hair should be in front of your eyes.
In the photo, you should not have a head covering unless it is for religious or medical reasons.
Nothing should cover your face.
There should be no shadow on your face.
Avoid wearing glasses if you can. Even if you wear glasses, they can’t be sunglasses or tinted glasses. You have to ensure that the frame, any glare, or reflection does not obscure your eyes.

Photos Of Babies and Children

No one should be with the children in the photograph. They must be alone.
Babies should not be holding toys, dummies, etc.
Children under six need to look directly into the camera. They don’t need to have a neutral expression.
Children below the age of one need not have their eyes open. You can hold their head with your hand, but your hand should not be seen in the photograph.

How to Schedule a UK Visa Appointment?

To schedule your UK visa appointment, you must fill out the online application form and make the payment at the official website. Here are the steps to go through the available UK visa appointment dates.

Step 1: Book an appointment at your nearest visa application centre.

Step 2: Submit the scanned copy of your documents and your biometrics.

Step 3: You should receive an email with an update on your application status in 3 weeks.

Can I Reschedule My UK Visa Appointment?

You can reschedule your UK visa interview time up to 24 hours before the scheduled date. You will have to go to the official website to reschedule your appointment.

Which are the Locations Available in India for UK Visa Appointment?

There are several visa application centres in India where you can check for the availability of UK visa biometric appointments. Here are the locations and timings for the appointment.

Location	Days	Timings
Ahmedabad	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Bengaluru	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Chandigarh	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Chennai	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Cochin	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Coimbatore	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 14:00
Goa	Saturday	09:00 - 17:30
Gurgaon	Wednesday	09:00 - 16:00
Hyderabad	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Jaipur	Friday-Saturday	09:00 - 16:00
Jalandhar	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Kolkata	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Lucknow	Tuesday	10:00 - 16:00
Mumbai North	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Mumbai South	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
New Delhi	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Park Plaza Ludhiana	Wednesday	10:00 – 16:00
Pune	Monday - Friday	08:00 - 16:00
Radisson Blu Amritsar	Thursday	10:00 - 16:00
Radisson Blu Guwahati	Friday	10:00 - 16:00
Radisson Noida	Monday	09:00 - 16:00
Radisson Red Mohali	Thursday	09:00 – 16:00

Final Words

You can prepare to go to the UK when you have all the information about how to apply for a visa. The UK visa appointment is one of the most important steps when going to the UK. In this blog, we have covered all the important details about the documents you will have to submit for a visa, as well as how to book an appointment to submit your biometrics.

As a friendly piece of advice, we would recommend that you buy travel insurance before your UK trip. Financial risks are best avoided when you are on foreign soil. So for your peace of mind and financial security, we recommend you buy travel insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the UK visa appointment.

How long does it take to process a UK visa application?

Usually, it takes about three weeks.

Where should I pay my visa application fees?

You can pay the visa application fee on the official portal for the UK visa application.

Can I reschedule my UK visa appointment?

Yes, you can reschedule your UK visa appointment up to 24 hours before your appointment date.

What are the types of visas the UK offers?

Some of the important visas offered by the UK are

Skilled Worker visa
India Young Professionals Scheme visa
Senior or Specialist Worker visa
Youth Mobility Scheme visa
Health and Care Worker visa
Standard Visitor visa
Student visa
Innovator Founder visa

How to expedite the processing of my application?

You can opt for priority visa service on the official portal of the visa application centre. You should do it at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment date.