General Visitors
This visa is for people who are at least 18 years old and only want to visit the UK for up to six months. It is possible for a general visitor to visit for up to 12 months, if accompanying an academic visitor. You must be able to support yourself in the UK without working, and intend to leave at the end of your visit. A general visitor is not permitted to work, sell goods directly to the public, undertake a course of study, marry, engage in business or practice as a sports person or entertainer. General visitors are not permitted to receive private treatment.
Child Visitors
To qualify for a child visitors visa you must be under 18, intend to visit for a maximum of six months (twelve months if accompanying an academic visitor), and adequate arrangements must have been made for your care in the UK. Your parent or guardian in your home country will need to consent to your travel, and show proof of the arrangements that have been made with your proposed carer in the UK. If accepted on a course of study you will need to show that the education provider is duly registered as a Tier 4 sponsor or otherwise officially recognised/accredited.
Business Visitors
This visa allows you to visit the UK for up to six months for specific business purposes which include attending meetings, pre-arranged interviews, conferences, arranging deals and negotiations. You are not allowed to charge members of the public directly for goods and services while travelling on a business visit visa. More details about this category can be obtained from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website.
Sports Visitor
To visit the UK as a professional or amateur sports person, you must meet the usual requirements for a visit - the ability to maintain yourself without working or taking public funds (benefits), maximum stay of six months with the intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit. Specifically, the purpose of your trip must be to participate in a sporting event, tournament or series of events, or to assist participants as a member of support staff. This visa is also valid for a sports person to engage in promotional activities such as personal appearances. Again, more detail can be found on the UKBA site, link above.
Entertainer Visitors
As usual, the maximum allowed visit is 6 months at a time. This visa will allow you to take part as a professional in music competitions, or to fulfil specific engagements as an amateur in entertainer. As a professional, you can use this visa to take part in specific permit-free cultural events.
Private Medical Treatment
In addition to the usual visiting visa requirements, you will need to demonstrate that the course of your treatment is for a limited time, you have made the necessary arrangements for the treatment you need, you have enough money to pay for the treatment without recourse to public funds (e.g. benefits, NHS), and that you plan to leave the UK at the end of your treatment.
Marriage and Civil Partnership
The usual visiting visa rules apply (see General visas above). In addition, you will need to show that you intend to give notice of marriage or civil partnership, or actually get married or form a civil partnership while you are in the UK. You will be expected to leave the UK after your visit is over.
This is a brief overview of the main UK visit visa categories. The information is given to you free of charge in good faith and without liability to the writer. Nothing in this post or on this blog is intended to be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice. If you have further questions you are advised to seek advice from a duly accredited immigration adviser or lawyer.
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