My first hand experience in applying for a U.K. tourist (C-Visit) visa
It wasn’t that easy but it was worth it!!!! Kaloka. Before we start, this post is meant to give tips for Filipino passport holders on how to get a U.K. tourist visa. I hope you find this guide useful and help you worry less 🙂 You can do it! 🙂
Hey, I made it!
UPDATED January 29 2019 (Originally shared May 2017)
Emotionally. Draining. – these 2 words is what I THOUGHT would describe a usual visa-processing experience. Carrying a Filipino passport, you need to apply in MOST of the countries you’d like to visit. It’s a harsh reality but we can’t change that – so let’s talk about how the process really goes.
Before anything else, I’d like to share that I have an intense visa-trauma (Yes!! Visa trauma exists!) because I have been rejected a few years ago when I applied for a visa to South Korea. I was heart broken when I picked up my passport and inside was a tiny piece of paper stating the reason of why I was denied. It was indeed the worst feeling ever so since that day, I’ve always trusted a travel agency (Hi Vangie of Globetrotters!) to handle and help me out but nothing beats preparation and familiarizing to do things on your own.
When my boyfriend Nick and I were planning our Eurotrip, I couldn’t help but think of what visa I needed. Nick’s family is based in London and I was sooo excited to meet them so I had to get to work and go get a standard U.K. Tourist visa.
Before applying, I only had my Australia and Japan visas – so I was so nervous. Coming from someone who is SCARED when it comes to applying for visas, getting one for the U.K. is actually fast and less stressful. Here is how to do it!
WHERE TO APPLY FOR A UK VISA?
To apply, you head over and create an account on the VFS Global website that can be found HERE. You fill out the application form section by section (if you have questions for your travel agency, you can SAVE your answers and go back to it). At the end, you choose a date for your VFS appointment and pay via credit card to finalize the transaction. It costs around 133USD.
Covent Garden
WHEN TO APPLY FOR A UK VISA?
The rule of thumb is actually applying 3 months BEFORE your intended date of departure to give allowance of ironing details and gathering additional documents. Our trip was end of Feb so Nick was reminding me to do it ASAP and I finally gathered courage (lol!) and started working on it last December.
WHILE APPLYING ONLINE, WHAT TO EXPECT?
You will need to state the details of your travel history for the past 10 years (as shown in your passport). You have to remember to BE HONEST and if needed, state the name and address of anyone paying for your trip or if you have a sponsor. As I mentioned, Nick’s family is based in London so his brother was kind enough to write me a “Letter of Invitation.” – plus Nick too! In that letter, you must include the name, address and passport number of the person inviting you from the UK. You should state that you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit.
in Covent Garden
Documents gathered (even BEFORE the online application)
- Original passport and expired passport
- Original authenticated birth certificate
- Two pcs. (2) pictures size 1.77×1.37 inches colored white background
- Original bank certificate
- Original bank statement for 6 months
- Original latest income tax
- If employed: Original certificate of employment, xerox copy of S.S.S. I.D. and company I.D.
- If self-employed: Original and xerox copy of Business Name, Mayors Permit and D.T.I.
- Printed out Application Form online
Other information you’ll need:
Exact dates you’re planning to travel to the UK, details of where you’ll be staying and how much you think the trip will cost.
Organizing my barcode seperators
*Also, prepare Php200 because you’ll need to buy a set of Barcode Seperators when you get to the VFS.
The UK embassy has a new procedure that they will no longer hold onto your documents (original AND photocopy). They will instead, scan it in an organised way with the us of these Barcode Seperators. It is your responsibility to seperate them already when it is your turn at the counter. All documents must be A4 size (although this flexible). Since they’ll be scanning all of your documents, do not staple them together.
Here are the categories:
Financial Evidence
Place your bank certs, third party investments, etc here
Employed Evidence
Consent Letters and Proof of Relationship
For kids, you bring your sponsor letter and in my case, I brought my marriage certificate. Naks!
Sponsor Evidence
If you have an invite letter, include the passport scan of the person who invited you.
Accommodation Permanent or Temporary
Place your hotel reservations or proof of accommodation here
Additional Documents
Itinerary, photocopy of passport with visas and stamps as well as your birth certificate.
Some that I didn’t use: Educational Evidence and Tuberculosis Certificate
Trafalgar Square
WHAT TO EXPECT on the day of your VFS appointment at VFS Global?
So at the end of your application, they make you choose a date of when you’ll bring in your requirements. On the day of your appointment, arrive 15 minutes early at the VFS Center. Bring your appointment letter and application pack, your passport and a second valid form of identification. I went and you’re apparently not allowed to bring a bag inside but they have a locker area for that for Php100. (Expensive, I know!)
Important note: You will not be able to submit further documents once your application has been submitted at the visa application centre. The documents that you submitted at the time you made your application will be the only documents that are considered. So submit everything!
ONCE YOU TURN IN YOUR APPLICATION FORM + REQUIREMENTS
They’ll call you for biometrics and get your fingerprints and photograph. Like a passport photo, your digital photograph must be taken with full face and should be clearly visible with no hair across the eyes. Although, this does not mean your visa has been granted. They’re just collecting your biometrics!
HOW TO COLLECT?
Once you’re done, you go back to the counter and choose whether you would prefer to collect your documents in person at the visa application centre or have them delivered to you by post. I picked a personal collection because I haaaate waiting!
With the grace of the Almighty, I went to the VFS and voila – it took 6 business days for my visa to arrive.
Hello, Landen! | My UK Tourist Visa
Enjoying London with my cheerleader, Nick Higson!
And we all lived happily ever after… for now. Thank you Nick for the much needed mental and emotional support when I was going through this entire process (He even physically went to the VFS with me and waited outside!) Now, all is well and you can do it too!:) For visa assistance or if you have any questions, comment down below or have it processed by Globetrotters Inc. Travel on Tours.
XO,
Style Cat
61 comments
Hello! Your blog is very helpful. Just a question, is your 6-day visa processing under the regular one, or did you avail of the premium service one? Most of the blogs I’ve read said it took 15 days for their visas to arrive. I’m quite nervous about that because the earliest appointment I got was this Thursday, June 29, and after that I have to apply for Schengen pa! I have booked a flight that leaves on July 31! Eeep!
hi tin, have u teceuved ur visa on time? it yook you how many days to received yours? because me and my father submitted our documents last august 1, and till now we are still waitingfor the outcome if our visa is granted. we are going to visit my only sibling, who lives in uk for almost 7 years. thanks…
ghie
Hello po maam i am a single mom. May boyfriend po ako sa UK.never pa po kami nagmeet kasi di sya pwede magtravel gusto niya ako at ang anak ko ang magpunta doon. Kaya lng d ko po makumplito ang requirements may bank account ako kasi nagsuggest sya na mag open account ako. Pero ang promblima ko po wala akong enough savings at wala akong business at hindi rin ako goverment employee isa lang po akong housekeeper. Maam ano po ba ang gagawin ko. Sana po magrepply po kayo.
Hello,
You need to open an account po para ma assure po ninyo ang mag babasa ng application ninyo na kaya ninyong mag travel doon with your own expenses, kc yun po ang kailangan ninyong patunanyan sa consul na kaya po kayo mag totour kc kaya ninyong mag travel, at ask your boyfriend status po sa uk if kaya naman po kayong sustain / accomodate sa uk with your kids, like exmaple if he owns the place kc kung nag rerent lang din po sya ng flat baka malabo pong ma approve. And kung ilang rooms meron po ang bahay para ma accomodate po nila yung famiky ninyo.
Hi Ms. Yuki!
Your blog was so helpful when I was applying for my UK visa so thank you very much! I just want to ask, when you got your visa after 6 working days, did you opt for the priority one or just the standard one? Thank you!
Hi! I would just like to ask if need pa po ba magpakita ng flight reservation? Thanks!
Hi Jelai, yes, kelangan mo mag submit ng return ticket. If you’d like to find out more information and on how to apply for a UK tourist visa, I did a video on it in my Youtube channel. You can watch it here – https://youtu.be/ZKaYMJVDWWA
Do i need a medical certificate for tourist visa?
Yes if you are staying for 6 months
Hello, I would like to ask when is the soonest my mom can re-apply for tourist visa, coz her visa will expires on march 2018 and need to reapply for another two year visa coz she needs to be here by end of March? Is that possible if we apply it even if the visa is still not expires yet?
Thanks so much
Hi Mam,
Just a quick question, Pilipino ako. I am working legally here in Thailand. Ngayon, plano ko sana mag-travel sa UK for 2 weeks then after that sa Philippines for 2 weeks. Meron akong tita na gusto bisitahin sa UK for 3 reasons: pag-usapan namin kung anu plano nya sa mga bahay nya sa pinas na hindi na nila tinitirahan, pangalawa kasi matanda na sya at pangatlo makapaglibot din sa UK. Sponsor nila ako. I can say financially, wala akong magiging problem sa pag-visit at rooted ako sa employer ko dito sa Thailand. Do you think valid yung reasons ko para maging tourist?
Lastly, may mga travel history ako sa Cambodia na 1 day lang tapos Thailand ulit. I admit, I want to be honest to you mam, those were the months na tourist status ko while my girlfriend is supporting me here in Thailand until I have a legal job.
Please note, I will not there to find work since rooted ako sa employer ko dito sa Thailand.
Please help. Thank you
Hi ma’am,
I have a question,ano po kaya dapat kunin ko na visa kac po I was married before but Hindi pa kami annul ng asawa ko and I have a relationship with a guy na nasa England now at gusto nya visit daw ako doon.eh ano kaya ang gagawin ko,I have a passport but I never tried to travel outside the Philippines. Sana po you can help me.Godbless and more power
Tourist Visa
Hello Ma’am,
Ask ko lang kung need pa ba talaga ng flight reservation since sa bagong online application na GOV.UK wala nakasaad na flight reservation? Thank you po.
Yes you need flight reservation
Guys ask ko lng kung sino dito same n nahihirapan magbayad online ng application nila? Pahelp naman palagi narerefuse cards ko i used debit cards and credit card na ayaw pa rin and its really frustrating na. thanks
Sa akin wala naman problema. I use debit card.
Received an email today. The decision has been made. I am so nervous because it only took 6days for them to make the decision. Now I am waiting if visa granted.
Hi Ms. Cat ask ko lang po, magkano po everything more or less ang nagastos nyo since my nag invite po sa inyo from uk?..please reply.
Hi! The cost of my visa application is almost 15K. I paid $210 for my visa fee including the user pay fee. Kahit may nag invite nag provide pa rin ako financial documents showing I can support myself.
Almost 15K kasi include ko na yung supporting documents ko
Hello miss cat, can i ask your messenger? I badly needed your help on how i can process a UK VISA. I have a boyfriend in England and he told me to visit him in his place.
I dont have bank statement po
I dont have bank certificate also
I dont have business permit also
What i have here is an old passprt when i was in Japan for 3 years and new passport when i was in Greece for 1 year.
Do you have any agency here in cebu that can assist me on how to process a UK visa?
Please send me message in my messenger or in my
Number 09292480190
Messenger- Jimenez Mariza
Please message me because i dont know if i can read your reply here
Hi mariza is Miss Cat helped you?
Hi! I’m sorry I just read your comment just now. You need bank statements even if someone will sponsor you. If you are employed just include your pay slip/ tax returns and certificate showing that you are employed in the company. You don’t need a travel agent to help you in processing a tourist visa. Just go directly to GOV.UK, sign up there and create your application. For cebu submission of application use this link visa4uk.com. You can use credit card/debit card to pay.
how much po dapat laman ng bank account? Im planning to stay for 2 weeks only, RT tix and accommodation sponsor po n bf. huhu pls rep po
depende kasi may sponsor ka naman. yung kaibigan ko many times na sya balik ng balik sa UK. Sponsor din bf nya. 100k show money nya then 6months sya dun. Pensioner na din bf nya dun.
kailangan mo kasi ipakita sa kanila na you can support yourself kahit may sponsor ka.
Miss Cat please help me also. . My British Bf wants to sponsored me, i dont bank account, no bank statement, no business
You need bank account as a proof that you are financially able to support yourself. If you are employed include your payslip, tax returns, certificate that you are working in the company, land titles, car.
It means if don’t have that all i can’t go to UK.. What if my british bf will sponsor me?
Hi Ms. Yuki,
I love your blog. It’s so helpful! However, do you have to inlclude the invitation letter and sponsor’s details when you submit all the requirements? Thanks a lot!!
Yes you need to include sponsor details that he can support you financially and proof of relationship
I applied for France visa but denied just yesterday. (Npakaswerte mo naman, nakakainggit ka!) and Now I’m preparing for my appeal letter. Does it make sense ba? is there a chance na magka visa ako? kumpleto documents ko including travel permit from the gov’t. and with the cover letter of my friend. Yun lang maliit lang ang bank statement ko. More or less magkano ba dapat? My supposed flight would be this Aug. 20 hindi ko alam kung aabot pa ba. I hope you can help me. Thanks! (P.S. May I know your fb account? Marami pa kong dapat tanungin e.Thanks again! God bless!
france visa ba or schengen visa? ang alam ko kasi pag europe schengen visa yun. Appeal will not guarantee your visa will be approved pero subukan mo malay natin ma approve na yan. Yung iba kumuha pa nang abogado but di parin guarantee kung ma approve depende kasi yan sa understanding ng embassy sa paperwork mo.
Hi miss cat. My step mom will sponsor my visit. Do i still need to provide bank statements even maliit lang makikita don. But employed ako kaso minimum wage lang kasi. Thankz
yep you still need to provide bank statements both you and your step mom. Also you need to attached proof of relationship and paperwork showing you are employed. madali lang ang tourist visa pag may relatives doon.
Sad to say my sister was refused just because she doesnt have bank statement since they are paid in cash..
How can we provide evidence to show her financial status?
Her certificate of employment is not enough according to them..
We submitted payslip as well.. they want to see her income deposited, the expenses.. how to provide when they are just paid in cash
In applying a UK Visa Bank statement is a must and it should be at least 6months before mag apply nang visa. Mag savings nalang po sana sya. Strict talaga ang UK.
Hello, I would love some advice on this. I am sponsoring my filipino boyfriend (LGBT relationship) to come and visit me in the United Kingdom. I have been pulling my hair out for months trying to work out exactly what we need.
My boyfriend has rented an apartment in the philippines and has worked full time at a supermarket but is coming to the end of his contract, but has secured a written job offer for his return from the store manager. We have been pressuring our landlady for a contract for his philippines apartment and are finally getting one, we can also provide proof i helped him furnish said apartment.
I am paying all expenses for his trip (no way you could do that on a supermarket salary in the Philippines as he does not have much money)! from savings and my income, which is UK Social Security carers allowance. My boyfriend is not savvy when it comes to this kind of process (we are aware he needs to do the CFO certificate seminar before leaving for example)
I have prepared the following documents for him as the sponsor: my bank statements, trip budget, an invitation/covering letter from myself, letters from friends and family supporting his visit and declaring their intentions to meet him when he is here, a letter from my landlord authorising his stay at my address on the dates provided, a copy of my savings account, UK social security income letters, affidavit of support notarised by the philippines embassy (this is more for the Philippine immigration at exit but im including it in the visa application anyway). I am arriving in the phils on october 2 on a return ticket, me and him plan to leave the philippines together, and return to the Philippines together. I am unsure if he needs any other documents, he has no BIR documents as his employer takes care of that, we can get NBI clearance if that is needed?
Is there anything else we need that I am missing to bring him here on holiday?
Thanks a ton!
Hi Ms. Cat, I would like to know if upon application of the UK Tourist Visa, super REQUIRED na ba already to present and submit to them that I’ve already paid and booked for my “flight ticket?” ..I was thinking kasi, baka madeny lang ako (wag naman sana..) then I bought my tickets na edi sayang naman, that’s a lot of money. So need na po ba talaga na may Plane tickets na ako going there po? 🙂
And that, I would just want to apply for a UK tourist visa and then months after ko pa plan umalis, sana to visit my aunt and friends living and working there in London. I currently and only have my US and Japan visa naman sa ngayon. So do you think it would be an advantage for me? 🙂
Thank you Ms. Cat..
Your Response will be Highly Appreciated.
~Anne
Ngayon ko lang eto nabasa nakapag apply kana ba visa? Advantage talaga pag may plane ticket kana for UK for hindi naman sya required at hindi rin guarantee na ma approve yung application mo. Pwede ka naman magpa book nang ticket at i cancel if ever hindi ma approve. May nabasa kasi ako 3K ata bayad.
Hey! Thank you so much for this really helpful blog. I am in the process of helping my Filipino boyfriend get his visa – finding it very stressful.. My dad will be his sponsor in the UK and we have all the documents to prove this (bank statements etc). My boyfriend has employment certificate and a rental agreement for his apartment. The thing he doesn’t have is a tax number and he has been paid in cash. Will this go against him even though he isn’t the one paying for the trip, My dad is?
Many thanks!
Hi Genevieve
What happened to your bf visa? What did you provide in lieu of bank statement?
My sister has the same situation, paid in cash
Sad to say my boyfriends visa was rejected. Said they didn’t understand the purpose of his visit to the UK 🙁 seemed really unfair
Hi there,
do we really need to submit an approved Leave letter from our company? Is that really required?
Hi. I have an appointment w vfs next week. Got an email from UK visa website that I paid already, appointment set and all. My question is, do I need to register also online w vfs website? When I got the confirmation email about my payment there were some things I needed to do like download the document checklist then there was another option of registering vfs. Do I still need to register?
Hi. I have an appointment w vfs makati next week. I applied online via the UK visa website. I got the confirmation email the I paid already and when my appointment is. In the email it states what else I need to do like print out the confirmation email and the documentation checklist. There was also an option to register w vfs for their services. Do I need to register w vfs too?
paanu ka nag apply ng appointment sa vfs?
Hi Ms. Cat,
Ilang days bago ka nkareceived ng txt message regarding update ng uk visa application mo? thank you.
Hi po ms. Cath, I have a question po regarding sa employment. Self-employed po kase ako and online shoppe po siya. Wala po akong mapepresent na mga paper’s, what should I do po kaya? Thanks po 😊
If you’re self-employed, you should file for your taxes on BIR. Your BIR form can be used for the submission as a financial evidence. If you don’t have an ITR, bank certificates should be fine.
Thank you po for answering Ms. Cath ☺️💕
Hello ms cath!i received a txt from vfs that the decision has been made regarding my application…I was wondering when will they deliver the passport since I chose to have it deliver.thanks much
Hi Ayla.
How long did you wait for the courier to arrive?
HI. what if po unemployed nako. kaka resign ko lang nung march sa work ko sa Taiwan. I don’t have bank account but may mga payslips ako. pwede bang yung ang i submit?pls reply asap
Hi pwde ba ako mag apply ng tourist visa kahit walang travel history? may work naman ako at may bank account din
Hi saan po naka address yung bank statement and bank certificate niyo?
Hi Cat,
I would like to ask if you mentioned your boyfriend at any stage in your application or even during your arrival in London at immigration? I was wondering if it would affect the application if you mentioned that you’re visiting your boyfriend as it would seem to immigration that you have no plans of coming back?
Thank you!
Hi Ms. Cat, I hope you could be me any idea about my case.
I had my tourist visa application rejected for the reason that i did not provide pay receipts or personal bank statements. Which was very confusing kasi i submitted everything..i am a self-employed individual i submitted all my docs including personal bank statements (pero parang na overlooked nila kaya yun ang nakalagay sa reason of refusal) i also provided itr, business reg. and even business bank statement i guess di ko na need mag provide ng pay receipts or pay slip kasi nga self-employed ako it is clear naman sa mga list of documents. after 2 weeks naka receive ulit ako ng refusal letter through email but it says AMENDED LETTER its written in the letter the reason of refusal was because they were still not satisfied that i am earning although i have provided business docs and BANK STATEMENTS-so i assume na nakita na nila yung bank statements ko na kin claim nila na di ko sinubmit before..hindi lang nila kaya i admit na they made a mistake before. anyhow, for the amended letter they were still asking for proof of earning ano na kaya ang pede ko provide sa kanila, nasa kanila na lahat sinubmit ko din yung bank statements ng business kasi doon naman nakikita yung transaction na may pumapasok ako na income..huhu pls idea lang po.
Hi Cat! Nakatulong tlga ang mga info dito sa blog mo. I applied for a single entry tourist visa, but the embassy approved multiple entry! 🎉🎉 Cant wait to see London!
Hello Joyde, tanong ko lang po may one on one interview pa po ba with a british consular officer same as sa US or wala? submission of papers and documents lang? Thanks po for your response. GBY
Comments are closed.