I should have posted about this topic immediately after I
applied for my UK tourist visa. It has actually been a few years now since I
have done so and my memory of it is not as clear anymore. Anyhow, I will still try
to recall the process I went through to hopefully help others and to serve as
reference the next time I apply for the same visa again.
The very first time I applied for a UK tourist visa was in
November 2010 in the Philippines. I was denied a visa that time because the
embassy said that I did not provide enough financial documents to prove that I
will be able to support my visit to the UK. The purpose of my visit was to meet
my then-fiancé’s family (he is now my husband).
Being married at this time for four years, I applied again
in 2016. For this application, we made sure to supply all the financial documents needed,
both from our side and his family’s side (since I mentioned that part of my
travel expenses will be shouldered by his family). My mother-in-law also
provided a handwritten letter stating that she was inviting us to stay with
her. Since I was already living in Korea, I had to apply at the VFS Global in
Seoul.
I first completed the application form online and then paid the
visa fee which cost $111 (good for a 6 month stay) in October 2016. Afterwards,
I scheduled a visit to VFS Global and went to Seoul on the appointed date. I
brought my husband with me for this appointment. We decided to stay overnight
since I think I scheduled the appointment time at 8:30 in the morning. I think applicants
are only allowed in 15 minutes before the scheduled time. A guard posted near
the door checked my belongings. Any electronic items (e.g. phone, tablets, MP3
players) were not allowed to be brought inside. I left those things with my
husband and he waited outside while I finish the process. I think I was given a
number to wait my turn.
When my number was called, I approached the desk and the
lady went through my supporting documents and double-checked it against a
checklist (which was provided with your application). I remember including a
photocopy of each supporting document just in case. She returned some of them
if she only needed the original or if the photocopy will suffice. I cannot
recall now if she asked me or if I informed her about the additional services I
wanted. I applied for SMS service (for 2,900 won so I can track the status of
my application) and the option of having my passport delivered (for 18,400 won)
since it was more expensive to go back to Seoul to personally receive it.
After the documents were checked, biometrics information
(photograph and fingerprints) were taken. Overall, I think the whole process
took around 30-40 minutes. I do not remember it being that long probably
because it was early and there was not a lot of people there. I got my passport
back through the mail three weeks later.
The second time I applied was in April 2018 with the visa
fee costing $138. I think the process was more or less the same as the first
time. One difference that I noticed this time around was that the guard was not
as strict as before. I was able to bring my electronics in as long as it was
turned-off or in silent mode. I was alone this time and so chose an appointment
time in the afternoon. I remember arriving quite early for my 1 PM appointment but
was allowed to come in at 12:35 or 12:40 PM. This time I received my passport with
the visa attached only 10 days after my application.
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