Introduction

UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the British High Commission are working with Gerry's International Pvt Ltd to deliver the UK visa application service in Pakistan.

Gerry's International operates the Visa Application Centres (VACs) on behalf of UKBA. Staff at the Visa Application Centres accept applications and forward them to the British High Commission for consideration.

Visa applications will be assessed by staff in the Visa Section of the British High Commission.  Neither Gerry's International nor any individual member of staff at the Visa Application Centre play any part in, and cannot influence the outcome of visa applications.

The British High Commission now offer 2, 5 and 10 year multiple entry visas to visitors who can demonstrate previous recent travel to the UK. Applicants who have previously travelled to the UK within the last 5 years and can show that they complied with the conditions of their previous visa should consider applying for a longer- term visa and should ensure that their application is fully documented.

The British High Commission is accepting visa applications from all categories except Working Holiday Makers.

Forms

Visa Application Forms may be downloaded at www.ukvacpk.com or obtained from Visa Application Centres. When downloading forms applicants should ensure that all pages are present.

Applications should be submitted in good time with required documentation. Suggested checklist of documents lists are available from Visa Application Centres.  Visa Application Forms must be signed and dated. Application forms for children under 18 years should be signed by a parent or guardian.

Note: Unsigned forms will not be accepted.

Photo sepecifications

Applicants should provide a recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old). It should be:

·         Taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background;

·         Clear and of good quality;

·         Printed on normal photographic paper;

·         Unmounted - 45 mm x 35 mm in size;

·         Full face (without sunglasses and normally without a hat or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of their religious belief or ethnic background).

·         Digital photographs will not be accepted.

Note: Photographs that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.

Documents

Originals of all supporting documents should be provided with a complete set of photocopies attached with the application form. All original documents will be returned.  All documents should be in English unless accompanied by a certified English translation. Applicants should ensure that documents from sponsors are also included with their applications. Original passports and National ID Cards (NIC) together with photocopies of each should be submitted with the application.

It is important that all applications are fully documented.  The majority of visa applications are decided without interview.  It is unlikely that your application will be successful if it is not properly documented.  Details of our documentary requirements can be found by visiting our website, contacting our call-centre of visiting a Visa Application Centre.

The application process

Applications can be made in 2 ways:

1.       Online Fast Track Submission - this option will save you time.

Visa4UK is UKBA's award winning online application facility. Applicants in many countries are now able to apply for a UK visa or entry clearance online using a secure internet connection. The new technology guides you through the visa application process step by step:

i. Log on to www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk
ii. Complete the online application process
iii. Attend a Visa Application Centre at your convenience to submit your application form and supporting documents, pay the visa fee and for Biometric enrolment through the Fast Track walk in submission service.

Notes: Payment for online applications is by Demand Draft. Cash will not be accepted. Online applications are valid for 7 days, after which a new form must be completed. Processing times for online applications are the same as standard applications.

Alternatively:

2.       Standard submission:

i. Complete a Visa Application Form (VAF).
ii. Pay the fee. There are three payment options:

By Demand Draft at designated bank branches (see below). This is the quickest and cheapest option. It is surcharge free and will reduce your submission time at the Visa Application Centre

By Demand Draft obtained from any bank made out to “British High Commission Islamabad”.  This option may incur a banking surcharge.

In cash at the bank counter at Visa Application Centres.  This option will incur a banking surcharge of Rs200.

iii. Visit a Visa Application Centre to submit a completed Visa Application Form and supporting documentation and for Biometric enrolment.

For both options applications will only be accepted at the Visa Application Centre if applicants:

·         present a signed, dated Visa Application Form (VAF);

·         provide the required photographs;

·         provide passports (or other travel documents where specified by UKBA):
- for all applicants travelling to the UK;
- which correspond to data in the VAF (name, passport number, expiry date);
- which have not expired;
- which have at least one page free in the visa pages for the insertion of a vignette,

·         pay the published visa fee; and,

·         consent to have their biometrics data recorded.

Visa Application Centre staff will check if the form has been properly completed. It is not necessary to employ the services of an agent and doing so can be counter-productive. Some agents are expensive, offer poor quality advice and claim to be in a position to influence Visa Officers' decisions. Such claims are not true and any person making them is not to be trusted.

The British High Commission checks the authenticity of all information given with applications and if fraud is detected, the application will be refused. Furthermore, any subsequent applications will be unlikely to succeed and fraudulent documents may be forwarded to the relevant local authorities for further investigation.

The handling fee for Commonwealth or Dependant Territories applies only to applicants seeking visas for other Commonwealth countries or Dependant Territories that do not have Diplomatic Missions issuing visas in Pakistan.

Processing times

The British High Commission, Islamabad aims to process all non settlement applications within 15 working days.

Some applications may require additional processing time if further enquiries need to be made.

The British High Commission aims to process settlement applications within 45 working days.  

Applicants are therefore advised to consider these timescales when lodging applications and not to make travel plans or purchase flight tickets until the application process is complete.

Applications are occasionally processed quicker and applicants should monitor the status of their application through our website or call centre tracking service.

Passport collection

Once an applicant has confirmed that their passport has been returned to Gerry’s s/he should  attend the VAC to collect their passport on Monday – Friday between the hours of 1400hrs and 1700hrs.

Visa Application Centres will return passports to applicants’ nominated third parties only on production of a letter of authorisation signed by the applicant and accompanied by the original receipt and NIC card as evidence of identity.
 

Children

Children under the age of 18 years must have their own passports. Visas for children will not be affixed to parent's or guardian's passports.

 
All children under the age of 18 applying to visit the United Kingdom must declare on their Visa Application Forms whether they are travelling alone or with an accompanying adult.  If travelling accompanied by an adult, their visa will be endorsed to that effect and will only be valid if the child travels with the named adult/s. Visas can be endorsed with the details of up to two accompanying adults.

Accompanied children must travel with the adult/s named on the visa or they will be denied boarding by the airline as they may be refused entry to the UK. If the details of the accompanying adult change a new visa must be obtained.

Unaccompanied children must provide a letter from their parents/guardians explaining why they are not travelling with them and with whom they will stay in the UK.

Both accompanied and unaccompanied children must satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that satisfactory arrangements have been made for their care while they are in the UK.

Biometric fingerscanning

Biometrics are an integral part of the UK's secure border control, helping to protect the UK against illegal immigration, crime, terrorism, and individuals against identity fraud.

Providing Biometric data became a legal requirement for all UK visa applicants under the provision of the Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) Regulation 2006, which came into force on 4th July 2006. With effect from 6 March 2007, the British High Commission introduced the capture of Biometric finger scans in Pakistan.

All visa applicants, over the age of 5 years, who do not qualify for exempt status, are required to attend in person to provide a ten-finger scan and a digital photograph as part of the UK visa application process.  The digital photography and electronic finger-scanning procedure is quick, discreet, straightforward and entirely safe.

Fingerscans will be collected from each applicant by using an electronic scanner. No ink, liquid or chemical will be used and the procedure will take no more than two minutes to complete.

All applicants should ensure that their fingertips are free from any forms of decoration (henna, for example), abrasions or other markings prior to attending the UK Visa Application Centres, as these may affect their ability to provide acceptable finger scans. Visa applications cannot be processed until applicants are able to provide acceptable finger scans.
 
Once finger scans have been taken the application will be processed and the decision notified via the Visa Application Centre.

Note: Applications will not be accepted from applicants who refuse to provide finger scans.

The Biometric data collected will be stored on a database in the UK and held strictly in accordance with United Kingdom legislation, including the Data Protection Act 1998.

TB Screening

From 6 March 2007, the British Government introduced TB Testing for all visa applicants submitting their application in Pakistan, intending to visit the UK for a period in excess of 6 months.

Before applying for entry to the UK, applicants will be required to visit a designated clinic (see below) to undergo TB testing. Once this test confirms that the applicant is clear of infectious TB, a certificate will be issued. Once the certificate is obtained, applicants may lodge their application at their nearest UK Visa Application Centre.

This programme is administered in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). To make an appointment at the nearest IOM clinic and for further information on TB Testing, applicants should call the UAN number listed below.

TB Certificates will be required for the following applicants:

·         Students and their dependants intending to stay for more than 6 months;

·         Work Permit holders and their dependants intending to stay longer than 6 months;

·         All dependants of persons settled in the UK applying for spouse/civil partner/ unmarried and same sex partner entry clearance and EEA Family Permit applications.

TB Certificates are not required by:

·         All visit and transit visa applications;

·         Short term students (less than 6 months)

·         Children under 11 years old

·         Returning residents

·         Diplomatic passport holders travelling to the UK on official business or for a posting;

·         Others who qualify for 'Exempt' status.

The designated clinics are:

UAN (for all clinics): (051) 111 466 472

Student applications

All applicants will be required to attend a Visa Application Centre for Biometric finger scanning and may also be required to attend the British High Commission for an interview at a later date. 

Student applicants are encouraged to consult the list of approved UK educational establishments published on the DFES web site. The list may be accessed at www.dfes.gov.uk. Students are expected to submit all relevant documentation with their application. This includes all detailed marks certificates, results intimation cards, consolidated marks certificates, transcripts and ATAS certificates as appropriate (for ATAS certificates see www.fco.gov.uk/atas.

Note: Without such documentation, applications will not be accepted.

Students who have missed their course start date are required to produce a letter from their chosen educational establishment certifying that they will be accepted onto the course later than the original start date of the course.

Additional guidance for those considering studying in the UK may be found at www.britishcouncil.org

Settlement applications

All applicants over the age of 5 years will be required to attend a Visa Application Centre for Biometric finger scanning and may also be required to attend the British High Commission for an interview at a later date.

Full documentary evidence in support of the application must be included at the time of application. Applications submitted with inadequate documents may be refused.

Afghan residents seeking to lodge UK settlement applications must do so in person at any Visa Application Centre in Pakistan. However, applicants may retain their passports for return travel to Afghanistan by providing the Visa Application Centre with a copy of all pages of their passport.

Afghan marriages in Afghanistan - For marriages, which take place in Afghanistan to be valid, the marriage must be registered with the Afghan court.  Evidence of this should be by a court stamp on the Iqrar Nama (Afghan equivalent of the Nikah Nama). Without this registration the marriage is not valid.

Afghan marriages in Pakistan - The Muslim Family Ordinance (1961) states that for a Muslim marriage to be valid in Pakistan, at least one of the parties must be Pakistani.  However the provisions are extended to non-Pakistani Muslims and the marriage must be registered with the Union Council in the district where the marriage took place.

Marriage books issued by the Afghan Embassy and Afghan Consulate do not validate a marriage under Pakistani law and therefore the marriage is not recognised as having been properly registered.

If the marriage has not been appropriately validated by either the Afghan Court or the Union Council then you should not apply.  You should then get the marriage validated.

Applicants should not approach the Visa Application Centre or British High Commission for the application to be expedited, as they will be unable to do so.

Direct Airsied Transit Visa Applications (DATV)

Evidence of confirmed bookings both in and out of the UK must accompany applications. Required by all Pakistani Nationals.

There are certain exemptions to this requirement. The following categories of traveller are not required to hold a DATV and may still benefit from the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) concession. Holders of:

·         a valid visa for entry to Canada or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of their journey from another country or territory to the country in respect of which the visa is held. Holders of first time immigrant papers to the US or Canada also qualify under this category as they are regarded as having a US or Canadian visa;

·         a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from Canada or the United States of America to another country or territory, provided that the transit passenger does not seek to transit the UK on a date more than 6 months from the date on which he last entered Canada or the US with a valid visa;

·         a valid US 1 – 551 permanent resident cards issued after 21 April 1998;

·         expired cards may be accepted if the passenger holds a letter (I – 797) issued by the Bureau of Citizenship authorising an extension;

·         a valid US Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration – Form 551;

·         a valid Canadian permanent resident cards issued on or after 28 June 2002;

·         a category “D” (all categories except visitors) visas issued by any European Union or EEA State with more than 3 months validity;

·         a valid common format European Union or EEA residence permits;

·         a diplomatic or service passport issued by the Peoples Republic of China;

·         a diplomatic or official passport issued by India;

·         a diplomatic or official passport issued by Vietnam;

Those travelling to Ireland via the United Kingdom require a full visit visa, not a DATV.

Further help and advice

Please visit the Visa Application Centre website at www.ukvacpk.com for further guidance & to download forms.

Alternatively contact the Call Centre:

PTCL land lines: 090010411
Mobiles short code: 8865

(Please note that these are premium numbers and you will be charged at the rate of PKR 10 per minute)

Feedback

If you want to provide feedback about the service provided either at the VAC or at the Visa Section, or about the behaviour of a member of our staff please write to either our Commercial Partner or direct to us.  If writing to us, please address your comments to;

Feedback

Deputy Director of Visa Services

British High Commission

Diplomatic Enclave

Ramna 5 Islamabad

All feedback (both positive and negative) is taken seriously and fully investigated. We aim to provide you with a written response to negative feedback within 20 working days. 

Alternatively you can email Visqry2@islamabad.fco.gov.uk

UK VISA APPLICATION CENTRES IN PAKISTAN

Gerry's International operates Visa Application Centres on behalf of the British High Commission at the following locations in Pakistan:

Opening Hours

Submission:
Mondays - Fridays: 0800hrs to 1300hrs

Collection:
Mondays - Fridays: 1400hrs to 1700hrs

Reporting fraud or illegal immigration

If you wish to report the following;

·         Visa fraud or abuse

·         Illegal immigration

·         Document forgery including passports, visas and other supporting documents

·         Or that you are being asked to pay extra for a visa to be processed

Please email rauisb@fco.gov.uk or write to

RAU

British High Commission,

Diplomatic Enclave,

Ramna 5,

Islamabad

Or telephone 051 201 2487

Please do not refer your enquiry to any other addressee or telephone number.