A visa rejection can be confusing and upsetting. What’s more, it can be difficult to know what you should do next.
While there is no checklist that guarantees visa acceptance, making sure your application meets Home Office requirements and that you provide all the relevant supporting documentation is the best way to present a strong case for your application.
Top 6 reasons for UK visa refusals
If you’re thinking of applying for a UK visa, it’s good to know the most common reasons why visas are refused, so you don’t make the same mistakes.
So, to help you, we’ve put together the top 6 reasons a visa application might be rejected.
It’s not clear why you want to come to the UK
When you apply for a visa, you’ll likely need to explain why you want to come to the UK, how you plan to support yourself financially and where you will stay. But if the supporting documents and information on your application don't add up, it can be a problem.
For example, if you say you’re a teacher but you don’t provide the right qualifications to be a teacher in the UK, that might lead to your application being denied.
Your visa application and supporting documents must make it clear why you want to come to the UK and what you propose to do while you’re here. You must also be consistent with the reasons you give. If you keep changing your reasons why you want to come to the UK, that can also lead to a visa refusal.
Fake documents, misleading or missing information
If someone tries to use fake documents or misleading information as part of their application, it usually ends in a big “no”, and in some cases a ten-year ban on re-entry to the UK. This applies even if a person isn’t aware a document is false.
Similarly, if you don’t tell the Home Office about previous convictions or problems with immigration on purpose or by accident (no matter how small or how long ago), then a visa application could be rejected.
If it is decided that a person has tried to deceive the Home Office in their application, that will result in an automatic refusal.
Incorrect document formats
When you apply for a visa, it’s not enough to send all your papers in one big stack and hope for the best. Instead, you should make sure that your supporting documents and information are organised, even down to using the right colour ink for application forms.
This might seem like a petty reason to refuse a visa application, however consider how many applications the Home Office deals with every day. If your application is messy, disorganised, documents can’t be accessed, or they’re hard to read, it makes their job even harder, therefore they might refuse your application.
Missing evidence
Mistakes both big and small can lead to your UK visa being denied, from forgetting to put a date on a document to including a photocopy of an important document instead of the original.
Attention to detail is important. As is taking the time to read the guidelines and requirements to make sure you dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s.
Trying to switch a UK visit visa
There are many different types of visas you can apply for, and in some circumstances it is possible to switch between visa categories.
One of the most common misconceptions about this, however, is that you can switch a visit visa to another route. This is not possible and you shouldn’t apply for a visit visa with the intention to switch once you’re in the UK, as this is not possible except in very specific circumstances.
Not getting the right help & advice
Visa applications aren’t always straightforward, so it’s understandable you might look for advice before making yours.
Unfortunately, if the advice you receive isn’t given by someone who understands immigration law, it’s possible that your application may be rejected because you haven’t provided the right document, evidence, or justifications.
The only way you can be sure your visa application is correct and appropriate for your circumstances is to get advice from an experienced and qualified immigration solicitor. As well as providing expert advice that’s relevant to your situation, an immigration lawyer can also review your application to reduce the chances of it being rejected for a small mistake, like a missing date or incorrectly filled out form.
What to do if your visa is rejected
If your visa is rejected, one of the following options may be available to you:
Appeal against a visa decision
Ask for a visa administrative review
Make a reconsideration request
If you do decide to do one of these things, it’s important to get legal advice to avoid high costs and further visa refusals.
It's also important to note that recent changes to the EU Settlement Scheme mean that late applications that are rejected can't be appealed or reviewed.
Get legal help with your visa application
At Lawhive, our immigration lawyers work tirelessly to help clients apply successfully for a visa and minimise the risk of rejection. If you need help with your application, our relevant services include:
Immigration Case Assessment
If you’re thinking of applying for a UK visa, you might not know which visa is right for you, what evidence is needed, or what you have to do during the application process.
In an Immigration Case Assessment our expert solicitor’s will:
Talk you through the possible immigration routes applicable to your situation
Check if you have the right documentation and information
Tell you about the process, expected time frames, and next steps.
Following your 30 minute consultation, you can use the same lawyer to complete your application on your behalf if you wish, and they will work with you entirely online to complete the process.
Visa Application Review & Advice
If you’re applying for a UK visa, you might want to know how strong your application is and if you have all the right documents and information.
Our solicitors will:
Review your visa application and documents to assess the strength of your application and identify any changes or additional information/documentation that may be needed.
Walk you through the process of applying for and getting your selected visa, including what to expect.
All of our Immigration Case Assessments happen remotely, either by phone or video call, and our immigration lawyers work completely online so there’s no need for you to travel to an office in order to get your case reviewed and receive advice from a solicitor.
To get started working with our solicitors, tell us about your case to get an instant fixed-fee quote now.